Lufthansa Cargo strengthens short and medium haul freighter network

• Hub in Rome also connected via A321 freighters
• Algiers expands freighter network towards Africa

From the beginning of February, Lufthansa Cargo will welcome two additional destinations to its A321 short- and medium-haul freighter network: From 7 February 2026, Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) will be included in the regular freighter flight schedule. The new connection from Frankfurt (FRA) to Rome will be offered once a week, on Saturdays, with flight number LH8344. The route continues from the Italian capital to Istanbul (IST) and the hub in Munich (MUC). Since December 2025, the newest Lufthansa Cargo hub has also been served by A321 freighters on an ad hoc basis to meet high demand. Its inclusion in the regular cargo flight schedule once again highlights the importance of the new hub in Southern Europe. This means that Lufthansa Cargo will offer its customers in Europe one of the densest and best-connected freight networks in the industry. Flexible transport options in ITA Airways' additional cargo capacities, via road feeder service or now also with its own freighters, enable reliable connections to over 120 destinations from Rome.

With Algiers airport (ALG), the cargo airline is also expanding its A321 freighter network to Africa. Starting 10 February 2026, the new destination will be added to the flight schedule every Tuesday under flight number LH8308. In addition to Beirut, Casablanca, Cairo, Yerevan, Tel Aviv, and Tunis, customers can now book direct freighter connections to a total of seven destinations in the Middle East and Africa.

"We are delighted to be able to offer our customers an expanded short- and medium-haul cargo network and even greater connectivity right at the start of the year. With new destinations in its network, Lufthansa Cargo continues to pave the way for faster, reliable and more flexible logistics across the continent for our customers in line with our purpose ‘Enabling Global Business’. With five European hubs and a wide range of transport options, we can also adapt our network at short notice to respond to changes to the flow of goods or offer our customers solutions in the event of unforeseen circumstances," explains Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.

The airline's short- and medium-haul network comprises a total of 22 destinations, which are served by a fleet of four A321 freighters. In addition, 18 B777 freighters in the long-haul fleet and belly cargo capacity from Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, ITA Airways, and SunExpress complement Lufthansa Cargo's global route network. The hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome provide the infrastructural basis for fast freight transport. This creates a global network that covers around 350 destinations in 100 countries.