An interview with Mr.Michael Bordt - General Director
Would you please give us some highlights of your business performance in recent years? What advantages do you possess and what obstacles do you face?
Lufthansa Cargo AG became an autonomous company within the Lufthansa Group on 30 November 1994, reflecting the growing importance of airfreight as a business area in its own right. With a transport volume of more than 1.75 million tonnes of freight and mail, 7.96 billion revenue tonne-kilometres and revenues of around 2.5 billion in 2004, Lufthansa Cargo ranks among the world’s biggest cargo carriers. The company currently employs around 5,000 staff worldwide. Lufthansa Cargo's core competency is the airport-to-airport business.
Lufthansa Cargo will focus even more closely on the needs of its customers in the future.
The challenges that lie ahead of us are manifold. In 2004 we strongly increased volumes transported and our load factor although the operating environment partly changed to our disadvantage. A strong euro, record fuel prices, a further decline in yields as well as rising over-capacities are still our biggest challenges.
What is Lufthansa Cargo’s strength over other carriers, in terms of passengers service?
Lufthansa Cargo operates a fleet of 19 of its own MD-11F aircraft and has several other freighters on charter. The company also markets the belly capacities of all passenger aircraft operated by Lufthansa AG as well as those on passenger flights operated from Europe to the U.S. by US Airways. The route network encompasses 512 destinations, which are served by cargo and passenger aircraft as well as by trucking services. So the main advantages for our customers are our dense network, our high quality and our professional experience of many years.
What makes Lufthansa Cargo such a successful and admired company? What is your strategy for the future?
Our strategy includes expanding and intensifying our partnerships with a clear focus on our customers´ needs, – In terms of business we will focus on freighter profitability , on the integration of Swiss WorldCargo , and building up Jade Cargo.
What do you think about the Vietnamese market? Do you have any suggestions to help Vietnam’s industry grow in the context of global integration?
The Vietnamese market is already strong in the textile and foot wear industry and is integrated in a global context. For further development in other industries the country has to invest in infrastructure for improved and faster logistic chains. Handling and airport costs are higher compared with other south Asian countries. Finally - Lufthansa Cargo believes in the strong growth and development of Vietnam.
Reported by Kim Hiep
Vietnamese
