US Airways, via Lufthansa Cargo: American carrier will sell Europe through Lufthansa in wide-ranging agreement on belly capacity.(Air & Express)(US Airways Inc.,Lufthansa Cargo AG)

US Airways is turning over the sales of its cargo capacity out of Europe to Lufthansa Cargo in a freight cooperation that extends Lufthansa's bid to build its network and to handle the belly business of fellow airlines.

The agreement, which will be phased in starting Sept. 1, gives Lufthansa Cargo its first partner in the United States, at least partly filling a geographic gap in the airline's strategy of expanding its network reach through alliances.

When completed next year, it will have Lufthansa sell the American carrier's cargo capacity for European exports and have US Airways and Lufthansa Cargo work out of the same facilities in Europe. At the same …