The ALPHA phase of Lufthansa Cargo’s €600m LCCevo air cargo project at Frankfurt Airport
has commenced operations.
With work having begun in 2023, the carrier is renovating its entire 80,000 sq m Frankfurt cargo
site, aiming to turn the Lufthansa Cargo Center (LCC) into Europe’s most modern air cargo hub
by 2030 – and continuing to operate 24/7 during the process.
The new infrastructure houses intelligent material flow and conveyor systems that seamlessly
connect all process steps, ensuring a significantly more efficient flow of goods.
Facilities include a fully automated, 42 m tall high-bay warehouse with nearly 3,000 storage
slots for large cargo pallets and a state-of-the-art automated pallet warehouse for temperature-
sensitive and specialised shipments. The high-bay warehouse alone will enable more than 300 storage and retrieval operations per hour, doubling capacity.
“With the launch of phase ALPHA, a vision is becoming a reality,” said Ashwin Bhat, Lufthansa
Cargo chief executive. “LCCevo is one of the most significant investments in our company’s
history and a clear commitment to Frankfurt as an air cargo hub. Lufthansa Cargo handles
nearly every second metric ton of air cargo at Frankfurt Airport. That is why we are making
targeted investments in our hub and its long-term performance capabilities.
“With intelligent cargo flows, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and automated processes, we are
creating the conditions necessary to continue meeting the demands of global markets. In doing
so, we are strengthening our and Germany’s competitiveness, laying the groundwork for further
growth.”
The BRAVO and CHARLIE phases of construction scheduled for the coming years up to 2030
will include sustainability elements such as the installation of photovoltaic systems on
approximately 19,000 sq m of roof space as well as intelligent heat recovery systems and green
roofs.
Kaweh Mansoori, Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs and Transport and Deputy Minister-
President, said the LCCevo project “strengthens the competitiveness of our aviation hub,
accelerates processes, and creates the conditions for Frankfurt to remain one of the world’s
most important air cargo hubs in the future”.
State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport Stefan Schnorr added: “Air freight is
indispensable for many key industries in Germany, from pharmaceuticals and mechanical
engineering to future-oriented sectors such as semiconductors. For our companies, reliable,
secure, and fast access to international markets is of crucial importance. […] Projects like
LCCevo strengthen the performance of air cargo and, at the same time, the competitiveness of
our country.”
