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Significant news for the logistics, freight forwarding, and international trade sectors in Israel. With the landing of an Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna at Ben Gurion Airport this morning (Tuesday), the Lufthansa Group has officially launched its phased return program to Israel.
For local freight forwarders and importers, the primary significance of this move is the return of scheduled passenger flights, which bring a critical addition of available belly cargo capacity, alongside the return of the group's dedicated freighter aircraft.
June: Daily Cargo Volume to Vienna and the Return of Lufthansa Cargo Freighters
In the first phase, launching during June, Austrian Airlines will operate a regular daily morning flight on the Tel Aviv-Vienna route, offering available cargo capacity daily in the belly of passenger planes.
Simultaneously, the air freight industry saw a significant upgrade today as the group's dedicated cargo arm, Lufthansa Cargo, also resumed its scheduled freighter flights to and from Israel.
This combination of dedicated freighters and belly capacity in passenger aircraft is expected to provide immediate relief to the supply chain for sensitive products, courier services, and general cargo.
Roadmap for July–August: Surge in Cargo Volumes and Expansion of Trade Routes
According to the group's current plan for the summer months, the volume of cargo capacity available to the Israeli market in aircraft bellies is expected to increase significantly, and all flights are already open for booking in shipping systems:
Lufthansa: Starting July 1, it will operate two daily flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv. This represents a substantial addition of belly capacity, connecting Israel directly with the group's main home hub in Frankfurt (the central cargo hub for Europe and North America).
Austrian Airlines: Will add another daily flight on the Vienna route, providing forwarders with expanded cargo capacity across 11 weekly flights.
Eurowings: The subsidiary is expected to offer belly cargo capacity starting mid-June to July, with four weekly flights to strategic industrial destinations in Germany: Hamburg (starting July 10) and Dusseldorf (starting July 18).
SWISS: Will resume its Zurich-Tel Aviv flights starting August 1, reopening one of the group's most important and economical belly routes via Switzerland.
Brussels Airlines is expected to join the program at a later date, eventually adding cargo capacity to Western European destinations.
