Editing Cargolux (section)

==History==
[[File:Cargolux B747-400F.jpg|thumb|A Cargolux [[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400F]] during loading]]
[[File:LX-VCM Boeing 747-8F Cargolux "Cutaway" (22262143611).jpg|thumb|A Cargolux [[Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8F]] in a special "cutaway" livery celebrating the airline's 45th anniversary.]]
The airline was established in March 1970 by [[Luxair]], the Salen Shipping Group, [[Loftleiðir]], and various private interests in Luxembourg. Einar Ólafsson was the airline's first employee and CEO.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Kristján Már Unnarsson |title=Andstaða forstjóra Flugleiða við Cargolux réð því að hluturinn fór |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20252715831d/segja-and-stodu-for-stjora-flug-leida-vid-cargolux-hafa-radid-thvi-ad-hluturinn-for |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=[[Vísir.is]] |date=17 April 2025 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> It started operations in May 1970 with one [[Canadair CL-44]] freighter with services from Luxembourg to [[Kai Tak Airport|Hong Kong]]. Over the next two years, the airline grew, as did its public visibility.<ref>[http://www.cargolux.com/Company/History.php "In the beginning"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919080158/http://www.cargolux.com/Company/History.php |date=September 19, 2011 }}, ''Cargolux''. Retrieved 9 September 2011.</ref>

By 1973, Cargolux had five CL-44s and made the leap into the jet age by acquiring a [[Douglas DC-8]]. This enabled the company to speed up its cargo deliveries. In 1974, Loftleiðir and Cargolux amalgamated their maintenance and engineering departments, and by 1975, Cargolux enjoyed new facilities consisting of central offices and two [[hangar]]s.

In 1978, the airline began to take shape into the company it is today.  The CL-44s began to be retired and the airline ordered its first [[Boeing 747]]s. In that same year it also began flying to other places in Asia, as well as to the United States. In 1979, as the company concluded its first decade, its first Boeing 747s were delivered.

In 1982, [[China Airlines]] became the first airline company to sign a strategic alliance with Cargolux.

1983 saw the introduction of the CHAMP (Cargo Handling and Management Planning) computer system and the start of some charter passenger flights for the [[Hajj]] pilgrimage.

1984 saw the departure of the last Douglas DC-8 in the fleet and the addition of a third Boeing 747. [[Lufthansa]] bought a 24.5% share of the airline in 1987 and Luxair increased its share to 24.53%.

1988 saw the birth of Lion Air, a passenger [[charter airline]] established by both Cargolux and Luxair. The airline had two Boeing 747s but Cargolux's venture into the passenger charter airline world proved to be an issue with the Luxembourg government and soon Lion Air folded.

Despite that setback, Cargolux made it into the 1990s in proper financial shape. It added two more Boeing 747s in 1990, as a way of celebrating its 20th anniversary, and in 1993, three [[Boeing 747-400]]Fs arrived at Luxembourg. In 1995 Cargolux had a year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary and Heiner Wilkens was named CEO and President.

In 1997, [[Luxair]] was able to increase its share to 34%, while in September that year Lufthansa sold its 24.5% stake to SAir Logistics; and [[Swissair|Swissair Cargo]] made a cooperation agreement with the Luxembourg company. The following year SAir Logistics increased its share to 33%.

By 1999, Cargolux's fleet had reached double figures, with 10 Boeing 747s. In 2000 a route was opened to [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]], and in 2001 Wilkens decided to step down as president and CEO of the air company.

In 2006, Cargolux built a new hangar which can hold two Boeing 747s simultaneously. It houses the maintenance and engineering department, which at the time had over 490 maintenance employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Knowledge Bites: Cargolux: How Luxembourg's freight airline became one of the largest in the world |url=https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/knowledge-bites/a/1582283.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=today.rtl.lu |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2010, Ulrich Ogiermann, the chief executive officer of Cargolux was indicted on suspicion of price-fixing;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/29/349125/cargolux-chief-indicted-over-alleged-price-fix-conspiracy.html|access-date=2010-10-31|title=Cargolux chief indicted over alleged price-fix conspiracy}}</ref> After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-at-1602.html/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713051330/http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-at-1602.html/|date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> In November 2010, Cargolux was fined for price-fixing by the [[European Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/09/349520/eleven-airlines-fined-in-european-cargo-cartel-investigation.html|access-date=2010-11-10|title=Eleven airlines fined in European cargo cartel investigation}}</ref>

