Lufthansa Cargo shipments face delays due to IT outage and strikes

Lufthansa Cargo has placed a stop on all bookings for cargo shipments to and via Frankfurt and Munich as a result of an IT outage while operations will also be affected by airport strike action.

The Frankfurt-hubbed cargo carrier said that during construction work in Frankfurt, fibre optic cables belonging to a telecom service provider were damaged during track work, causing the IT systems of Lufthansa Group airlines to fail.

Frankfurt Airport was closed for arriving flights today (February 15) and there are currently numerous flight delays, detours and cancellations, Lufthansa said.

The cargo carrier had initially stopped accepting freight shipments at Frankfurt and Munich airports but this has now been lifted thanks to “stabilisation measures”.

“Customers can deliver their freight at these stations again with immediate effect,” Lufthansa Cargo said. “However, processing and transport delays are still to be expected due to the heavy load in the system.”

There is also an immediate “global booking freeze for cargo shipments to and via Frankfurt and Munich up to and including February 17” and flights are being re-routed.

“Lufthansa Cargo’s flight schedule will be adjusted under observation of the current situation. Some freighters currently on approach to Frankfurt will have to be diverted to other airports,” the carrier explained.

“The transfer of these affected flights back to Frankfurt is currently being examined. Connections via road feeder services will take place as planned.”

Looking ahead, Lufthansa Cargo said that full recovery will take some time.

“In this dynamic situation, all parties involved are working at full speed to find a quick solution to gradually reactivate the downed IT systems,” the airline said.

Airport strikes

Meanwhile, the carrier also warned that cargo operations would also be affected by strike action at seven German airports – including Frankfurt – due to take place tomorrow.

“Lufthansa Cargo’s flight programme is under review and subject to the approval of Frankfurt airport with regard to agreements allowing a selected number of flights to take off and land,” the carrier said.

“The loading process of shipments is expected to be delayed due to the lack of ground handling staff being on strike.”