Lufthansa Cargo freighter flies relief supplies to Türkiye

A Lufthansa cargo Boeing 777 freighter prepares to fly relief supplies to Turkey.
Photo Credit: Daniel Kummer/Lufthansa Cargo
Len Varley - Assistant Editor 3 Min Read
3 Min Read

LONDON – Last Friday, a Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777 freighter departed Frankfurt (FRA) on a relief operation to Türkiye. Operating as flight number LH8332, the aircraft’s destination was Fraport TAV Airport Antalya (AYT).

The freighter took off fully loaded with relief supplies, mainly winter clothing, blankets, food and hygiene items, which are most urgently needed on the ground.

The donations in kind came from Turkish communities in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, from companies in the region and from Lufthansa Cargo employees.

The Lufthansa Cargo subsidiary time:matters, which specializes in emergency logistics, and the customs service provider CB customs broker, which also belongs to Lufthansa Cargo, organized the extensive relief operation together with Lufthansa Cargo.

Lufthansa Group employees who volunteer in the FRA Community of the HelpAlliance, the Lufthansa Group’s non-profit relief organization, had been working with Lufthansa Cargo since 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening in consolidating and preparing the cargo for this free relief flight.

The Lufthansa Cargo team at the Istanbul station is in close contact with the disaster relief organization AFAD, which will receive the relief supplies after landing and bring them to the crisis area.

“We are deeply affected by the extent of the destruction in the Turkish-Syrian border region and want to help,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, Chairwoman of the Executive Board and CEO of Lufthansa Cargo AG.

“The willingness of our employees from the Lufthansa Cargo environment and the Help Alliance to help is enormous, and plans were made immediately to organize a relief flight as quickly as possible.”

“The terrible earthquake and the immeasurable suffering of the people in Turkey and Syria make us all very concerned. As an emergency logistics provider, we have already gained a lot of experience in dealing with such events during past crises and disasters,” said Alexander Kohnen, Managing Director of time:matters GmbH.

“Thus, we were able to operationally prepare this cargo flight with urgently needed relief goods within 72 hours with our professional teams. We were all overwhelmed by the commitment and willingness to help shown by our colleagues and the Turkish communities.”

Türkiye Syria earthquake update


According to officials, over 36,000 people are now dead and tens of thousands have been injured following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake which struck regions of southern Türkiye and Western Syria last Monday, 6 February 2023.

The initial quake was followed by a further magnitude 7.5 earthquake which occurred nine hours later. Hundreds of smaller after-shocks were also registered.

International relief efforts into both nations are continuing.

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