by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 11, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Austrian Airlines has received a vote of confidence from Lufthansa to help with updating a portion of its fleet, but not without preconditions.
Lufthansa, 100% stakeholder in Austrian, has indicated its willingness to help Austria’s national carrier as it struggles through challenges in it’s business. Austrian has plans to potentially replace a portion of it’s 737 fleet with new Airbus A319’s and A320’s but can not finance the transaction without outside assistance. Austrian has indicated that Lufthansa would be willing to help, so long as it can demonstrate its ability to improve its operating costs structure.
Jaan Albrecht, the new head of the airline since November 1, 2011 (previously the CEO of Star Alliance Services) indicated that Austrian’s objective is to reduce costs by Euro 200 million in 2012. This should translate into profitability for the year. They hope accomplish this by staff cuts and route reductions.
Austrian no doubt faces substantial headwinds in the environment they operate within. With the ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) adding to pricing pressure on tickets and with continued stress that Europe is under with its economic challenges while at the same time battling increasing fuel prices, this will be no easy task for the Airline.
What IS encouraging here is Lufthansa’s commitment. Recently, Lufthansa had decided to close it’s Italian subsidiary and has reached an agreement to sell it’s British Midland (BMI) unit to IAG, parent company of British Airways and Iberia. By extending this vote of confidence to Austrian, its a clear sign that Lufthansa wants the struggling carrier to succeed and is willing to help, but only if Austrian can demonstrate it has earned the right to have this support.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 10, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Star Alliance members with summer route update announcements:
AIR CHINA
Beijing-Vancouver effective March 25 will reduce to daily. Currently it is being served 10x/week.
Beijing-Hong Kong effective March 25 will add additional daily service. Will run 7x/day.
Hangzhou-Tokyo(NRT) planned service has been canceled.
Beijing-Saipan planned service has been canceled.
Beijing-Dusseldorf effective July 3 will increase from 4x/week to 5x/week.
Beijing-Munich effective June 18 increases from 5x/week to Daily. Route be served by A330’s.
Beijing-Kuala Lumpur effective from June 6-August 3 will reduce from 5x/week to 4x/week.
Beijing-London Gatwick effective May 2 will operate 4x/week. Route will be served by A330’s.
Beijing-Nagoya effective March 25 will increase from daily to 11x/week.
Shanghai-Milan effecitve March 25 will increase from 5x/week to daily.
Shanghai-Paris(CDG) effective March 10 will resume with 5x/week service.
EGYPTAIR
Cairo-Tokyo(NRT) effective August 21 will operate 3x/week. The Boeing 777 to be used on the route.
Cairo–Beijing effective June 1 will be reduced to 3x/week from current 4x/week.
Cairo-Osaka previously scheduled service that was to begin in July is canceled.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Singapore–Guangzhou effective March 25 service reduces to 12x/week from 14x/week.
Singapore–Male effective March 25 service increases from 10x/weekly to 14x/weekly.
Singapore–Adelaide effective July 2 services increases from Daily to 10x/week.
Singapore–Brisbane effective March 25 service ncreases 19x/week to 21x/week.
Singapore–Moscow-Houston effective March 25 service reduces from Daily to 5x/week.
Singapore–Mumbai effective March 25 service increases from 17x/week to 19x/week.
Singapore–Munich–Manchester effective March 25 service reduces from daily to 6x/week.
Singapore–Perth effective March 25 service increases from 18x/week to 21x/week.
Singapore–Seoul Incheon effective March 25 service increases from 3x/daily to 4x/daily.
Singapore–Taipei effective March 25 service reduces from 18x/week to 14x/week.
TURKISH
Istanbul-Lagos effective March 25 increase from 6x/week to daily.
Istanbul-Los Angeles effective March 25 increases from 5x/week to daily.
Istanbul-Tokyo(NRT) effective March 25 increases from 6x/week to daily.
Istanbul-Washington(IAD) effective March 25 increases from 6x/week to daily.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 9, 2012 | Uncategorized |
It’s a BUSY DAY today at LufthansaFlyer!!!
Lufthasa announced that it will be concluding it’s biofuel testing initiatives by conducting the first ever transatlantic flight using biofuels. The flight, LH418, is scheduled for Thursday January 12. It will depart Frankfurt(FRA) at 1:05p an arrive at Washingon DC’s Dulles(IAD) at 3:50p. Lufthansa has been pioneering the use of biofuels for quite some time on test routes in Germany and is now expanding the test to include this long haul flight.
Here’s a copy of the press release in its entirety:
Lufthansa to conduct first-ever transatlantic commercial biofuel flight to U.S. on a Boeing 747-400
January 12th flight from Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. concludes six-month program testing long-term effects of biofuel on engines
East Meadow, NY, January 9, 2012 – Today Lufthansa announced that it will conclude its successful long-term biofuel study by operating the world’s first biofuel-powered transatlantic commercial flight to the United States. On Thursday, January 12, 2012, Lufthansa will fly a Boeing 747-400 carrying approximately 40 tons of biofuel mix from Frankfurt to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. Flight LH418 will depart from Frankfurt at 1:05pm and is scheduled to arrive in DC at 3:50pm. On this flight alone, Lufthansa expects to reduce CO2 emissions by 38 tons.
Through its pioneering burnFAIR project, Lufthansa was the first airline to use biofuel on regularly scheduled commercial flights in an effort to study the long-term effect of biofuel on engine maintenance and engine life, as well as the environmental impact. From July 15 to December 27, 2011, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 operating along the Hamburg-Frankfurt route had one of its engines powered by a 50-50 blend of regular fuel and biosynthetic kerosene. In all, 1,187 biofuel flights were conducted, and according to initial calculations, the total consumption of the biokerosene mix amounted to 1,556 tons and CO2 emissions were reduced by 1,471 tons.
“Our burnFAIR project went off smoothly and to our fullest satisfaction. As expected, biofuel proved its worth in daily flight operations,” confirmed Joachim Buse, Vice President Aviation Biofuel at Lufthansa.
Biosynthetic kerosene is just as reliable as conventional jet fuel but with less environmental impact. Thanks to the higher energy density of biofuel, the fuel consumption of the corresponding engine is reduced by more than one percent. Furthermore, biosynthetic kerosene is free of sulphur and aromatic compounds.
The principle behind biofuel is based on the carbon cycle through which plants withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis. When aircraft engines burn biofuel, CO2 is released back into the atmosphere at a rate of about 50 percent less than conventional fossil fuels.
“As a next step, we will focus on the suitability, availability, sustainability and certification of raw materials. But first we must tap into this market. However, Lufthansa will only continue this practical trial if we can secure a supply of sustainable, certified raw materials,” Mr. Buse said.
Lufthansa’s innovative biofuel program is part of the airline’s continued commitment to limiting the environmental effects of flying through the sparing use of resources, participation in climate research, and ongoing improvements to air and ground efficiencies, among other initiatives.
More information about the project is available at: http://www.puresky.de/en/
