Lufthansa Airbus A380 on Sunday, March 25 operated for the first time, a take off from Munich on a regular passenger flight (above). Its destination was the City of Angels, Los Angeles.
Flight LH 452 took off for California at 12.00 noon.
Lufthansa chief pilot Raimund Mรผller welcomed nearly 509 passengers on board the โMunichโ, as the A380 has been named โ thatโs how many seats the largest passenger aircraft in the world has. Among other things, 890 main courses, 530 cushions and 41 liters of tomato juice will also be loaded onto the aircraft for the passengers.
Not long afterwards, in the early evening, the second A380 flight will follow on: LH 722 took off at 7.15 pm, heading for Peking, and at 10.25 pm, the third A380 took off for Hong Kong, bearing flight number LH 730. All A380 flight connections will be offered daily from Munich.
The Airbus A380 has been Lufthansa’s flagship aircraft since 2010. Currently the fleet comprises 14 aircraft, five of which are to be stationed in Munich as of March 25.
When it comes to being environmentally friendly, the A380 stands out from the crowd with a specific fuel consumption of around three liters per passenger per 100 kilometers and a quiet Trent 900 engine made by Rolls Royce which has a very low level of noise emission.
In the 2018/19 winter flight schedule, Lufthansa will be offering the connections from Frankfurt to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) as two separate flights. Until now, the only connection from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa involved a time-consuming stop-over in Jeddah. Wide-body aircraft and improved departure times make these connections even more attractive for travelers, while the early-morning arrival in Frankfurt gives passengers access to the entire range of Lufthansa flights to destinations around the world. With this change, Lufthansa is reacting to increased demand for tickets to these two destinations.
The new nonstop connection from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa will be served daily, except on Tuesdays and on Sundays. An Airbus A340-300 with the flight number LH598 will take off for the East African metropolis at 2:10 p.m. and reach the Ethiopian capital at 10:55 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves Addis Ababa at 00:55 a.m. the next day and arrives in Frankfurt at 6:35 a.m. The nonstop flight will decrease the average flight duration to approximately seven hours.
Every day except Wednesday, an Airbus A330-300 with the flight number LH652 will fly from Frankfurt to Jeddah, leaving the Rhine-Main area at 2:10 p.m. and arriving in Jeddah around 9:40 p.m. The return flight is scheduled to leave Jeddah at 1:50 a.m. the following day and arrive in Frankfurt at 5:45 a.m.
Lufthansa on March 17 repositioned the first Airbus A380 (D-AIMB) from Frankfurt to the Munich hub. D-AIMB is the first of five A380s to be stationed at MUC. The airline made the announcement on social media.
Adjusted EBIT increased around 70 percent to some EUR 3 billion
Adjusted EBIT margin raised 2.9 percentage points to 8.4 percent
Earnings growth primarily driven by the Groupโs airlines (including cargo)
Revenues up 12.4 percent to EUR 35.6 billion
Unit costs further reduced
60 percent higher dividend proposed at EUR 0.80 per share
Outlook for 2018
Stable unit revenue development expected
Unit costs to be further reduced by 1 to 2 percent
Higher fuel costs of some EUR 700 million expected to be largely compensated by improved operating performance
Adjusted EBIT for the year expected to be only slightly below its record in 2017
The Group continues;
โOur endeavors of the past few years are paying off. Our modernization has a sustainable impact. We have achieved the best result in the history of our company. 2017 was a very good year for our customers, our employees and our shareholders,โ says Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. โLast year we were able to reduce costs again, while at the same time becoming the first โ and the only โ airline in Europe to be awarded a five-star rating. We are lowering our costs where this does not affect the customer, and are simultaneously further investing in our product and service quality.โ
Total revenues for the Lufthansa Group in 2017 amounted to EUR 35.6 billion, a 12.4 percent increase on the previous year. The Adjusted EBIT of EUR 2.97 billion was a significant 69.7 percent year-on-year improvement. And the 8.4 percent Adjusted EBIT margin was up 2.9 percentage points compared to previous year. EBIT for the year increased more than EUR 1 billion to EUR 3.3 billion. The strong increase of EBIT includes the positive EUR 582 million one-off effect from agreeing on the collective labor agreement with the Vereinigung Cockpit union for the pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings, which was recognized in the income statement in December.
