German mail and logistics group Deutsche Post’s express carrier DHL and Deutsche Lufthansa's air freight division plan to create a joint cargo carrier, Germany's competition regulator, the cartel office, said.

The companies have applied for approval to set up a joint airline for cargo flights, according to the authorities.

A spokesman for said it planned to expand its cooperation with Lufthansa, without giving further details.

Lufthansa Cargo and DHL Express have operated a network together between Europe, Asia and the US since March 2004, a large part of which is due later this year to start operating out of Leipzig/Halle airport, where DHL Express is moving its main European hub.