At the 2015 Business Travel Awards ceremony held on January 19 at Grosvenor House in London, Lufthansa was awarded ‘Best Short Haul Airline’.
1200 guests attended the 20th edition of the Awards Ceremony where winners were chosen for a variety of travel related categories covering hospitality, transportation and travel service providers.
Winners were selected by a jury of travel buyers (corporate travel departments) and travel journalists. The criteria for each award involved product innovation, change management, execution, and delivery of product.
To see a list of all the winners from the Award Ceremony, please click here.
Lufthansa unfortunately is battling labor issues on two fronts at the same time.
The more ‘popular’ of the two is the ongoing rift with the union that represents the majority of Lufthansa pilots, known as Vereingung Cockpit (VC). However another battle is being fought with UFO, who represents upwards of 18,000 cabin crew employees who are not pilots.
The latter battle, with UFO, appears to be making progress as both sides have agreed to meet for negotiations some time in mid-February following a vote of the membership that is taking place this month. The crux of the disagreements between Lufthansa and UFO revolves around 2 primary issues: Cabin crew pensions and how union-member employees will be treated as Lufthansa expands its Low Cost Carrier operations when it introduces WINGS this year.
It looks as though for now any strike threat from UFO is greatly diminished but the threat remains for VC to ask pilots to go on strike on relatively short notice.
The union representing the majority of Lufthansa’s pilots has once again suggesting that strike are imminent in the coming days and weeks.
Little progress has been made in settling a multi-pronged dispute that includes benefits for pilots who retire early as well as the union’s dissatisfaction with Lufthansa’s labor plans for their Low Cost Carrier operations including WINGS and germanwings.
The union has stated that it will meet with its membership in the near future to determine the timing of the next wave of strikes. Typically the union has given 24-48 hours of an upcoming walkout which gives little time for LH to respond. Fortunately Lufthansa has managed the process as well as be expected as it tries to minimize the impact that passengers would feel.
I’ll provide additional updates as this latest threat develops.
The Plane Spotting gods no doubt are looking over me this weekend.
Yesterday, I was able to be among the first set of eyes to see Lufthansa’s newest 747-8i, D-ABYR, emerge from Boeing’s Paint Hangar at Paine Field. Then later in the evening, I was tipped off that Lufthansa Cargo’s last 777 Freighter was set to be moved to it’s final assembly position. I say tipped because I received the great intel from a Paine Field expert.
Known on Twitter as Paine Airport (@MattCawby), Matt has the pulse on what is happening with Boeing as far as aircraft movements are concerned. His regular updates helps followers keep tabs on test flights, assembly movements and delivery flight information. You can see more of his work and photography on his website as well.
So after I get the call letting me know that ‘D-ALFE’, the last 777F that LH Cargo has on order, was set to move from one hangar to another I set off to a ‘secret’ spot that lets you see inside the assembly hangars. A Cathay Pacific 777 had just been completed and moved to the fuel dock making room for D-ALFE to move into place.
Here is a video and a few images showing the transfer from last night (January 10, 2015):
D-ALFE as she is prepared to move along Boeing’s assembly line.
D-ALFE pushed back into her final assembly position
D-ALFE will now have her engines attached and stay here until she is ready for the Paint Hangar
As luck would have it I’m in the right place at the right time….
I am spending a few days in Everett, Washington to take in Plane Spotting at Paine Field. This morning, I parked my car a bit before sunrise and within an hour I would be surprised with what came out from behind the ‘curtain’.
So without further rambling, I introduce you (and the world) to the newly completed D-ABYR fresh from the paint booth, including a 2 minute video showing the Push Back. Most of the photos are shot at 600mm with Sigma’s new 150-600. I can’t say I’m disappointed with the sharpness. My love affair with the lens continues!
BTW, pardon the soundtrack on the video. I needed to cover up ‘someone’s’ constant breathing into the microphone! 🙂
Hello World! The very first images of D-ABYR as she is pushed out of the Boeing Paint Booth. Taken at 600mm, cropped 75%, but acceptable…
A bit more of D-ABYR as the push back continues.
Preparing for tow to parking.
Pardon the United 787-9
Now she awaits her inaugural flight in the coming days…..
