Air Cargo Conference 2025: Lufthansa Cargo Shapes a Diverse Anniversary Program

• Lufthansa Cargo hosts the Innovation Stage
• Frank Bauer, COO of Lufthansa Cargo AG, as jury member and patron of the Innovation Pitch Award
• Lufthansa Cargo experts present on Sustainability, ONE Record, LCCevo, and Innovation
• time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH and Cargo Human Care e.V. as on-site exhibitors

On September 3 and 4, 2025, the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt, in cooperation with the start-up accelerator Haus61 and Messe Frankfurt, will host this year’s Air Cargo Conference at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt. Visitors can look forward to a diverse stage program that Lufthansa Cargo will actively help shape in the event’s tenth anniversary year. In addition to exciting presentations and panel discussions, the Air Cargo Conference will for the first time feature a second stage alongside the main stage, dedicated entirely to the topic of innovation in the air freight sector.

Lufthansa Cargo to host the Innovation Stage together with Haus61.com

A special highlight of this year’s Air Cargo Conference will be the new Innovation Stage, where the focus will be on forward-looking technologies, smart processes, and innovative solutions for the air freight industry. A key feature on the Innovation Stage will be the Lufthansa Cargo-initiated Innovation Award.

Thursday, September 4, 15:05 – 16:00: Innovation Pitch on the Innovation Stage: In a start-up pitch, eight pre-selected logistics start-ups will have the opportunity to present their innovative approaches and technological solutions for the logistics and air freight industry. A panel of expert judges will evaluate the concepts, including Frank Bauer, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Lufthansa Cargo, who will contribute his many years of experience in selecting the most convincing ideas. The winning start-up will be honored with the “Lufthansa Cargo Innovator Award” during the award ceremony on Thursday, September 4, at 17:35 on the Main Stage.

Diverse stage program with Lufthansa Cargo experts

In addition, Lufthansa Cargo experts will contribute to the comprehensive program of the industry event and share insights into the company’s current projects. Interested attendees are warmly welcome to join.

• Wednesday, September 3, 14:30 – 15:15 on the Innovation Stage: Bettina Petzold, Head of Corporate Responsibility, will take part in the panel discussion “Taking Off with Responsibility: On Our Way to a Sustainable Air Cargo Supply Chain”, addressing questions such as how a holistic and sustainable transformation of air freight can be successfully implemented, the role of innovation and cooperation, and the responsibilities companies must assume along the supply chain.

• Wednesday, September 3, 15:20 – 15:50 on the Innovation Stage: Dr. Christian Lehr, Head of Global Fulfillment Development, together with Dr. Harald Sieke, Head of Aviation Logistics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, will present “Air Cargo Reloaded: The Smart and Digital Future of Air Cargo”. The session will provide insights into the latest developments in the Digital Test Field Air Cargo (DTAC), such as the new industry-wide IATA data standard ONE Record. Starting in 2026, this standard will gradually become the technological basis for more efficient sharing of diverse information and document types among all participants along the transport chain.

• Thursday, September 4, 11:25 – 11:55 on the Main Stage: Stefan Dürr, Senior Director LCCevolution Program, will offer exclusive insights under the title “Open-heart-surgery at Lufthansa Cargo | A look at the operating room” into one of Lufthansa Cargo’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects. The focus will be on the comprehensive transformation of the Lufthansa Cargo Center (LCC) at Frankfurt Airport – a modernization process taking place at full operational capacity. The keynote will address strategic goals, operational challenges, and innovative solutions through which Lufthansa Cargo is actively shaping the future of its logistics hub.

• Thursday, September 4, 16:05 – 16:55 on the Innovation Stage: Dr. Jasmin Kaiser, Vice President, Chief Information Officer (CIO) & Chief Data Officer (CDO), will join the panel “Innovation meets Industry” with other industry experts to discuss innovation in air freight logistics.

• Thursday, September 4, 16:20 – 17:05 on the Main Stage: Uwe Glunz, Managing Director at CB Customs Broker, will take part in the panel “Bridging Continents – How Europe and Asia Tackle eCommerce Challenges from Different Perspectives” alongside Carsten Hernig, Deputy General Manager and VP Production, Sales & Marketing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co., Ltd. (PACTL), discussing current challenges in cross-border eCommerce logistics.

time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH and Cargo Human Care e.V. as on-site exhibitors

Another highlight of this year’s event will be the exhibition area, where companies present their products, services, and technological innovations to the audience. The exhibitors will include time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH and Cargo Human Care e.V., each with their own stand.

time:matters invites visitors to an immersive virtual reality experience. Using VR headsets, attendees can explore the company’s global courier terminal network virtually – with a special focus on the Frankfurt location. The interactive application vividly demonstrates how operational excellence at time:matters Courier Terminals forms the foundation for speed, precision, and reliability in international premium express transport.

Representatives available on-site:

• Stefan Fölsing – Managing Director time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH
• Francesco Serio – Head of Sales & Business Development
• Eric Schmandt – Director Operations time:matters Courier Terminals GmbH

Cargo Human Care e.V. will also be present with a stand to showcase current projects and collect donations. In addition, the new partnership program will be presented during the Air Cargo Conference.

Wednesday, September 3, 12:45 – 12:55 on the Main Stage: Fokko Doyen and Norbert Pahlsmeyer of Cargo Human Care will present the new “Cargo Human Care Business Partnership Program for Humanity: Together Moving More”.

The Air Cargo Conference 2025 will take place on September 3–4 at the Deutsche Bank Park (Adler Business Club) in Frankfurt. Tickets are still available, with special rates for employees of ACCF member companies. Air Cargo Conference - Tickets

More information about the Air Cargo Community Frankfurt: Homepage | Air Cargo Community