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Lufthansa Cargo to acquire German handler LUG

Lufthansa Cargo is set to acquire German handler LUG Aircargo Handling from the Dettmer Group as part of efforts to position the company for future growth. The acquisition will give Lufthansa Cargo access to approximately 50,000 sq m of covered warehouse space in Germany, as well as an additional 18,000 sq m of office and infrastructure space. LUG has a presence at Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg airports. The deal was signed on Monday but is subject to antitrust and regulatory approvals. Lufthansa Cargo chief operating officer Frank Bauer said: "In an increasingly volatile market environment, we want to become more flexible, more efficient, and more resilient for our customers. "That is why we are making targeted investments in our infrastructure in our home market in Germany to set the course to provide an even better offering for our customers and achieve profitable growth -- this is a win-win situation for both companies." The cargo division said the transaction is "one of the key pillars" of its growth strategy and is intended to "create the infrastructural foundation for future profitable growth". "With the planned acquisition, Lufthansa Cargo will gain immediately available, additional handling capacity within Germany," Lufthansa Cargo said. The company said that LUG's buildings would complement its existing handling infrastructure at Frankfurt, which is currently undergoing a €600m modernisation. "This will enable the company to support future growth while continuing to provide high-quality and reliable services to its customers," Lufthansa Cargo added. LUG will continue to operate independently following the acquisition. The Dettmer Group said LUG would be well-positioned for further growth under Lufthansa Cargo's ownership. LUG's building in Frankfurt is located close to the apron and includes the central customs inspection office for CargoCity Süd as well as high-value and healthcare facilities. Its Munich building includes 3,300 sq m of warehouse space, separate export and import areas, and x-ray facilities. In Hamburg, the company has a 6,000 sq m warehouse located at the Airport Cargo Center, which opened in 2016 and is linked directly to the apron at Hamburg Airport.

Six logistics CEOs go into a bar...

(Six logistics CEOs and €10bn. Who gets the money?) Running a global logistics company has never been particularly easy. Today it looks even less comfortable. Freight markets remain volatile, geopolitics can rewrite networks overnight, customers want lower rates and better technology, while shareholders somehow expect margins to improve regardless. Add AI, decarbonisation and an industry still consolidating and there are plenty of ways to get things wrong. Yet the people running the biggest logistics companies are rarely compared directly. var reg_x; jQuery(document).ready(function () { //reg_x = new RegBlockForm(); reg_x.initForm('0104ed8f57','de9f0d58c2','ec3d2d00f0'); });

Northern Air Cargo hires Mark Lester as president and CEO

Northern Air Cargo (NAC) has appointed Mark Lester as president and chief executive, effective 21 September. The air cargo carrier, which operates across Alaska, US, said that Lester will succeed Dave Karp, who has served as interim president since March 2025. Lester brings more than 30 years of aviation and aerospace leadership experience, including previous roles as chief executive of Doss Aviation and president and chief executive of Alaska Aerospace Corporation. "Mark's experience and commitment to Alaska will serve our communities well as Northern Air Cargo looks to grow and deepen its services, continuing to build on more than 70 years of dependable service to the state," said Mike Thompson, president and chief executive of Saltchuk Aviation, NAC's parent company. "His proven track record leading mission-driven organizations in challenging environments, combined with his deep expertise in building high-accountability cultures and strengthening stakeholder relationships, makes him the ideal leader for Northern Air Cargo. "We are also deeply grateful to Dave Karp, who stepped in at a critical time and led the airline with stability and strategic focus. Dave remains a key part of our Alaska leadership and will be a close partner to Mark." Karp will return to his role as senior vice president managing director, Alaska, at Saltchuk Resources. "I am honored to lead Northern Air Cargo at this pivotal time," added Lester. "The airline's commitment to serving Alaska's communities, especially in rural areas where we are often the only reliable transportation link, resonates deeply with my values and experience. "I look forward to working with the dedicated team across the state to expand our fleet and strengthen the partnerships that keep Alaska connected."