Major Cargo Airlines Highlighted for Global Freight Forwarders

This article introduces several major international airlines, including American Airlines, Lufthansa, Ukraine International Airlines, EgyptAir, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Cathay Pacific/Dragonair. It analyzes their flight characteristics, advantages, and freight services, assisting freight forwarders in selecting suitable airlines to meet the diverse needs of different clients.

In international freight transportation, selecting the right airline is crucial. This overview highlights major cargo carriers and their operational strengths to assist freight forwarders in making informed decisions.

Major Cargo Airlines and Their Specializations

American Airlines (AA) operates daily wide-body direct flights to Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas (DFW), and Chicago (ORD). The carrier offers competitive rates for South American destinations including Montevideo (MVD), São Paulo (GRU), Lima (LIM), and Santiago (SCL), with consistent flight frequency and payload capacity.

Lufthansa (LH) provides 1,356 weekly cargo flights to Frankfurt (FRA), accepting oversized shipments. Its wide-body passenger aircraft network connects key European hubs including Munich (MUC) and Vienna (VIE), facilitating efficient transfers across Europe and South America.

Ukraine International Airlines (PS) maintains daily wide-body services to Kyiv (KBP) with dedicated cargo space. The airline offers seamless connections to secondary destinations such as Tel Aviv (TLV) and Warsaw (WAW).

EgyptAir (MS) operates cargo flights to Cairo (CAI) four times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), with onward connections to Johannesburg (JNB), Riyadh (RUH), and Dubai (DXB). Its narrow-body aircraft are particularly suitable for smaller shipments.

Regional Specialists and Niche Operators

SriLankan Airlines (UL) serves Colombo (CMB) four times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday), offering competitive rates for Southern India and Middle Eastern routes including Kuwait (KWI) and Dubai (DXB). Narrow-body flights to Lahore (LHE) and Karachi (KHI) demonstrate additional regional strengths.

Swiss International Air Lines (LX) delivers premium service through daily wide-body flights to Zurich (ZRH), with cost-effective transfer options to major cities including Amsterdam (AMS), London (LHR), and New York (JFK).

Cathay Pacific & Dragonair (CX/KA) stands out with over 10 daily departures from Hong Kong (HKG), providing unmatched global coverage. The airline's exceptional payload capacity and capability to handle oversized cargo make it a market leader for specialized freight requirements.