Lufthansa Cargo said it would permanently operate all B777 freighter flights that previously served Mexico City International Airport (MEX) to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) starting July 7, 2023.

The statement said Lufthansa Cargo is thus following the requirements of a decree issued by the Mexican government, which prohibits airlines from flying freighters to Mexico City Airport (MEX) in the future for capacity reasons.

"From the beginning of July, cargo airlines will operate flights to the modern Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU) about 45 km northeast of Mexico City," it said.

The announcement added that the airport has been in operation since last year and is located on the site of a former military airfield, surrounded by an infrastructure that continues to grow steadily.

Lufthansa Cargo is offering a total of six freighter connections with Boeing 777F aircraft to and from Mexico City's second major airport, Felipe Ángeles (NLU), in the current 2023 summer flight schedule.

The freighters depart from the hub in Frankfurt (FRA) on Tuesdays to Sundays at midday and reach their destination at Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU) in the early hours of the night.

In addition to the freighter connections, Lufthansa Airlines passenger aircraft also regularly transport goods as belly cargo to Mexico City (MEX) Airport in the east of the Mexican metropolis.

It said that seven weekly direct flights from Frankfurt with the Boeing 747-8 as well as three weekly Airbus A350 connections from Munich, continue to serve Mexico City Airport (MEX).

Lufthansa Cargo noted that it ensures that the transfer time of cargo shipments between the two Mexican capital airports is fast and efficient with truck shuttle services.

"As part of the necessary relocation of freighter flights to Mexico City's northeastern airport, we have successfully established both the import and export processes on-site to our usual high standards in a very short time, as well as set up a fast and reliable nighttime truck transport service for freight shipments between NLU and MEX," said Frank Nozinsky, director, sales & handling, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean at Lufthansa Cargo.

Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, noted increased demand in Mexico.

"Mexico City is a cargo destination in high demand. We are therefore very pleased to be present at both international airports together with Lufthansa Airlines and to offer our customers seamless connections for their cargo shipments here together with our warehouse partners," he said.