by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 26, 2017 | A330, A340, A350, A380, Featured, Frankfurt, Lufthansa, Munich, Route Announcements |
Lufthansa has begun to tweak their operations for Spring/Summer 2018. Typically the changes in aircraft that fly certain routes are as a result of seasonal demand on a route, scheduled maintenance, or aircraft retirement.
Thus far, Lufthansa has made changes on 10 of their routes that will see different aircraft fly he routes for at least the Spring and Summer next year.
The changes:
Frankfurt – Beijing: Beginning on March 25, an Airbus A346 will take over for the 747-8i / A380 that currently fly the route.
Frankfurt – Hong Kong: Beginning on March 25, an Airbus A346 will take over from the A380 that currently flies the route. Specifically, the last A380 flight to Hong Kong will take place on October 27, and between October 27 and March 25 the 747-8i will be deployed on the route until March 25.
Frankfurt – Los Angeles: Beginning on March 25, an Airbus A346 will replace the A380 on flights LH456 and LH457. The 747-8i will continue to fly flights LH450 and LH451.
Frankfurt – San Diego: Beginning on March 25 an A343 will be deployed on the new route that begins on that day.
Frankfurt – Seoul: Beginning on March 25 the A346 will take over for the 744 and A380 that currently are scheduled on the route.
Munich – Beijing: Beginning on March 25 the A380 will take over for the Airbus A346.
Munich – Hong Kong: Beginning on March 25 the Airbus A380 will take over for the Airbus A346.
Munich – Los Angeles: Beginning on March 25 the A380 will replace the A346 on the route.
Munich – Singapore: Beginning March 27, the new (resumption of service) route will be served by an Airbus A350.
H/T: www.AirlineRoute.net
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 13, 2017 | Austrian, Featured, Industry News, Lufthansa, Passenger Experience |
Over the last few days, German media has been reporting a new concept being considered by Lufthansa to further enhance cost savings when it comes to flight operations out of the hubs in Europe.
Lufthansa’s Harry Hohmeister has unveiled plans that will create a potentially new ‘Flexible Routing’ fare that will allow Lufthansa to change already issued tickets for passengers willing to be more flexible in their trip routing.
The reasoning behind this concept will allow Lufthansa to self-direct passenger flow through hubs based on demand and pricing. For example, Frankfurt Airport charges Lufthansa up to 20% more for handling long haul LH flights and passengers than Munich, Zurich, or Vienna charge. Having passengers reroute through lower cost hubs obviously would net a positive impact on LH’s bottom line. In their planning, LH would be able to determine in advance if other hubs and flights have capacity to handle last minute changes. If not, the flex fare passenger would fly their original ticket.
An example could look like:
A passenger books a flight from Chicago to Berlin. The original booking would have the passenger transit through Frankfurt enroute to Berlin. Under a flex routing fare, Lufthansa could re-ticket the passenger a few days before the flight to have them fly Chicago – Munich – Berlin, Chicago – Vienna – Berlin, or Chicago – Zurich – Berlin and thus avoid the extra costs associated with routing a passenger through the more pricey Frankfurt.
Passengers flying under a flex routing fare would be informed days or weeks ahead of their trip, letting them know if their original routing has changed.
Please understand that only a ‘flex routing’ fare class would subject a passenger to a last minute rerouting. Passengers flying on traditional fare classes would not be subject to these kind of changes.
Lufthansa has already sent a ‘shot across the bow’ to Frankfurt by announcing a transfer of 5 A380 aircraft to Munich, thus already reducing capacity at Frankfurt and potentially preparing for the roll out of the new flex-routing fares and increasing capacity in Munich.
In his comments, Hohmeister indicated that passengers agreeing to a flex routing fare would be well rewarded for their willingness to be flexible.
Plans are in place to unveil the new program for Lufthansa and Austrian operated flights at the beginning of 2018.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 13, 2017 | A380, Featured, Frankfurt, Lufthansa, Munich, Route Announcements |
Earlier this morning, LUFTHANSA released a series of announcements including the launch of a new USA destination, the introduction of A380 aircraft to Munich, a return to Singapore and more flights to Chicago!
First, Lufthansa has announced that it will begin flying between Frankfurt and San Diego in 2018. Though no specifics were announced, they did indicate that the flight will be operated 5 times a week. I suspect that the flights will begin sometime in the March-April timeframe.
Next, LH also announced that 5 A380 aircraft will be transferred from Frankfurt to their new home in Munich and will serve ultra-long haul destinations such as Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and Beijing. This will take place in time for the Summer 2018 timetable.
Additionally, LH indicated that it will once again offer service between Munich and Singapore beginning with the Summer 2018 schedule. Initial plans indicated that the flight will operate 5 times a week.
And lastly, Lufthansa has announced that it will increase service between Munich and Chicago. Currently, LH flies to ORD 7 times a week, with the new announcement, there will be 10 flights per week beginning with the Summer 2018 schedule.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Feb 3, 2017 | Eurowings, Featured, LCC, Munich, Passenger Experience |
Beginning in Summer 2018, Lufthansa’s low cost carrier, Eurowings, will begin serving Frankfurt as the LH Group seeks to stem the competition coming from other European LCCs.
In an article published in Airliners.de, Eurowings boss Karl Ulrich Garnadt stated that due to the pressures seen coming from Ryanair and others, it made good business sense to counter the new competition. Ryanair plans to begin service to Frankfurt this spring.
Such a move is made easier due to the fact that Eurowings will inherit 33 aircraft in the coming months after Lufthansa agreed to lease the aircraft from Air Berlin. This is of course in addition to the aircraft that will join Eurowings after the acquisition of Brussels Airlines closes. In all, the Eurowings fleet will grow to nearly 120 aircraft making it easier to operate from large hubs and to take on their competitors directly.
Previously, Eurowings announced that it will begin flying from Lufthansa’s other Mega-Hub in Munich in March. The initial timetable calls for flights to 32 cities throughout Europe, mostly towards ‘Holiday’ type destinations.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 20, 2017 | 747, Featured, Lufthansa, Route Announcements |
A few days ago, Lufthansa updated their timetable to reflect a switch in aircraft that will be used between Frankfurt and Detroit.
Beginning July 2, Lufthansa will begin flying the 747-400 on their daily flight to the Motor City, replacing the A340-300 that has been on the route until now. This will be the case at least for the Summer timetable which expires on September 29. LH will most likely downgage the route to a smaller aircraft for Winter 2017/18, but at least for the Summer and early Fall, passengers can enjoy the Queen of the Skies from DTW.
This covers flight LH442 that departs FRA at 10:00a and arrives in Detroit at 12:40p, and LH443 that departs Detroit at 3:50p, arriving in Frankfurt at 5:40a the following morning.
