Lufthansa Cargo has extended its contract with Vienna Airport for cargo handling services until the end of 2028. 

Vienna Airport said in a statement that the cargo airline is one of the most important customers of the airport’s own cargo handling services and the Vienna Airport Pharma Handling Center. 

Lufthansa Cargo has been tapping into the cargo handling services of the Austrian capital’s airport since 2010. 

In addition to general cargo and mail, temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments and hazardous goods, in particular, are routed via Vienna.

The hub noted that Lufthansa Cargo currently connects Vienna Airport with over 1,000 flights per week to 127 destinations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America and utilizes Austrian Airlines' cargo space.

“Vienna Airport offers a high level of quality not only in passenger and baggage services but also in cargo handling. We are therefore pleased that we can gain the trust of Lufthansa Cargo and continue our good cooperation for the next five years. With efficient handling processes, fast turnaround times and a broad range of services, we are well positioned in the cargo sector and see high growth potential, especially with our Pharma Handling Center,” said Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport.

Theresa Schlederer, director of Austria at Lufthansa Cargo AG, noted that “Vienna Airport is an efficient east-west hub with fast turnaround times. This makes it one of our most important hubs in Europe.”

He noted that the handling service includes 24/7 customer service, monitoring, and weekly quality checks. 

“Thanks to this reliable and close cooperation, we can offer our customers fast and easy access to the freight markets, primarily in Southeast Asia. The airport’s Pharma Handling Center also provides ideal conditions for our growing tonnages in the pharmaceutical sector,” Schlederer added.

At Vienna Airport, Lufthansa Cargo benefits from modern infrastructure, very short distances, and fast customs clearance times, which significantly shorten handling times. Within the Lufthansa network, Vienna Airport is, therefore, both the most punctual hub and the hub with the fastest handling and transit times. Warehouses and truck ramps provide fast and direct access to Vienna Airport's dense road feeder network, which enables 23 countries to be reached in just 36 hours.

“With a tonnage share of almost 40% in 2023, Lufthansa Cargo is Vienna Airport’s largest customer. The contract extension is, therefore, of great importance,” said Michael Zach, head of handling services at Flughafen Wien AG.