โWe are particularly pleased that we were again able to lower our passenger airlinesโ unit costs excluding fuel and currency factors last year. This is in particular as passenger related costs were actually up due to higher load factors, the variable remuneration was higher in light of strong result development, and additional costs because of compensation paid for the flight cancellations at Air Berlin burdened our cost as well,โ adds Ulrik Svensson, Chief Financial Officer of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. โExcluding these one-off effects, we reduced our unit costs by 1.8 percent.โ
The Lufthansa Group invested some EUR 3 billion in 2017, around a third more than in the previous year. This is partly due to investments of some EUR 900 million into aircraft from the Air Berlin flight operations. โThese higher investments also reflect the increased size of our Group. But investments relative to revenue remain on one level with the worldโs most successful airlinesโ,โ comments Ulrik Svensson. โImportant is that the return on capital continues to increase. In 2017, our Adjusted ROCE (after tax) improved by 4.6 percentage points to 11.6 percent.โ
Despite the higher capital expenditure, free cash flow almost doubled in 2017 to EUR 2.3 billion. Net financial debt rose 6.8 percent to EUR 2.9 billion. This figure includes an initial EUR 1.7 billion funding for the new defined contributions model of the flight attendantsโ pension fund. Total pension provisions decreased by EUR 3.2 billion in 2017. The year-end equity ratio stood at 26.5 percent, an increase of 5.9 percentage points.
โOn the basis of these very good results, we propose a dividend of EUR 0.80 per share to the Annual General Meeting,โ says Ulrik Svensson. โThis is a 60 percent increase of the pay-out compared to last year. This is the minimum level of dividend payment that we aim to maintain in the coming years.โ
Network Airlines
The Groupโs Network Airlines โ Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines โ increased their Adjusted EBIT by nearly 50 percent to some EUR 2.3 billion. With strong demand and a positive pricing environment, the Network Airlines raised their EBIT margin 2.6 percentage points to almost ten percent.
Point-to-Point Airlinesย
Despite the significant expenses in the context of acquiring capacities from Air Berlin, Eurowings reduced its unit costs excluding fuel and currency factors by 6.5 percent. On the back of this and strong market demand, Adjusted EBIT increased by some EUR 200 million. Despite adverse one-off factors related to market consolidation, the Groupโs Point-to-Point Airlines improved their Adjusted EBIT margin by 7.3 percentage points and achieved a positive Adjusted EBIT of around EUR 100 million. The inorganic growth after the insolvency of Air Berlin will make a positive contribution to the Point-to-Point Airlinesโ from 2019 onwards.
Aviation Services
The Groupโs Aviation Services in total achieved a very good result, though the development among the business segments was quite different. A combination of cost reductions and strong demand helped Lufthansa Cargo to improve its Adjusted EBIT by almost EUR 300 million to EUR 242 million. The EUR 415 million earnings of Lufthansa Technik were broadly in line with prior-year levels. Against the background of the continuing transformation of its European operations, the LSG Group sustained a EUR 38ย million decline in its earnings for the year to EUR 66ย million.
Outlook
EUR 700 million higher fuel costs can be largely offset by an improved operating performance, so that for 2018 in total an Adjusted EBIT only slightly below previous year is expected. Organic capacity is expected to increase by some seven percent, as unit revenues excluding currency factors should remain broadly stable. Unit costs excluding fuel and currency factors should be further reduced by 1 to 2 percent.
โWe will continue to consistently pursue our modernization,โ concludes Carsten Spohr. โAnd in doing so, we will retain our clear focus on reducing our costs and at the same time raising our quality. This is the only way to sustainably increase our profitability. From a position of strength, we will continue to drive consolidation in Europe.โ
Copyright Photo:ย Lufthansa Boeing 747-830 D-ABYA (msn 37827) (Team D) IAD (Brian McDonough). Image: 941203.
Lufthansa passengers will now be able to start their journey feeling more relaxed: From now on, they will benefit from an automatic check-in procedure for all flights within Germany and to destinations in Europe. The boarding pass for flights booked up to 24 hours before departure will then be sent automatically to the passenger 23 hours before departure โ with no need for any manual check-in. This saves time and makes travel preparations easier. In order to use this new service, the Lufthansa customers only have to deposit their personal details in their Miles & More account or Lufthansa iD profile.
