Tag Archives: lufthansa frankfurt

Lufthansa to change take-off procedures on June 1 to lower fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has issued this statement about new take-off procedures for its flights outside of Germany:

Lufthansa is set to change its take-off procedure for all departures outside Germany, thereby implementing worldwide standards. As of June 1, 2013, the altitudes for using the climb thrust and for further accelerating Lufthansa aircraft that are taking off will change from 1,500 feet (approx. 457 metres) to 1,000 feet (approx. 305 metres). This procedure is standard at most German and international airports and is already used by many airlines as it leads to lower fuel consumption and a reduction in CO2 emissions. At Frankfurt Airport, many airlines today are already benefiting from this take-off procedure.

Before it is introduced at German airports, the effects of the more level take-off will first be examined in a sound measurement test phase. Lufthansa expects the effects to be positive overall, as aircraft will be in a low-resistance, and therefore less noisy, configuration at an earlier stage. This assumption will be tested at Frankfurt Airport in a trial run from 1 July until 30 September 2013 by measuring selected flights, while all other flights will take off as before for the purpose of comparison. The sound measurements will be evaluated in co-ordination with the independent Airport and Region Forum (“Forum Flughafen und Region”). A scientific study was previously commissioned at the German Aerospace Center, which predicted only minimal sound changes as a result of the new take-off procedure.

The objective of this step-by-step process is to transparently record and evaluate reliable measurement data for noise levels during the new procedure. Once the data has been analysed, it will be decided whether the 1000-foot acceleration will be introduced at German airports.

What does 1000-foot acceleration mean?

After an aircraft takes off from the runway, it usually ascends at a constant speed with the flaps extended until it reaches a certain altitude. Modern aircraft generally do not use the maximum thrust available at this point, but rather a reduced level of take-off thrust. When the aircraft reaches an initial target altitude, the engines’ thrust switches to climb thrust. As the aircraft continues to take off, it has to accelerate so that the flaps can be retracted and it can climb to its cruising altitude at a higher speed. The altitude at which the speed increase begins is called the acceleration altitude.

By changing these two altitudes, the wind resistance decreases when the flaps are retracted, thus lowering fuel consumption. Lufthansa expects that changing the procedure in Frankfurt alone would save around 2,200 tons of fuel per year. This would mean around 7,000 tons fewer CO2 emissions. The benefit for the environment is much greater worldwide: approx. 6,000 tons less kerosene, or around 18,000 tons less CO2.

A reduction in the acceleration altitude from 1,500 to 1,000 feet is permitted under ICAO regulations and is already standard practice at many airlines. Any procedural changes to an airline’s operations manual must be notified to the national supervisory authority. For German airlines, this is the German Federal Aviation Authority (LBA). The LBA and the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development have already granted Lufthansa permission to change the procedure.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 747-830 D-ABYF (msn 37830) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

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Video: Lufthansa commercial: “These Germans”:

Lufthansa Group’s first quarter loss widens to $602 million

Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa) (Frankfurt) reported its net loss for the first quarter widened to $602 million, up from a loss of $516.8 million in the same quarter a year ago. the first quarter is usually the weakest quarter for the carrier.

The airline issued this statement:

In the traditionally weak first quarter, Deutsche Lufthansa AG recorded an operating result on a par with last year at EUR -359m. The operating result includes restructuring costs of EUR 64m from the SCORE programme. Earnings improvements in the operating segments helped the Group make up for the extra costs. The net result for the period fell by 16.5 per cent to EUR -459m due to impairment losses and other valuations as of the reporting date. At EUR 6.6bn, revenue for the Lufthansa Group in the first quarter remained stable.

“We took another step towards our target of sustainable earnings improvements in the first quarter. Nearly all the Group companies improved their result,” explained Simone Menne, Member of the Executive Board, responsible for Finances and Aviation Services at Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “We are firmly on course with our SCORE programme.”

In operational terms, the Group improved its result by a total of EUR 95m in the Passenger Airline Group, Logistics, MRO, Catering and IT Services segments. Lufthansa German Airlines achieved the greatest improvement in the operating result, with an increase of EUR 77m. Thanks to a notable reduction in the number of flights and its optimised capacity management, the company boosted the load factor of its aircraft in the first quarter to 75.5 per cent and at the same time increased its yields. The strike by Lufthansa ground staff on 21 March depressed the operating result for Lufthansa German Airlines, as did high fuel costs and the long winter, which also weighed on the other airlines in the Lufthansa Group.

