Lufthansa Cargo has announced a sharp hike in its freight rates as it continues to talk up the possibility of grounding freighters, this time not because of night restrictions, but the poor economic climate. In a letter to its customers at the end of August, Lufthansa Cargo said it is intending to unilaterally increase rates worldwide by 25 per cent. In the letter executive board member Andreas Otto writes: “In order to meet the current market challenges, we will gradually raise our rates … [Read more...] about Lufthansa hikes rates, talks global fleet grounding
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Lufthansa threatens to dump freighter fleet
Lufthansa has threatened to close its fleet of freighter aircraft if restrictions on night flights are imposed on its hub at Frankfurt. Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Lufthansa Cargo was quoted by Reuter's last week as saying that it might no longer pay to have its own cargo fleet. “Everything that goes toward a single-digit number (of flights allowed per night) would mean that it no longer pays off to have our own cargo fleet," he said according to the report. His comments come after a recent … [Read more...] about Lufthansa threatens to dump freighter fleet
EU clears Lufthansa's Austrian takeover
The European Commission has approved Lufthansa’s takeover of Austrian Airlines Group, allowing it start integrating the company in September. Lufthansa is taking over about 42 per cent of the shares of Austrian Airlines owned by the government for about euro336,000 (US$480,000). The commission also approved a euro500 million government restructuring programme, which Lufthansa has said in the past would be necessary to reduce Austrian's debt. The EU made its decision based on the … [Read more...] about EU clears Lufthansa's Austrian takeover
EU clears Lufthansa’s Austrian takeover
The European Commission has approved Lufthansa’s takeover of Austrian Airlines Group, allowing it start integrating the company in September. Lufthansa is taking over about 42 per cent of the shares of Austrian Airlines owned by the government for about euro336,000 (US$480,000). The commission also approved a euro500 million government restructuring programme, which Lufthansa has said in the past would be necessary to reduce Austrian's debt. The EU made its decision based on the … [Read more...] about EU clears Lufthansa’s Austrian takeover
Frankfurt night flights still in limbo
A German court has approved a US$5.6 billion expansion plan for Frankfurt airport, Europe’s biggest air cargo hub, but passed the responsibility of deciding on whether night flights would continue, to politicisions. The court ruled that the state of Hesse, where Frankfurt is located, must draw up new rules regulating flights between 11 pm and 5 am. Lufthansa Cargo had warned it will lose tens of millions of dollars a year if the court backed a night flight ban at its global hub. … [Read more...] about Frankfurt night flights still in limbo
EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa proceeds with Belgian, BMI purchases
Lufthansa, Europe’s second biggest airline, has said it will proceed with takeovers of Belgian and UK carriers by early next month after settling antitrust issue and transaction terms. Lufthansa aims to complete the purchase of 45 per cent of Brussels Airlines in June, and is sticking to plans for complete control by 2011, following European Union approval after the carriers agreed to scale back services on three German routes serving Brussels as well as Brussels-Zurich flights to … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa proceeds with Belgian, BMI purchases
