Germanwings (2nd) (Cologne/Bonn), the lower-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa (Frankfurt), is preparing for its July 1 relaunch. Germanwings since January 1, 2013 has been taking over most of the former LH point-to-point European routes that are not flying to either the Frankfurt and Munich hubs.
As part of the relaunch, the airline has been rapidly rebranding. The last aircraft to be repainted, Airbus A319-132 D-AGWI (msn 3358), operated the last flight in the old livery on June 20 between London (Heathrow) and Cologne/Bonn. The aircraft has been ferried to Ostrava for repainting and should be back in service for the July 1 relaunch. All of the special liveries have been retired.
The airline is also going to three individualized levels of services like most budget airlines, i.e. you get what you pay for.
Here is the CEO letter to its customers about the relaunch:
Germanwings, your German budget airlines, is about to revolutionize the low-cost market in Europe by offering the highest-quality airline experience in this sector in Europe. On July 1, 2013 “new Germanwings” will introduce a completely new brand and product concept allowing passengers to fly “à la carte”.
Our passengers will be able to put together individualized packages ranging from budget, no-frills travel to a more refined passener experience with more advantages and extra services, all of which will be tailored to your specific needs. In the broader context of economy class, “new Germanwings” will have three fare brackets with differing services provided in each.
The “BEST” fare is our top category with business travellers in mind principally, but also non-business passengers. The “SMART” fare includes some extra services and the possibility to purchase others. The “BASIC” fare is the purely low-cost category.
As of January 1, 2013, the “new Germanwings” now includes Lufthansa’s decentralized European routes not operating out of our Frankfurt or Munich hubs. Our aim is a smart, dynamic and innovative service.
Our logo is also going to change to reflect this new brand and product concept. The key element will be a stylized burgundy and yellow ‘W’, transforming the wings in Germanwings into a succinct icon (see photo above). All of the airline’s aircraft will be painted in the new livery when the brand is officially launched on July 1, 2013.
“New Germanwings” aims at being even more attractive to our customers. We will be deveoping our mobile booking and information systems, thereby ensuring direct and spontaneous interaction with passengers. All our fares will be displayed fairly with no hidden costs and our new cheaper 0180 number has already replaced the old 0900 number. Germanwings will continue to offer our enticing 33 € starting fare for one-way tickets.
Yours,
Thomas Winkelmann
(CEO Germanwings)
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-132 D-AGWG (msn 3193) in the new look arrives at Zurich.
Germanwings (see all of the previous logojets): 
Videos:
Routes from Cologne/Bonn:
