Lufthansa Cargo and Cathay Pacific Cargo have signed a joint business agreement for bilateral cooperation in Frankfurt.

According to Lufthansa, the two carriers will work closely together on routes between Hong Kong and Europe, cooperating on network planning, sales, IT and ground handling.

“By joining forces, customers gain access to unique flexibility with more flights to choose from and a combination of feeder and direct flights,” said Peter Gerber, CEO and chairman of the executive board of Lufthansa Cargo [second from right in photo]. “In this way their cargo can reach its destination hours earlier. We will also have more options for shipments which have to be transported by freighter due to their size or properties.”

Because of joint handling, which will be limited to just Hong Kong and Frankfurt to begin with, customers will only need to use one drop-off and delivery point. They will be also able to book shipments to any destination on the two airlines’ joint network using either partner’s system.

“Our joint network will cover more than 140 direct flights per week between Hong Kong and 13 European destinations,” said Simon Large, director of cargo at Cathay Pacific [second from left in photo]. “Cathay’s Pacific’s large number of direct connections to multiple European destinations fits perfectly with Lufthansa’s strength in Frankfurt, the most important European air freight hub, and in Europe through its dense feeder network.”

The first shipments from Hong Kong to Europe under the new framework will be transported in early 2017, with eastbound shipments to follow later in the year, according to the carriers.