Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS WorldCargo, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore closer air-cargo cooperation between Japan and Europe. The companies are assessing ways to link their networks, with potential for additional capacity and routing options. The agreement is exploratory; no routes, capacity figures or implementation timetable have been confirmed.
The discussions could extend a cargo joint venture that Lufthansa Cargo and ANA launched in 2014. That cooperation was suspended in September 2023 as ANA Holdings reorganised its cargo business. The new talks bring SWISS WorldCargo and NCA into consideration for a possible broader arrangement, but the memorandum does not establish a joint venture or change current operations.
Any future agreement could give customers access to more routing and capacity options between Europe and Japan. The four companies have not disclosed specific routes or locations under review, nor have they set a date for a decision on whether to proceed.