Lufthansa Cargo will offer up to 46 weekly freighter rotations to 17 Asia-Pacific destinations under its winter flight schedule starting October 25, adding Singapore as a new stop and maintaining transpacific services via Shanghai to Los Angeles, according to foreign media reports.
What Happened
The winter schedule takes effect on October 25. In the Asia-Pacific region, Lufthansa Cargo will provide up to 46 weekly freighter rotations to 17 destinations. One addition is Singapore on the existing Frankfurt-Taipei route, offering more main-deck capacity within Asia.
On the transpacific route, the service from Frankfurt via Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai to Los Angeles will continue at two frequencies per week, carried over from the summer schedule. Additional flights from Frankfurt to Taipei and Chengdu will also continue at three frequencies per week.
In India, Lufthansa Cargo shifted freighter operations from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport effective October 12, as freighter operations at Mumbai are temporarily suspended for upgrades. Other carriers have made similar adjustments. Bangalore has also been added to SWISS WorldCargo's Zurich route network.
In North America, the number of US destinations remains unchanged, with Dallas increased to four weekly services, Houston to three, and New York JFK to five. Within Europe, the Boeing 777 freighter fleet operates up to three weekly rotations to three destinations, with short-haul services from Frankfurt to Larnaca, Istanbul, and Stavanger now permanently incorporated into the regular schedule.
Background
The adjustment comes as the global air cargo market enters the winter peak season, with export demand from Asia-Pacific, particularly China and Southeast Asia, remaining a focus. The transpacific route is a key air corridor for Chinese exports to the US, and its capacity supply directly affects first-mile transit times for cross-border e-commerce sellers and trading factories.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa Cargo's A321F freighters have been grounded since mid-April, with previous A321F destinations temporarily served by long-haul freighters or the group's passenger network until a new operator is found. This capacity gap could affect slot availability on some short- and medium-haul routes.
Impact on Shippers
In terms of transit time, increased freighter frequencies in Asia-Pacific and the new Singapore stop provide more routing options for Chinese exports transiting through Asia to the US, especially for shippers in East and South China who can monitor connection efficiency via hubs such as Shanghai and Taipei. However, the A321F grounding may tighten capacity on some intra-Europe transits.
On cost, the transpacific route maintains two weekly frequencies, keeping capacity relatively stable and reducing the likelihood of sharp air freight price fluctuations in the short term. However, slots may still be tight during peak season, and shippers should book early. On customs clearance, the suspension of freighter operations at Mumbai and the shift to Navi Mumbai require attention to airport codes and document updates for cargo transiting India to avoid delays caused by mismatched information.
Recommendations
Shippers are advised to check flight schedules and transit points in advance based on the winter schedule, especially for cargo routed through hubs such as Taipei, Shanghai, and Ho Chi Minh City, to confirm whether connection times have changed. For cargo transiting India, update airport information on documents promptly. During peak season, book slots two to three weeks in advance and prepare backup channels for potential capacity tightness.