Lufthansa merging point-to-point services outside Frankfurt and Munich hubs under Germanwings brand

Lufthansa confirmed (11-Oct-2012) it is merging its point-to-point services outside its Frankfurt and Munich hubs under the Germanwings brand. Up to now, both Lufthansa and Germanwings have offered point-to-point flights on domestic German and European routes. From 2013, however, these services will be "repositioned as a quality product - reasonably priced but not cheap - in the low-cost segment in an upgraded 'new' Germanwings". Lufthansa German Airlines will then focus on its hub and long-haul carrier business model. In addition to its long-haul services from Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf, Lufthansa German Airlines will continue to operate all its German domestic and European routes to and from Frankfurt and Munich. Lufthansa Group chairman and CEO Christoph Franz commented: "With this strategic move we are establishing an important precondition for restoring our European flight operations to profitability. With an enhanced brand identity and a corresponding product, Germanwings will combine all our point-to-point operations outside our hubs in a separate company. However, in order to achieve sustained success, it is important that we together with the unions and employee representatives can maintain the cost-effectiveness of Germanwings operations." Germanwings' extended flight schedule and its new brand identity will be fine-tuned over the coming weeks and will be presented in Dec-2012. Carsten Spohr, member of the Lufthansa executive board and chief officer Lufthansa German Airlines, added: "As an attractive quality provider in the low-cost segment, our 'new' Germanwings will convince not only leisure travellers but also business travellers thanks to its innovative, high-quality product and brand concept plus its extensive flight schedule, which will complement Lufthansa's global route network." The management of Germanwings GmbH will remain unchanged. The three board members Thomas Winkelmann (spokesman), Dr. Axel Schmidt and Oliver Wagner will jointly oversee the important merger and realignment phase at Germanwings. As many as 30 aircraft that currently serve Lufthansa's point-to-point routes will be transferred to Germanwings from Jan-2013. Lufthansa's regional subsidiary Eurowings, which provides point-to-point services exclusively for Lufthansa, will continue to operate as an independent subsidiary on regional routes. However, in future it will operate on behalf of Germanwings. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - German]