Lufthansa Cargo and United Cargo have commenced their air cargo joint venture, effective May 3, 2018.

The two carriers now jointly manage the sales and booking of standard and express shipments on routes between Europe and the US under the framework of the JV.

“The joint venture was designed to provide enhanced value to our customers,” said Peter Gerber, chairman and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “The combination of the two strong networks offers new routing options. The co-location of our warehouses, in Munich for example, is an additional benefit, with customers needing only one location for export drop-off and import delivery. Aligned processes and quicker transfers between separate warehouses also lead to streamlined transport times.”

The JV will initially cover selected routings from Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Ireland and the US, with the geographical scope to be further expanded in the coming months. The two carriers also plan to include additional products and features in the future.

“Cargo customers worldwide value speed, convenience and reliability,” said Jan Krems, president of United Cargo. “Through our joint venture, United and Lufthansa Cargo offer trans-Atlantic shippers more options that produce these benefits – including increased frequencies on a combined network accessible through either partner’s booking channels. Our aligned teams and processes also deliver the superior service quality essential to our customers’ success.”

The two carriers signed the JV agreement in April 2017, after which they began to align their respective IT systems and business processes during the implantation phase.