Lufthansa Cargo and Avflight with New Warehouse in Detroit

Together with the ground handling agent Avflight, Lufthansa Cargo, as a leading network carrier in the US state of Michigan, is relocating its freight operations directly to the apron of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). The move in August to a centrally located cargo warehouse near the apron results in shorter distances for international freight shipments during the loading and unloading of aircraft.

(Frankfurt/Detroit) During the three-year planning phase for this major project, Lufthansa Cargo also found a suitable local partner in Avflight, which has ambitions to grow in the cargo business. With currently more than 500 tons of freight handled per year through seven weekly passenger flights, several truck connections to Chicago (ORD), and offered ad-hoc services, Detroit is an important location for Lufthansa Cargo in the automotive stronghold of Michigan with expansion potential. Customers of Lufthansa Cargo benefit from an improved product offering and, thanks to shorter processing times, also from increased efficiency.

The relocation of the so-called warehouse in close proximity to the apron is a project consisting of two phases: Since August, Lufthansa Cargo has been operating with the support of Avflight from a former aircraft hangar that has been converted into a temporary cargo warehouse. The more direct location allows for shorter handling times and offers opportunities to better meet the requirements of special freight shipments such as animals, valuable cargo, and hazardous materials.

In the second phase of the project, Lufthansa Cargo is supporting Avflight in planning a new cargo warehouse next to the existing building, which Avflight will construct on behalf of the airport. In close collaboration, both partners will efficiently and attractively design the infrastructure of the warehouse to meet the needs of air freight customers, including those from the premium segment.

Second Phase by the End of 2024

Lufthansa Cargo plans to occupy this facility operated by Avflight after its completion. Discussions about this second development phase are still in the early stages, but the goal is to commence operations in the new warehouse by the end of 2024.

“There is a high demand in Detroit for safe and professional transport solutions, for example, for urgently needed components for the automotive sector. There is a lively freight traffic between Michigan and the world every week, including destinations in Germany, Europe, South Africa, and Thailand. Expanding our warehouse capacity in direct apron location helps us process handling even faster and more directly and also offer suitable services for additional premium products. Our dedicated ground handling agent Avflight is significantly supporting us in this endeavor. As a locally based company with valuable market knowledge and enthusiasm to expand their service offerings in the cargo segment, we look positively at what has been achieved so far and look forward to further collaboration,” said Henry Julicher, Head of Sales and Handling Michigan and Head of Sales Midwest at Lufthansa Cargo.

Future-Oriented Cargo Location

“Together with Avflight, we are creating a future-oriented cargo location in Detroit that provides an ideal basis for positioning ourselves in the market as a reliable and professional partner for our freight customers and thus actively implementing the ‘Enabling Global Business’ concept from Michigan through investments in modern infrastructure and cost- and time-efficient handling processes,” emphasizes Stephanie Abeler, Vice President and Head of Region Americas at Lufthansa Cargo.

Photo: © Lufthansa Cargo