Bruce Barnard | Jul 11, 2011 10:54AM EDT
Lufthansa Cargo is phasing in lightweight plastic freight containers the airline says will cut its fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The plastic containers are up to 15 percent lighter than the traditional aluminum ones and will require less maintenance, the German carrier said.
Lufthansa said it will start introducing the new containers in the fall and replace a total of 5,000 aluminum containers by 2015.
Other containers using the same technology also are being developed, Lufthansa Cargo CEO Karl Ulrich Garnadt said.
Lufthansa said the switch to plastic containers will reduce its fuel consumption by about 2,180 tons a year and cut annual CO2 emissions by 6,867 tons.
-- Contact Bruce Barnard at brucebarnard47@hotmail.com.