At the end of the first quarter 2013, Lufthansa German Airlines reported an operating loss of EUR 292m. At SWISS, the operating result came to EUR -16m, compared with EUR -3m in the same quarter last year. Austrian Airlines improved its operating result by EUR 11m to EUR -56m. Overall, the operating loss for the Passenger Airline Group segment improved to EUR -363m.

The Lufthansa Group also improved its operating result in the Logistics segment. Lufthansa Cargo increased its operating profit, in part thanks to targeted capacity management and lower depreciation and amortisation. At the end of the first quarter, the figure for the segment was EUR 27m, a rise of EUR 7m. The operating profit for the MRO segment was up by EUR 16m to EUR 81m. Lufthansa Technik adopted some 200 individual measures as part of SCORE in the first quarter, which by 2015 are intended to improve the organisation of administrative functions and align them better with customer needs. LSG SkyChefs improved its operating result by EUR 9m, posting an operating profit of EUR 3m for the period January to March. In the IT Services segment, Lufthansa Systems earned an operating profit of EUR 3m, compared with EUR 4m in the same quarter last year.

Given the improvement of the operating results for the Group companies in the first quarter, the positive contributions by SCORE and stable demand in the passenger business, the Group confirmed its earnings outlook for the year 2013. The operating profit for the Lufthansa Group in 2013 is predicted to be higher than the EUR 524m achieved last year. Positive earnings contributions from SCORE should not obscure the need for further change, however, emphasised Simone Menne, adding, “In competition with well-funded competitors, especially from the Middle East and Far East, and with low-cost airlines in Europe, we need new structures that will allow us to generate higher profits again. Putting the agreed measures into practice remains a challenge. We nevertheless intend to pursue our chosen path and shape our future with the required perseverance.”

The first quarter of 2013 in figures

Revenue for the Lufthansa Group in the first quarter of 2013 came to EUR 6.6bn – an increase of 0.1 per cent on the previous year. Traffic revenue declined by 0.2 per cent to EUR 5.3bn. Overall, the Group’s operating income went up to EUR 7.2bn in the reporting period, an increase of 0.3 per cent.

Operating expenses rose by 1.7 per cent in the first quarter to EUR 7.7bn. Fuel costs climbed by EUR 36m to EUR 1.7bn. This represents an increase of 2.2 per cent. Included in this amount is a negative contribution of EUR 25m from fuel hedging. Fees and charges fell by 2.2 per cent on the previous year, due to a lower number of flights.

In the first quarter, the Lufthansa Group reported an operating result on a par with the previous year of EUR -359m. To facilitate comparison, the operating result for the same quarter last year was adjusted by EUR 22m following the amendments to accounting standard IAS 19. Following this adjustment, the result for the first quarter of 2012 also came to EUR -359m.

The net result for the period was down by 16.5 per cent to EUR -459m. Expenses for severance pay and compensation as part of the SCORE job cuts depressed the Group’s result for the first quarter, as did impairment losses and valuation effects. Earnings per share sank to EUR -1.00.

Lufthansa invested EUR 718m in the reporting period. Of this sum, EUR 657m went on modernising and maintaining the fleet. Cash flow from operating activities came to EUR 976m and free cash flow (cash flow from operating activities less net capital expenditure) to EUR 463m. For the first quarter, the Group had net debt of EUR 1.7bn. Following the application of new accounting standards (IAS 19), the equity ratio is now 15.4 per cent.

