United Airlines of the US and Germany's Lufthansa Cargo have now launched their long-awaited air cargo joint venture, a transatlantic partnership first mooted in 2015.

Effective May 3, the two carriers will jointly manage sales and booking of standard and express shipments on routes between Europe and the US using their joint venture framework.

Starting with selected routings from the US, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland and Germany, the carriers will expand the geographical scope in the coming months and plan to include additional products and features in the future.

Peter Gerber, chairman and chief executive of Lufthansa Cargo, said: “The joint venture was designed to provide enhanced value to our customers.

“The combination of the two strong networks offers new routing options. The co-location of our warehouses, in Munich for example, is an additional benefit, with customers needing only one location for export drop-off and import delivery. Aligned processes and quicker transfers between separate warehouses also lead to streamlined transport times.”

United Cargo president Jan Krems said: “Cargo customers worldwide value speed, convenience and reliability.

“Through our joint venture, United and Lufthansa Cargo offer transatlantic shippers more options that produce these benefits – including increased frequencies on a combined network accessible through either partner’s booking channels. Our aligned teams and processes also deliver the superior service quality essential to our customers’ success.”

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