Lufthansa’s Cargo unit has established a joint venture company for the handling of airfreight in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin with Tianjin Airport Hua Yu Air Cargo Terminal (HYACT).

Lufthansa Cargo holds 46% in HYACT, Taiwanese investor Hwa-Hsia International Holding Ltd has 49% and Tianjin Airport International Logistics Joint Stock holds 5%.

Lufthansa Cargo head Carsten Spohr said in a statement, ‘Tianjin will develop into the most important airfreight hub in the north of China within the next few years’.

In China, Lufthansa Cargo already holds 29% in Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal, 50% in the International Cargo Centre Shenzhen, as well as 25% in freight company Jade Cargo International.

Source: Forbes

European aircraft producer Airbus has authorized a Shenzhen company to be its first maintenance center in Asia.

Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen , not a name that rolls off the tongue, will provide repair and overhaul services in line with Airbus’ requirements, according to an agreement signed by the two companies.

The Shenzhen company has started serving Chinese Airbus operators, helping to cut costs and increase efficiency as they no longer need to send aircraft parts to Europe for repair. It is also expected to provide maintenance services to other customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

The company has received approval from Airbus and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to join the Airbus Spares repair station network. Airbus is trying to set up a comprehensive after-sales service network in China. It has built customer service and technical support stations in 20 cities.

In 1997, it invested US$80 million in an advanced training center in Beijing to help domestic airlines train more than 14,000 pilots, crew members and maintenance technicians.

China’s northern port city Tianjin was selected as the first Airbus overseas assembly plant this year and is expected to turn out its first aircraft at the end of 2008.

Airbus announced last year that it would renew cooperation with the China Aviation Suppliers Import and Export Group on training and support services for another 20 years.
Source: People’s Daily Online

Ameco Beijing, an aircraft maintenance joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa, will start construction on an RMB47 million warehouse this month.

Ameco said in a statement that the 8,000 square meter facility, which should be operational by October next year, will store civil aviation materials and maintenance tools.

Air China holds a 60% stake in Ameco Beijing while Lufthansa holds the remaining 40%. The joint venture is based at Beijing Capital International Airport.

In the 2007 summer schedule, Lufthansa offers 52 non-stop weekly flights between China and Germany, servicing the four gateways of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. Now, through a strategic partnership with both Air China and Shanghai Airlines, Lufthansa has extended its network and services to even more Chinese cities.

Lufthansa was the first European airline to introduce native Chinese flight attendants on board its flights from and to China. And has been doing it for over six years.

Lufthansa employs about 200 native Chinese flight attendants. And the airline also supplies a wide choice of Chinese movies and audio entertainment.

On arrival in Germany, a Chinese Welcome Service is available to greet Chinese passengers in their language of choice and assist them on their travels.
Source: China.org.cn

Korean Airlines, the largest international air cargo carrier, has won preliminary approval for a $65-million venture in China. The airline will spend $16.25 million on a 25% stake in Galaxy International. Sinotrans Air Transportation Development will invest US$33.15 million and hold 51%.

In this Korean Air follows Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and other airlines in forming China cargo ventures. Chinese exports were 28.7% higher in May than a year earlier but there are now signs that the air cargo market is becoming a little overcrowded and highly competitive.
Source: Shanghai Daily