Lufthansa Group		January–March			Change
		2013	2012**	2012(old)	0.1%
Total revenue	€m	6,628	6,619	6,619	0.1%
of which traffic revenue	€m	5,337	5,349	5,349	-0.2%
Result from operating activities	€m	-464	-358	-379	-29.6%
Operating result	€m	-359	-359	-381	0.0%
Adjusted operating margin*	in %	-5.2%	-5.2%	-5.6%	0.0%
Net profit/loss for the period	€m	-459	-394	-379	-16.5%
Capital expenditure	€m	718	592	592	21.3%
Cash flow from operating activities	€m	976	833	833	17.2%
Employees as of 31.3.		116,516	120,898	120,898	-4,382
Earnings per share	€	-1.00	-0.86	-0.87	-0.14

*) Operating result plus write-backs of provisions, divided by revenue
**) Previous year’s figures have been adjusted in line with changes to IAS 19

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Lufthansa is gradually replacing its older Boeing 747-430s. D-ABTF (msn 24967) climbs gracefully away from Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.

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Lufthansa and Verdi settle their pay dispute, all strikes called off

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and the Verdi union representing 33,000 Lufthansa workers have agreed to a new pay increase and a new contract. Pay increases range from three percent to 4.7 percent.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Lufthansa:

Lufthansa faces additional strikes by Verdi

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) is facing additional strikes by its Verdi union.

According to this report by Reuters, Verdi is demanding a 5.2 percent pay raise over 12 months and job security for about 33,000 cabin crew and ground staff.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography. Airbus A340-311 D-AIGC (msn 027) in the Star Alliance livery climbs away from the runway at Toronto (Pearson).

Lufthansa:

Lufthansa cancels most of its flights tomorrow due to the strike by the Verdi union

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will be impacted heavily tomorrow due to a strike by the Verdi union which represents around 33,000 of its employees. The airline is pre-canceling almost 1700 flights. Only a few flights will operate. The airline has issued this statement:

The Lufthansa Group’s flight operations will be considerably restricted on Monday April 22, 2013 as a result of the planned warning strike by the Verdi trade union.

Due to the announced strike actions on Monday, April 22, nearly all Lufthansa flights within Germany and Europe will be cancelled. Only a select few short-haul flights will operate on Monday, such as in Berlin, where strike actions should end by 2:30 pm CET. In all, only 20 of the 1,650 planned Lufthansa short-haul flights on Monday will operate due to the limited flight schedule.

In addition to the cancellations in Germany and Europe, massive flight cancellations and delays are to be expected for long-haul flights beginning Sunday April, 21. Of the 50 planned flights in Frankfurt, only six will operate; in Munich, of the 17 planned flights, only three will operate; whereas, in Dusseldorf all three long-haul flights are scheduled to operate as planned.

Flights operated by Germanwings will not be affected.

Lufthansa regrets any inconvenience to Lufthansa passengers caused by the threatened strike measures by ver.di and will do its utmost to minimise impacts on passengers. Passenger support and service has paramount priority.

Passengers are kindly asked to please check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport. Passengers for flights that will take place please calculate extra time at the airport.

An overview of currently cancelled flights can be found here:

Cancelled flights

Read the full news report by Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Nik French. The new Lufthansa 1955 retrojet is this Airbus A321-231 registered as D-AIDV (msn 5413) captured nicely at Manchester.

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Lufthansa is granted rights to serve Shanghai Pudong with its Airbus A380, considers legal action against its unions

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has received Chinese permission to operate its Airbus A380s on the Frankfurt-Shanghai (Pudong) route starting on September 26. The A380s will operate five days a week on the route.

In other news, the company is considering legal action after the main union Verdi called on its workers to go on strike on Monday according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

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Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines expanded relationship could impact the fast growing Gulf carriers

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), two Star Alliance airlines, are in discussions about increasing their relationship and cooperation according to this report by the Financial Times. Turkish Airlines is a fast growing carrier and serves many destinations not served by the German carrier. Lufthansa appears to favor this approach rather than striking up a new relationship with any of the fast growing Gulf carriers. Lufthansa has been critical of the Gulf carriers which pose a threat to many European long-haul carriers. Competitor Airberlin (Berlin) now has a strong and growing relationship with Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) and fast growing Qatar Airways (Doha) will join the Oneworld alliance in August 2013 as previously reported.

Read the full report from the Financial Times: CLICK HERE

Read another report by Arabian Business: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati. Airbus A380-841 D-AIMJ (msn 073) approach Singapore for landing.

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Turkish Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-3F2 ER TC-JJP (msn 40797) completes its final approach into Los Angeles International Airport dressed in the updated 2010 color scheme.

