by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 18, 2016 | A350, Featured, Lufthansa, Munich, Technik |
Lufthansa has announced that their first Airbus A350 aircraft will be delivered on December 19.
The aircraft will be delivered directly to Munich where Lufthansa Technik will install the cabin interior and other proprietary enhancements. During this time, the aircraft will also be used for cabin and ground crew training.
Lufthansa’s First A350. It’s currently carrying an Airbus tail number, which will be changed to D-AIXA once LH accepts the aircraft.
Munich will be the hub where the ‘initial’ A350 fleet will be based. Lufthansa plans to assign the first 10 A350s to Munich as it begins replacing A340 aircraft. Current plans call for up to 25 A350s to join the fleet over the coming months and years. The tail number protocol for the A350 will be D-AIX_, with the first first A350 being registered as D-AIXA.
Once delivered, the aircraft will not enter passenger service until February 10, when the A350 will take over on the daily flight between Munich and Delhi. Boston will follow shortly thereafter but based on Lufthansa’s past history with new aircraft, expect the A350 to be put on ‘tour’ and flown to several destinations during its first months in service.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 15, 2016 | Ducks, Featured, First Class, Munich, Oktoberfest, On Board Experience, Passenger Experience, Trachtencrew |
Lufthansa has released the details about their ‘Trachtencrew’ schedule for 2016.
Celebrating their 10th Anniversary passengers will find these crews, dressed in their Oktoberfest best, on several flights over the coming weeks. Two crews will be featured and will be seen on six long-haul flights this year. In addition to the flight crews, ground staff in Munich will also be in the Oktoberfest spirit, sporting their Dirndls as well. Passengers visiting the First Class Lounge will see a Dirndl pattern that is unique to the First Class Lounge staff (and don’t forget to get your ‘Oktoberfest’ Duck!).
As a matter of fact, if you are flying from Munich to either Toronto or Washington DC today (Sept 15), you’ll see them. On September 20, passengers flying from Munich to Shanghai or Hong Kong will enjoy their hospitality. On October 2nd, the Trachtencrew will be aboard the flight from Munich to Denver, and on October 3 from Munich to Boston.
In addition to the long haul flights, the Trachtencrews will also be found on flights to Europe. Passengers will see them on flights to Birmingham, Belgrade, Cluj, Nice, Olbia, and Sylt.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 9, 2016 | Eurowings, Featured, Lufthansa, Munich |
The strategy of operating a low cost carrier SPECIFICALLY NOT out of a major hub has apparently been scuttled.
According to Eurowings boss, Karl Ulrich Garnadt, Eurowings (Lufthansa’s low cost carrier division) will begin operating flights out of Lufthansa’s #2 hub in, Munich. No date has been announced, but it was indicated that Munich operations for EW would begin sometime in 2017.
The rationale behind the change in the Eurowings business model is to stave off LCC competition that is beginning to build in Munich thanks to other LCC operators such as Easyjet and Norwegian among others. However, there are inherent risks with the idea, one being labor and the other being the impact on Lufthansa’s mainline operations.
As the Eurowings concept was built out, Lufthansa had worked with Unions to ensure that there would be no conflict of interest when it came to Eurowings and Lufthansa crews. Bringing the 2 carriers in direct competition in Munich may not sit well with Unions who typically have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to calling strikes for trivial reasons.
Another almost certain unintended consequence with this move is the risk that Lufthansa mainline operations will lose passengers to Eurowings. EW and LH would be in direct competition for the same passengers. Fares wars within the same airline group?
Not only will this impact short haul Munich operations for Lufthansa, it will almost certainly impact long haul operations as well. Booking a combination of EW and LH flights on one ticket is not an easy task, nor is the ability to connect from an EW flight to one operated by Lufthansa, and vice versa. A lot of systems work will be needed to marry the 2, and thats on top of Eurowings’ existing systems challenges that they are working through.
I see this as a reactionary move and an attempt to reduce the impact of non-LH LCC airlines in Munich, but in reality I don’t see how this will be possible since Eurowings is suggesting that only 4 or 5 aircraft would be assigned to Munich, hardly enough to make a significant impact on the competition, but enough to hurt itself and the parent company. EW already has its set of challenges and I think that they are stretching themselves a bit too thin in opening this new ‘front’ on the war against other LCCs. This defines dabbling and experimenting, not a commitment. Bandaids do not heal wounds.
It would be wiser for EW to be proactive and perfect their product that currently has it challenges and not enter a new arena with a business model designed for anything but operating out of major hubs, especially Lufthansa’s. Perfect the EW model so that it allows Lufthansa to consolidate other European LCCs into Eurowings when the opportunities arise. Don’t dilute what at best is a marginally successful unit (most would even argue that it is not yet successful).
In my humble opinion it’s a case of ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’.
I’d like to be proven wrong, but I wouldn’t bet against me.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 28, 2016 | A330, Featured, First Class, Fleet Update, Munich |
When Lufthansa’s ‘D-AIKJ’ comes out of scheduled maintenance in September, it will be the first A330 to be in service that will not have a First Class cabin. The Munich-based aircraft will only have Business, Premium Economy, and Economy class cabins.
Based on initial plans, the aircraft will only fly between Munich and Delhi beginning on September 23 and will remain on the route until her retirement, though I suspect that commitment can change. A-AIKJ entered service in 2005, so there are few good years left to her.
As more A330 aircraft go through their maintenance schedules, expect more to have their First Class cabin removed.
Captured here as she departed Dubai, D-AIKJ will be Lufthansa’s first A330 without First Class seating.
H/T: MUCForum.de / Oliver2002
by Lufthansa Flyer | Aug 25, 2016 | Air Canada, Austrian, Economy Class, Fare Sale, Featured, Lufthansa, Swiss |
Lufthansa has published what are perhaps the lowest fares I’ve ever seen between Chicago and Frankfurt or Munich. The economy fares coincide with the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend and run into mid-December. This lines up PERFECTLY with the opening of the Holiday Market season throughout Germany and the rest of Europe.
The best fare that I could find was a $525 deal between Chicago and Munich. Frankfurt was next at only $535. The rest of Germany and Europe were are priced at their typical $800-1200 range but with some creative booking, you can book separate tickets to take you deeper into Europe for far less. Valid travel dates for this deal are between November 22 and December 15.
The catch with these fares is that a 7 day stay is required but there is no weekend travel blackout for the deals. In other words the fares are not higher if your flights take place Thursday through Sunday. There’s no end date to this fare sale. It’s one of those ‘while supplies lasts’ kind of offers.
The fares are valid for travel on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Air Canada, and United so you have plenty of flexibility as far as carriers are concerned. As long as your travel originates in Chicago you can fly on any of these carriers and benefit from this low fare.
