Lufthansa Cargo moved a wide range of specialized freight in 2025, handling everything from aircraft engines and semiconductor equipment to endangered animals and human tissue shipments.

The carrier transported more than 1,000 aircraft engines worldwide, one of the most technically demanding categories in air freight. Each move requires "precise planning, specialized equipment, and closely coordinated processes," the company said. Several semiconductor manufacturing systems were also shipped with shock and tilt sensors, temperature controls and strict handling rules.

A restored BMW classic car, one of only a few hundred roadworthy examples remaining, was flown from Prague to Tokyo, reflecting the varied requirements of the automotive sector.

Animal transport also remained another major segment. Lufthansa Cargo said it worked with Cologne Zoo and AnimalLogistics FRA to return 12 critically endangered Vietnamese crocodile‑tailed lizards to their native habitat. Fewer than 150 individuals are known to exist.

The effort is part of the international "One Plan Approach," which links zoo‑based breeding programs with field conservation.

The company also supported the "Save the Rhino" initiative by transporting trained sniffer dogs to South Africa, where they are deployed in anti‑poaching units. The dogs are trained to detect illegal wildlife products such as rhino horn and ivory. While there were still over 22,000 rhinos living in South Africa in 2012, estimates now put the number at around 13,000.

Overall, Lufthansa Cargo moved about 3,500 horses in 2025, along with 12,000 pets, 80 million ornamental fish — the largest animal group in the airfreight portfolio — and roughly 200 zoo animals, including pandas and hippos.

Pharmaceutical shipments also continued to play a significant role. The carrier worked with the Lions World Vision Institute to transport corneal tissue used in transplants. The shipments are booked as LHO, or Living Human Organ, and receive priority handling and continuous tracking. Lufthansa Cargo said it has moved about 10,000 corneal shipments for the institute to date.

Lufthansa Cargo said it will continue on this course in 2026, investing in infrastructure and expertise to offer customers and partners worldwide reliable solutions along increasingly complex value chains.