air-cargo

Lufthansa Cargo Seeks External Operator for Grounded A321 Freighter Fleet

Lufthansa Cargo is actively pursuing options to return its Airbus A321 freighter fleet to service. The grounding began mid-April following Lufthansa CityLine's operational suspension, which was tied to cost-cutting measures and labor disputes affecting the Lufthansa Group. The carrier indicated that an outside airline will likely assume operations of the 28-ton capacity converted aircraft, which have been idle for several months. The company is evaluating whether the suspension will extend through the entire summer schedule. The A321 freighters, based at Frankfurt Airport since the network's 2022 launch, primarily served intra-European routes and Europe-North Africa corridors. Recent flight data shows limited activity on the Frankfurt-to-Frankfurt network. Elevated fuel costs, which more than doubled compared to pre-conflict levels, contributed to the decision.