Want to change your seat or cancel your check-in? Want to activate an electronic luggage tag at home or download eJournals? All the services that customers have been able to use so far are now also available with the automated check-in procedure. The service is being offered for flights within the Schengen area as well as for bus and train travel on the Lufthansa Express Rail and Bus. Automatic check-in is not possible with air travel not completely within the Schengen area. In this case, passengers will still be asked to check in manually. Anyone no longer wishing to use the service can deactivate the option at any time in their customer profile. Customers with no Lufthansa iD or Miles & More profile can also sign up for automatic check-in using the link in their booking confirmation. The service will then only be valid for that particular flight.
Last year Lufthansa was awarded the “IATA Fast Travel Platinum Award” for its range of self-service options. With the award, IATA honors airlines that offer at least 80 percent of their passengers self-service options in the area of check-in, boarding or baggage claim services.
The Lufthansa iD:
The Lufthansa iD is the key to enjoying a personalized travel experience. After a quick and easy registration process, travelers can log in on a laptop, tablet or smartphone with their e-mail address. They then have the chance to store personal details, attitudes and preferences (e.g. seat, meals, preferred airport) in their profile and to change them at any time. This speeds up the booking process, since the stored information, such as name, contact or payment data, are automatically filled in when the flight is booked.
She is 120 centimeters tall, with sparkling, round eyes and a pleasant voice: Starting, โJosie Pepperโ the robot will be answering questions for passengers in Terminal 2. Whether they need directions to their gate or want to stop at a certain restaurant or shop โ Josie Pepper will look them in the eyes and give them a prompt answer.
With the rollout of Josie Pepper, Munich Airport and Lufthansa are breaking new ground: It is the first-ever test of a humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence at a German airport. For the next few weeks, Josie Pepper will welcome travelers to the non-public area of Terminal 2, which is jointly operated by Munich Airport and Lufthansa. In her initial deployment, Josie Pepper, who speaks English, will await passengers at the top of the ramp leading to the shuttle connecting the main terminal to the satellite building. This test phase will be used to show whether Josie Pepper is accepted by passengers.
Josie Pepperโs โbrainโ contains a high-performance processor with a WLAN internet access. This creates a connection to a cloud service where speech is processed, interpreted and linked to the airport data. What sets the system apart: When this robot type speaks, it does not just deliver pre-defined texts. With its ability to learn, it answers each question individually. Just like a โrealโ brain, the system gets steadily better at combining questions with the relevant information to provide more precise replies.
IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) cloud-based, artificial intelligence technologies are behind Josie Pepperโs capabilities. Pepper was developed by the French company SoftBank Robotics. The lady robot was given the name โJosieโ by the staff of Munich Airport and Lufthansa when she arrived at the airport.
Lufthansa and Verdi on February 7, 2018 have concluded long-term new collective labor agreements for the approximately 28,000 ground employees of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik and LSG Sky Chefs in Germany. The new collective wage agreement provides for a total increase in remuneration of up to six percent. The collective agreement has a term of 33 months from 1 January 2018 to 30 September 2020. The agreement is subject to approval by the relevant committees.
The remuneration increase is carried out in two steps: By three percent on 1 February 2018 and by a further three percent on 1 May 2019. The second increase depends on the adjusted EBIT margin specific to the business segment, whereby an increase of at least 1.8 percent is guaranteed, irrespective of the margin achieved. The collective wage agreement thus takes into account the economic development of the Lufthansa Group companies. For Lufthansa Technik employees, the first increase will not be in percentage terms, but in the form of a corresponding fixed amount. Thus, the conclusion of a claim by Verdi takes into account.
With this variable remuneration model, we take into account the economic situation of our individual business segments,” says Bettina Volkens, Chief Officer Corporate Human Resources and Legal Affairs of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
The remuneration of the Group’s trainees in all business segments will be increased by 40 as Euro effective 1 February 2018 and 1 May 2019.
โI am pleased that we have been able to conclude a long-term collective agreement with Verdi for our largest group of employees. We have thus achieved collective bargaining peace for all major Lufthansa employee groups in Germany,” says Bettina Volkens.
Lufthansa revealed its new, modernized brand image to customers and employees at two major events at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs on Wednesday, February 7, 2018. The most visible change is the new aircraft livery. In front of more than 3,000 guests in Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa officially presented a Boeing 747-8 and an Airbus A321 with the new design. In the previous week, individual details created interactive discussions, especially on social media. The response to the new appearance was predominantly positive, although some people missed the traditional yellow tone; nevertheless, it will receive a specific function to serve as a means of orientation and differentiation. The color will be found in the future, on every boarding pass and at every Lufthansa counter at the airport, among other things.
