Lufthansa

Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines will further reduce its fleet and cut more jobs as the COVID-19 crisis drags on.

Given the massive financial losses at many European hubs as a result of COVID-19, Vienna Airport (VIE) got off relatively lightly in announcing a loss of €76 million ($90 million) for 2020.

Lufthansa Cargo (LHC) CEO Dorothea von Boxberg has said COVID-19 vaccine volumes will not have as much of an impact on the air cargo market as the industry once believed.

Three Airbus A320s will be stationed at Berlin Brandenburg from April, while in May the Lufthansa-owned carrier intends to begin flying between the UK and Mallorca.

Lufthansa Cargo (LHC) said that it is prepared for the next downturn in the air cargo business when it happens after the company presented the best results in its 26-year history following an unprecedented year.

Lufthansa subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have reported substantial losses for 2020 and further fleet reductions at both carriers are possible.

Lufthansa Group plans to phase out eight long-haul aircraft types over the next few years and sees no prospect of returning the Airbus A380 or A340-600 back to service.

Newly appointed Benedikt Escher says SWISS will reconsider its mix of destinations and frequencies as it notes strength of VFR and leisure.

The carrier also plans to start a new Brussels-Frankfurt connection this summer.

Lufthansa announced major changes to its ab initio pilot training program Feb. 17, as the airline grapples with the fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their new agreement covers routes from Latvia and Lithuania to Munich.

Lufthansa Group is planning to further expand its long-haul tourist offer from Frankfurt (FRA) at the start of the winter 2021/22 season with the addition of flights to Montego Bay in Jamaica and Varadero in Cuba.

The Star Alliance member’s new Eurowings Discover brand is set to go head-to-head with Condor on two more long-haul leisure routes from Frankfurt.

Munich-headquartered Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) announced two changes to its top management team effective Feb. 1.

For Europe’s airlines, optimism that began in late 2020 over vaccines has not translated into a surge in bookings as hoped.

The LCC says passengers will return once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

The Indian airline will rival Air India and Lufthansa in serving the Delhi-Frankfurt market.

Europe’s largest airline reached another interim deal with its pilot union Dec. 23.

Ground-handling giant Swissport has appointed airline veteran Christoph Mueller as future chairman of the board and interim CEO as of Jan. 1.

Air Dolomiti is adding Aarhus in Denmark to its route map.

German startup Lilium has partnered with Lufthansa Flight Training to develop a pilot sourcing and training program that will support its planned global deployment of regional air mobility services.

Lufthansa Group subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Eurowings have both announced several changes to their management teams.

Brussels Airlines is being further integrated into parent Lufthansa Group and the Belgian flag-carrier expects to play a more important role in Lufthansa’s hub system.

Routes Reconnected will see the globe’s leading airlines, airports and tourism organisations come together to rebuild the world’s air services.

Lufthansa announced new CEOs for subsidiaries SWISS International Air Lines (SWISS), Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo on Nov. 18.