Lufthansa Cargo steps up usage rate of lightweight containers to over 50pc

GERMANY's Lufthansa Cargo says that more than half of its LD3 standard containers used to transport freight and baggage are now made from light composite materials as part of a programme to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The carrier announced that in May and June alone its CO2 emissions were cut by 700 tonnes through the use of such lightweight containers.

Being 13 kilogrammes lighter than conventional containers, these aluminium boxes made a weighty difference in close to 70,000 container movements over the two-month period, a statement from the carrier said.

The cargo airline plans to bring 5,000 new lightweight containers into service in the coming years, through a major exchange programme which is currently in force.

"Reducing weight on board our aircraft is a key factor in lowering the fleet's fuel consumption and emissions," said Bettina Jansen, head of environmental management. "In the efforts to realise our ambitious environmental targets and reduce specific emissions by a quarter by 2020 on the 2005 level, we will continue investing in modern technology and press ahead with renewal of our container fleet."

In the 2011 business year, the airline transported 1.9 million tonnes of freight and mail and sold 9.5 billion revenue tonne-kilometres.