Japan’s ANA Temporarily Halts Cargo JV with Lufthansa and United Airlines

Japan’s ANA – All Nippon Airways has announced a temporary suspension of its cargo partnerships with Lufthansa Cargo and United Airlines. The decision, outlined in a filing with the Tokyo Stock Exchange on September 29, is attributed to the forthcoming restructuring of ANA’s cargo business following its acquisition of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA).

The joint air cargo venture with Lufthansa Cargo and United Airlines has been in operation since 2014. ANA’s acquisition of NCA, valued at around JPY 13 billion yen (USD 86.8 million), was confirmed in July. Although ANA initially aimed to conclude the acquisition by October 1, 2023, recent reports suggest that the finalization will be postponed until the first quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approvals.

Suspending the cargo partnership with Lufthansa Cargo and United Airlines allows ANA to navigate restrictions on information sharing with NCA until the acquisition is formally completed. The acquisition includes NCA’s fleet of eight owned B747-8Fs, serving 13 airports globally from its base at Tokyo Narita.