Lufthansa consolidates cargo links with SriLankan Airlines

Monday, 23 April 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

From left: Lufthansa Cargo AG Regional Manager Handling and Processes Southeast Asia and Australia Brian Braganza, GSSA Asst. General Manager Operations Buddhika Abeyagunawardena, Lufthansa Cargo AG Head of GSSA Management Billy Tham, Sri Lankan Airlines Head of Cargo Chamara Ranasinghe, Lewis Brown Air Services Director/CEO of GSSA Ravi De Silva and GSSA Manager Sales and Handling Nilun Dissanayake

Lufthansa Cargo, one of Europe’s leading airlines, operates with 57 freighter aircraft and 197 passenger aircraft recently solidified its cargo links with Sri Lanka through its long time business partner Lewis Brown Air Services Ltd., a member of Delmege Group, which has been Lufthansa’s General Sales Agent for Sri Lanka and Maldives since 1993 to date.

A meeting was held on 13 March between Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd. (UL) and Lufthansa Cargo AG representatives to discuss the process for both airlines move forward to achieve a win-win situation and continuously service the local logistics industry even during the off-line period.

Currently Lufthansa has enhanced its cargo service to Sri Lanka via Austrian Airlines (OS), which operates a weekly service into the island with a Boeing 777 aircraft. The Airline also services Maldives via bi weekly flights by Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LH) which operate Airbus A330 aircraft and Austrian Airlines (OS) which operates a Boeing B767 aircraft on a bi weekly entry to Maldives as well. The airline operates to 300 destinations in 100 countries which include services to almost the entirety of Europe and almost equal percentage of US destinations with a fair market share in the Middle Eastern and Asian regions as well.

Since the acquisition of Austrian Airlines (OS) by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and resumption of OS operation to CMB from 2014 Lewis Brown Air Services Ltd. has been supporting Sri Lankan Logistics Agents gain access to its direct links to the EU through Vienna capitalising on the airlines weekly operation.

The upcoming winter operation due to commence to Colombo on 31 October, the airline expects to serve the local agents with enhanced services. Speaking of the recent agreement Lufthansa Cargo AG Head of GSSA Management Billy Tham said, “This is indeed a milestone in Lufthansa Cargo storied venture in Sri Lanka, one which will leave a lasting impression and pave the way for more collaborative operations in the future.” Also speaking of the occasion, Lewis Brown Air Services Ltd. CEO/Director Ravi De Silva mentioned, “As GSSA for Lufthansa in Sri Lanka and Maldives, Delmege has always been keen to strengthen its links with the National Carrier.”

With the discontinuation of the direct air link with Frankfurt Germany by Sri Lankan Airlines (UL) it was decided to formulate a process to feed the Middle-East gateways via Lufthansa (LH) services for onward carriage by Sri Lankan (UL) to Colombo in a collaboration that would prove mutually beneficial to both parties specially with the current winter season coming to a close.

Sri Lankan Airlines HOC Chamara Ranasinghe commented that he is excited about the collaborations that will be reached and benefit the local logistics related industries would achieve. He further stated that Sri Lankan Airlines will play a lead role.