The historic strategic alliance of Lufthansa Cargo AG and the national carrier, PIA, went into practical demonstration with the departure of first PIA cargo flight loaded with 40 tonnes of freight for Frankfurt here on Sunday morning.
Earlier, a ceremony was held at the Cargo Complex at the Karachi Airport on Saturday night which was attended by Warner J. Kletzka, general manager Cargo Lufthansa for Near and Middle East and Pakistan; S. Tariq Bukhari, general manager Cargo PIA; Sohail Yasin, CEO and managing director, Hansa Management and Marketing; and other senior officials to mark the beginning of cargo flights under strategic alliance.
Speaking on the occasion, Warner described the start of Lufthansa-PIA cargo operation a new chapter in the history of two airlines.
"I am happy that now we are in real co-operation with the PIA Cargo", Warner told the cheering reception participants. This is really a historic day, he added.
He said: "We in the two airlines will also see for further progress in the future and see that the PIA and the Lufthansa Cargo become the driver of the industry and both to promote export industry.
Talking to newsmen on the occasion, PIA General Manager (Cargo) Tariq Bukhari said the PIA Cargo has registered a fast growth during the last few years. It registered a growth of 19 percent during this year as compared to 14 percent last year, he added. He said the revenue generated stood at Rs 5.3 billion this year as against Rs 4.2 billion last year, while the target for the next year has been fixed at Rs 6 billion.
"A day will come when we will be competing with the passengers revenue in PIA", said Bukhari.
Bukhari said that PIA will soon brought cargo export and import formalities under one-roof under its upgradation plan which will cost Rs 60 million.