Lufthansa Cargo is embarked on a two-horse strategy. Lufthansa Cargo, as an independent company, could determine its own destiny over future freighter orders, but that seems unlikely. LH Cargo will always follow its policy very closely. In other words, LH Cargo will only buy freighter capacity on the back of passenger aircraft orders for the mother airline, which certainly makes economic sense. It will have to pry the major freighter operators away from the 747, the utility workhorse of the air cargo business.
Most carriers appear loath to operate more than one freighter type.
Lufthansa Cargo may have bitten the bullet, but others continue to resist. But that would mean a corresponding loss in the efficiencies of fleet commonality. Nonetheless, according to Lex Wecker, vice president of fleet planning, the all-cargo carrier is taking a long hard look at the options available to it with the A3XX and the 747X Stretch. Yes, Boeing is still in there fighting. The other problem is that both manufacturers keep sending us new information on the capabilities of these aircraft.