Lufthansa cancels its contract with Augsburg Airways, will launch Munich-Vancouver flights on May 16

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) has cancelled the regional feeder contract with the Augsburg Airways (Munich) effective on October 26, 2013.

The five Embraer ERJ 190-200s (ERJ 195s) assigned to Augsburg will be transferred to CityLine also on October 26, 2013.

The company was established in 1980 as Interot Airways. Revenue operations commenced in 1986. In 1996 the airline became Augsburg Airways. In 2003 Augsburg started operating as an Lufthansa Regional carrier. It was the last independent feeder operating for LH.

In other news, Lufthansa is expanding its long-haul services from its Munich hub and next year, for the first time, will offer a nonstop flight from Munich to Vancouver. From May 16, 2013, the new route to the largest city in British Columbia will be served daily with an Airbus A330. The service will complement Lufthansa’s daily flights from Frankfurt.

Read the full report about Augsburg from augsburger-allgemeine.de (in German) : CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Augsburg Airways’ Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) D-AEMD (msn 19000305) approaches the Munich hub for landing.

Lufthansa:

Lufthansa to merge some European operations under the Germanwings low-cost AOC on January 1

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will merge all European Lufthansa operations (outside of the Frankfurt and Munich hubs) under the Germanwings (2nd) (Cologne/Bonn) AOC certificate on January 1, 2013. All Eurowings operations will also support this operation. This move is designed to reduce costs for the struggling European operations. A new name for this expanded operation will be announced at a later date.

The company issued this statement:

Lufthansa direct European services, which include all German domestic and European services outside of the Lufthansa Frankfurt and Munich hubs, will be merged commercially and organizationally with Germanwings to form one company on the basis of Germanwings GmbH from January 1, 2013. The company’s headquarters will be Cologne.

The new company is to operate the Germanwings aircraft and the Direct Services fleet from 2013. In addition, the aircraft of Eurowings GmbH are set to fly on behalf of the new company, meaning that around 90 aircraft will cover direct services in Germany and Europe. In the first year, over 18 million passengers are to be transported.

Christoph Franz, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: “As part of the Lufthansa Airline Group the new company will get underway with the accordingly high quality standards.” The decision about the future brand name will only be made in the upcoming months.

“Combining our domestic German and European point-to-point services has enormous potential to improve efficiency. Our aim is to once again fly these services profitably under the umbrella of a single company. This means we are continuing to offer our guests the prospect of a dense, high-quality network even outside of our Frankfurt and Munich hubs. And our employees in these areas have the prospect of secure jobs within a company of the Lufthansa Group”, Christoph Franz emphasized.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner. The Germanwings name is now likely to be retired again as its role is expanded by its parent. Airbus A319-132 D-AGWP (msn 4227) taxies at Zurich.

Germanwings (2nd):

Germanwings routes from Cologne/Bonn:

Please click on the map for the full view.

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Lufthansa suffers through another strike day, Chicago O’Hare to be the next Boeing 747-8 city

Lufthansa (Frankfurt) today is suffering through another 24-hour strike by its flight attendants. The company issued the following statement:

“The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) has announced a nationwide 24-hour strike action for Friday, 7. September 2012.

Lufthansa has prepared a list with cancelled flights. Our goal is to provide as much certainty as is possible for our passengers.

Lufthansa sincerely regrets that the labor dispute is being waged at the expense of its customers. Lufthansa will do its utmost best to minimize the impacts on its customers.

The call to strike action forces Lufthansa to cancel a majority of flights. Unscheduled cancellations and delays of Lufthansa flights must be anticipated. Flights of Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings and Swiss as well as LH codeshare flights will not be affected. However, at this stage, Lufthansa cannot say for sure what exact impact the strike action will have.

Even after the end of the strike, Lufthansa foresees irregularities in flight operations on the weekend.”

However the two warring sides are now showing signs they may want to settle their on-going dispute. Both sides are now welcoming a mediation as a possible way to resolve the issues.

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. Boeing 747-830 D-ABYA (msn 37827) lands at Hamburg. The airline is planning to make Chicago (O’Hare) its third Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental destination after Washington (Dulles) and Bangalore.

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