"As a reliable partner, Lufthansa Cargo has played an important role in the stable supply chain from Asia to Germany in recent weeks. The new cargo flights from Shenzhen ensure that we can make this supply chain even more flexible so that the urgently needed goods arrive quickly in Germany", says Michael Völlnagel, CEO Fiege International Freight Forwarding.

"For Shenzhen Airport and the Shenzhen International Cargo Center, the start of the Lufthansa connection is a further step towards the internationalization of Shenzhen Bao'an Airport. We are very pleased to be able to participate in the supply of urgently needed medical goods, such as masks, to Germany. It was a great effort by all those involved, especially the airport, to get this new flight up and running within a fortnight," says Achim Plücker, Managing Director International Cargo Center Shenzhen.

"Lufthansa Cargo is doing everything it can to strengthen supply security by air and maintain supply chains. We are continuing to expand our services in order to ensure the rapid transportation of large quantities of urgently needed goods," explains Dorothea von Boxberg, Lufthansa Cargo Board Member for Product and Sales.

All 17 Lufthansa Cargo freighters are currently in continuous operation, for example to fly medical supplies all over the world. From and to mainland China alone, there are currently 16 flights a week with Boeing 777F wide-body freighters with a standard cargo capacity of around 103 tons. With the newly opened route to Shenzhen, a total of up to 49 additional weekly flights will be offered in China with Lufthansa passenger aircraft for freight transportation. As the cabin space of these aircraft can also be loaded with cargo, this results in an average cargo capacity of around 30 tons each in practice. Parts of the cabin interior were removed from a total of ten A330-300s to increase the cargo volume.