โLufthansa has changed and is more modern and successful than ever. From now on, this will also be visible to the public through a new designโ, says Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. โThe crane has always been with us and clearly stands for the promising performance from Lufthansa. To this day, it still stands as a symbol of highest quality, excellent service, flying expertise, reliability, innovative spirit; and it stands for trust.โ
Against the backdrop of digitalization and changing customer requirements, Lufthansa recognized that the company needed to modernize the aircraft appearance in order to remain up to date. The Group invests two billion euros a year in new, fuel efficient aircraft. The premium on board and ground services meet individual customer requirements. Lufthansa was awarded the Platinum Award by the International Air Transport Association IATA for its new digital services and was the only and first airline in Europe to be awarded the 5th star by Skytrax. The introduction of a new business class with the new Boeing 777-9 in two years is an example of how the path to modernization will be consistently pursued in the future.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the crane, every detail of the design was reworked โ to meet requirements of the digital age. The new Lufthansa appearance gives the individual elements a new, modern quality to sharpen their impact. The designers found great importance in taking up the unique design tradition of the Lufthansa brand and leading it into the future.
Heritage meets the future
โThe modernization of Lufthansa is only possible thanks to the commitment of our employees, who are the best in the industry. They are the actual face of the brand โ, Carsten Spohr continues.
The crane, designed exactly 100 years ago by graphic artist Otto Firle, a distinctive icon in the sky, remains the airline’s iconic symbol. In the future, it will be slimmer and fit for the digital world. A thinner ring makes the crane look more elegant, bringing it into the foreground and granting it more space. All in all, the trademark will gain lightness and elegance. The familiar blue-yellow color combination of Lufthansa will also be retained โ but the use of these primary colors will be redefined. The blue specially developed for Lufthansa is somewhat darker, more elegant and is becoming the leading brand color. It stands for reliability, clarity and value.
After 30 years, Lufthansa’s aircraft are gradually being given a new livery. The design was developed in a complex process with numerous experts. After intensive preliminary studies, more than 800 designs and own color developments in the laboratory, the new aircraft design was completed. In keeping with the airline’s claim to be premium, the blue color of the livery will dominate the sky and the world’s airports for the next few decades.
In the cabin, guests will encounter the modernized design within the crew’s uniform in the form of new โ and often yellow โ accessories. On-board articles such as tableware, amenity kits, blankets or pillowcases will carry the new design in future. Around 160 million items will be exchanged over the next two years.
An important challenge in revising the design was to meet the requirements of today’s and tomorrow’s digital world. In addition to optimizing the crane for new technical requirements, Lufthansa has developed its own typeface, which is particularly easy to read on mobile devices or Smartwatches.
New brand campaign
Openness and curiosity โ the launch of the new Lufthansa brand launch marks the start of the new #SayYesToTheWorld brand campaign. It questions familiar ways of thinking and habits. Lufthansa opens up the world to all explorers. With style, ambition and quality. With empathy for each individual. Reliable and trustworthy.
New design also for the Lufthansa Group
The Lufthansa Group’s brand image has also been modernized. The new logo no longer bears the crane and is written completely in capital letters. This will take into account the great variety of brands in the Group, offering optical neutrality for all companies. The newly developed Lufthansa Corporate typeface is timeless and independent. The use of capitals is a characteristic of the new Group design.
The new Lufthansa blue is the Lufthansa Group’s main color. White ensures lightness and an independent appearance. Yellow complements the color palette.ย Carsten Spohr says: โWe are the proud drivers of globalization and are honored to bring this abstract concept to life! All this drives us forward and makes our work so valuable and fulfilling.โ
Lufthansa is planning to unveil its new livery on February 7 at 6:40 pm (CET) on Facebook Live. The social media unveiling will be followed the next day by a tour of a repainted Airbus A321 (D-AISP from Munich)) and a Boeing 747-8 (D-ABYA from Frankfurt) flying around Europe and Germany.
The carrier has removed its long-standing use of yellow.
The airline has issued these “sneak views”:
On February 3, 2018 Lufthansa published this photo of D-ABYA on social media:
Above Photos: Lufthansa.
Copyright Photo Above: With this new livery, Lufthansa is divorcing itself from yellow, a long-time part of its livery as the secondary color. It has even had experimental liveries (above) where yellow was the primary color with white.ย Lufthansa Boeing 737-230 D-ABFW (msn 22127) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 935447.
You must be logged in to post a comment.