Lufthansa chief says cargo arm gains from geopolitical disruption

Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr said geopolitical turmoil tends to benefit the group's cargo division. Speaking to journalists in Frankfurt, he said the more unrest there is in the world, the better it is for cargo. He called the situation sad given current geopolitics, but relevant to the business model.

Geopolitics is one driver. When a major sea route is blocked, more transport shifts to air, Spohr said, creating extra demand for the freight unit.

Lufthansa Cargo matters to the group beyond crises. Spohr placed the freight division alongside Lufthansa Technik as a key pillar of profit, and said both businesses could play a larger role in the years ahead. Their growth is likely to exceed that of the passenger airlines, he said.

He is also upbeat about the current year. The fourth quarter, the strongest for air freight, is still to come, and he said he is very optimistic about the months ahead. The business is becoming more international as well.

The comments came at an event with reporters last week.