On 8 September 2011, [[Qatar Airways]] purchased a 35% share in the company making it the second largest shareholder after [[Luxair]] (43.4%). The other shareholders were the [[Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat]] (10.9%) and the [[Société Nationale de Crédit et d'Investissement]] (10.7%).<ref>[https://archive.today/20120919002022/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/business/articles/2011/09/160933/index.php "Cargolux to extend network thanks to partnership"], ''Wort-lu''. Retrieved 9 September 2011.</ref> In November 2012 Qatar Airways announced plans to sell its stake after strategic differences with other major shareholders<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qatar-airways-ditches-cargolux-stake-379125/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Qatar Airways ditches Cargolux stake|date=2012-11-16}}</ref> such as whether the interim CEO and CFO, Richard Forson, should become the permanent CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wort.lu/en/view/it-s-official-qatar-airways-to-split-from-cargolux-50a6b47ce4b023430fcba1a0/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=It's official: Qatar Airways to split from Cargolux}}</ref> Unions had claimed Forson was effectively a Qatar Airways representative<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/cargolux-unions-against-bigger-control-qatar-airways-0327/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Cargolux unions against bigger control by Qatar Airways}}</ref> after comments he made about relocating maintenance to the Middle East and rumours of plans for aircraft to be re-registered in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/air/unions-fear-qatar-move-on-cargolux/20017995561.htm|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Unions fear Qatar move on Cargolux}}</ref> Qatar Airways sold its share to the [[Government of Luxembourg]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2012 |title=Qatar Airways confirms Cargolux stake sale |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE90C048/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref> which then sold that share to Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment, a Chinese company, for $120 million in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2013 |title=Luxembourg to sell Cargolux stake to Chinese investors |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL6N0JX2KC/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref> As part of that agreement, Cargolux launched a 
service from Luxembourg to [[Zhengzhou]] in [[Henan]].<ref name=AW>{{cite journal|journal=Airliner World|issue=March 2014|page=9}}</ref> According to the Dutch [[Open-source intelligence|OSINT]] platform [[Datenna]], Henan Civil Aviation's stake in Cargolux leads to a high risk of state influence on Cargolux by the Chinese government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Henan Civil Aviation invested in Cargolux Airlines |url=https://visuals.datenna.com/china-eu-fdi-radar/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Datenna |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Cargolux entered into a joint venture with Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment to create Henan Cargo Airlines, and holds a 25% stake in the operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-businessreport.com/article/we-invested-in-a-new-fleet-of-747-8f-aircraft-which-are-a-lot-more-environmentally-friendly/ |title=We invested in a new fleet of 747-8F aircraft, which are a lot more environmentally friendly |publisher=The Business Report  |date=22 January 2018 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>

On 17 September 2011 Cargolux announced that it would not accept the first two [[Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8F]] aircraft it had ordered, scheduled for delivery within a few days, due to "unresolved contractual issues between [[Boeing]] and [the airline]" concerning the aircraft.<ref>[http://www.cargolux.com/Press/PressReleases.php?nid=297 "Cargolux rejects delivery of Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924185707/http://www.cargolux.com/Press/PressReleases.php?nid=297 |date=2011-09-24 }}. Cargolux, 17 September  2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/09/19/362225/cargolux-747-8f-dispute-linked-to-late-qatar-787-deliveries.html "Cargolux 747-8F dispute linked to late Qatar 787 deliveries"]. Air Transport Intelligence news via flightglobal.com, 19 September 2011.</ref>
After resolving their contractual issues, Boeing handed over the first 747-8F to Cargolux in [[Everett, Washington]] on 12 October 2011. The freighter then flew to [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]] and picked up cargo before flying to Luxembourg.<ref>Ostrower, Jon. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-boeing-delivers-first-747-8f-363348/ "Boeing delivers first 747-8F"]. Flightglobal.com, 12 October 2011.</ref>

In 2019, Cargolux sponsored a flight for two [[Beluga whale|Beluga whales]] from China to a marine wildlife sanctuary in [[Iceland]], in partnership with the Sea Life Trust and the [[Whale and Dolphin Conservation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-22 |title=Belugas on board from China to Iceland |url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/yourluxembourg/whatshappening/belugas-on-board-from-china-to-iceland/1314642.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=luxembourg-times-online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-06-20 |title=Cargolux completes beluga whale flight |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-completes-beluga-whale-flight/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Video: Cargolux transports two Beluga whales from China to Iceland |url=https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1581996.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=today.rtl.lu |language=en}}</ref>

Cargo 2000 &mdash; an industry group within the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) consisting of some 80 major airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, trucking companies and IT providers &mdash; announced on 15 March 2012 at its annual general meeting, that Cargolux Airlines International S.A. had gained Cargo 2000 platinum membership status.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cargolux Achieves Cargo2000 Platinum Membership Status|url=http://www.amcham.lu/about-us/media-center/news/detail/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=149|website=Amcham Luxembourg|date=16 March 2012|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404215534/http://www.amcham.lu/about-us/media-center/news/detail/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=149|archive-date=4 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June, 2020, Cargolux and Unilode extended their partnership with a new agreement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cargolux and Unilode extend partnership |url=https://www.globalcargonews.com/cargolux-and-unilode-extend-partnership |access-date=14 July 2020 |publisher=Global Cargo News |date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714120431/https://www.globalcargonews.com/cargolux-and-unilode-extend-partnership |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2022, Cargolux sold its remaining shares in CHAMP Cargosystems to [[SITA (business services company)|SITA]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cargolux sells shares in spin-off company |url=https://delano.lu/article/cargolux-has-sold-champ-cargos |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=delano.lu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffrey |first=Rebecca |date=2022-01-25 |title=American Airlines and CHAMP extend partnership |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/technology/airfreight-digitisation/american-airlines-and-champ-extend-partnership/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref>

Cargolux inaugurated a new [[aerial firefighting]] business unit in 2024, which will operate a fleet of 12 aircraft, three of which have already been delivered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Damian |date=2024-01-15 |title=Cargolux diversifies into aerial firefighting |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-diversifies-into-aerial-firefighting/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuenca |first=Oliver |date=2023-11-22 |title=Cargolux to acquire firefighting fleet |url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/cargolux-acquire-firefighting-fleet |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=AirMed&Rescue |language=en}}</ref> Also in 2024, Cargolux and [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] signed a contract for more than 140,000 tonnes of [[Electrofuel|e-SAF]] (e-Sustainable Aviation Fuel) to be supplied by Norsk e-Fuel from 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Damian |date=2024-01-17 |title=Cargolux signs up for e-SAF to power freighters |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-signs-up-for-e-saf-to-power-freighters/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref>