Germanwings ready for expansion

Germanwings will open a new base at Hannover Airport - its sixth station in Germany.

The Cologne-based carrier has declined to release further details under an official announcement is made on Monday but says the move is part of a general programme of expansion throughout 2010.

Its German-based network already includes Cologne Bonn, Berlin Schonefeld, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Dortmund.

In a bid to drive a double-digit percentage increase in capacity this year, Germanwings is also due to take delivery of four further A319s (bringing the total fleet to 30 aircraft) and says it will be looking to attract more business passengers in response to positive trends seen on the segment.