Lufthansa Cargo is canceling its freighter flights to and from Cologne and will instead operate through Leipzig-Halle Airport, effective Oct. 28.

The switch is being made in conjunction with DHL Express making Leipzig its central European hub from next year. The two companies have been jointly operating a route network between Europe, Asia and the United States with their Aerologic intercontinental joint venture since March 2004.

Cologne will remain a DHL and Lufthansa Cargo base, but the German airlines said it would only be offering capacity ex Cologne in the future for cargo carried in the bellies of Lufthansa passenger aircraft or by road feeder services. As a result of the change, 35 staff will be withdrawn from cargo handling in Cologne and assigned to posts at other Lufthansa Cargo locations.