Lufthansa Cargo expands winter network and shifts Mumbai operations to new airport

Lufthansa Cargo has announced changes to its global freighter network for the 2026/2027 winter season, including additional services across Asia-Pacific, increased capacity to North America and the relocation of its Mumbai freighter operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The winter schedule, effective from 25 October 2026, will offer 88 freighter routes serving 40 destinations worldwide. The adjustments include expanded intra-Asian connections, continued transpacific services and changes to the carrier’s European freighter operations.

Separately, Lufthansa Cargo is transferring its Mumbai freighter operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI) from 12 October, ahead of the wider winter schedule’s introduction.

Asia-Pacific network gains additional connections

Lufthansa Cargo will offer up to 46 weekly freighter rotations serving 17 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Among the changes is the addition of Singapore to an existing freighter rotation connecting Frankfurt and Taipei. The adjustment introduces an additional intra-Asian connection and provides main-deck cargo capacity within the region.

The carrier will also maintain the increased frequency introduced during the summer schedule on its transpacific service linking Frankfurt, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai and Los Angeles. The service will operate on two days each week.

Additional flights from Frankfurt to Taipei and Chengdu will continue, with each destination receiving services on three days per week.

Cargo services between Almaty and Frankfurt will also resume, restoring another connection within the carrier’s international network.

Mumbai freighter operations move to Navi Mumbai

A significant operational change concerns India, where Lufthansa Cargo is relocating its freighter services from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), effective 12 October.

According to the company, the relocation is linked to infrastructure improvements intended to support additional airport capacity and operational efficiency.

Navi Mumbai International Airport is located approximately 30 kilometres east of the existing Mumbai airport and began domestic operations in 2025.

The change is intended to maintain international air cargo connections for industrial and manufacturing centres in the Mumbai region.

In addition, Bangalore will join the SWISS WorldCargo network through services to and from Zurich, providing another European hub connection for cargo originating in southern India.

“India is one of the strategically important growth markets for Lufthansa Cargo,” said Ashwin Bhat, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo.

Bhat said the addition of Navi Mumbai would allow the carrier to continue providing international connections through the airport’s infrastructure.

North American frequencies increase

Lufthansa Cargo will also increase freighter frequencies to selected North American destinations during the winter season.

Dallas/Fort Worth will receive four weekly connections, while Houston will increase to three weekly services. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will be served five times per week.

Each destination gains one additional weekly service.

The carrier’s wider network will continue to include eleven destinations in North America and four in South America, with the latter receiving four weekly connections.

European operations and belly cargo network

Within Europe, Lufthansa Cargo will incorporate previously temporary Boeing 777 freighter rotations from Frankfurt to Larnaca, Istanbul and Stavanger into its regular schedule.

The company will offer up to three weekly B777F rotations serving up to three European destinations.

Former Airbus A321 freighter destinations will continue to be served through long-haul freighter operations or the Lufthansa Group passenger network while the company seeks a new operator for its four short- and medium-haul freighters.

The winter schedule also introduces additional belly cargo opportunities through the group’s passenger airlines.

Kuala Lumpur will be served five times weekly by Lufthansa Airlines, while ITA Airways plans to introduce twice-weekly services to Santo Domingo in November.

Across the Lufthansa Group network, cargo customers will continue to have access to approximately 7,500 flights serving 350 destinations through the European hubs of Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Brussels, Rome and Zurich.

The winter schedule becomes effective on 25 October 2026, with cargo bookings available from 4 October under the carrier’s 21-day advance booking arrangement.