Lufthansa has announced the closure of its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, as part of urgent cost cutting measures. As a result, all 27 operational CRJ900 aircraft utilised by Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently withdrawn from service as of tomorrow. The German carrier said the move is aimed at preventing further financial losses within the unit.
The development is set to have a notable impact on Lufthansa’s operations across the former Yugoslavia, with hundreds of flights removed from the Global Distribution System overnight. All services between Munich and Ljubljana have been taken out of the system from April 18 until June 1. In addition, the majority of flights between Munich and Belgrade have been removed, although a limited number remain scheduled, primarily on Fridays and Sundays.
Other routes operated by the Lufthansa CityLine subsidiary include services from Munich to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula, Rijeka and Zadar. These have also largely been removed from the system. However, flights to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Zadar are also operated by Lufthansa mainline and will continue as scheduled. In contrast, all services between Munich and Rijeka have been removed. The airline’s operations beyond June 1 remain in the system, indicating scheduling past this date has not been updated.
At this stage, the fate of Lufthansa CityLine-operated flights remains unclear. This does not necessarily mean that all affected services will be cancelled. The airline is likely to source replacement aircraft for some routes, however, it is unlikely to be able to replace all 27 aircraft during the peak summer travel period, which will likely result in a notable reduction in flights. Lufthansa has not commented on whether specific routes will be impacted by the closure of CityLine. The schedule changes outlined above are accurate as of the time of publication (April 17 at 09:00 CEST).
Till Streichert, Chief Financial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said, "The package for accelerated implementation of fleet and capacity measures is unavoidable in light of the sharply increased kerosene costs and geopolitical instability. The goal is to focus our short- and medium-haul platforms more clearly and make them more competitive. In this regard, we had already identified the prospective removal of CityLine from our program as part of our strategic development for some time, independently of the current geopolitical crisis. The current crisis is now forcing us to implement this measure earlier. This is a painful step, particularly with regard to the colleagues at Lufthansa CityLine”.
Lufthansa also plans to remove long-haul capacity by a total of six aircraft at the end of the summer flight schedule. As a result, the last four remaining Airbus A340-600s will leave the fleet in October. Additionally, two Boeing 747-400s will be grounded from October onwards for the coming winter. In the 2026/27 winter flight schedule, the airline will reduce capacity of the Lufthansa core brand as part of the envisaged consolidation of short- and medium-haul traffic across six hubs of the Lufthansa Group. This additional capacity reduction corresponds to five aircraft of the Lufthansa core brand. The developments come off the back of four days of industrial action by staff and the year Lufthansa and ten days after the carrier celebrated its centenary.
We are witnessing a fall of a giant right here... Unreliable and costly
ReplyDeleteLufthansa is shamelessly using a minor oil hiccup and the Verdi strikes as a pathetic smoke screen to butcher the CRJ900 fleet. They’ve raked in a staggering €5 billion in profit over the last four years, yet they treat their employees like disposable trash. This isn't 'management', it's a calculated squeeze to bleed the workers dry just to fat-pad the pockets of their shareholders!
DeleteAnd the announcement for winter isn't much better either. They are saying Lufthansa mainline will cut flights too.
DeleteEventually most of European destinations will move to Discover Airlines.
DeleteFall of a giant? Lufthansa is growing in every possible way. Trimming unprofitable flights is not a "fall"
DeleteVerdi is to blame here, they are completely unrealistic. Also Lufthansa Group had €5 billion, not Lufthansa itself.
DeleteThis will have a massive impact on LJU if they don't find some solution.
ReplyDeleteBig blow for Ljubljana. Losing Munich connectivity, even temporarily, is a serious setback considering how dependent the airport is on hub traffic.
DeleteFraport on ventilation systems
DeleteNot sure how much of a big blow this will be. Some people travelling to MUC will probably switch to cars. Most transfer passengers are being pushed on to other hubs. Swiss is sending A321neos since yesterday to LJU.
Deletemaybe we will see 3rd daily by KLM?
DeleteKLM is also cancelling flights
DeleteThis good be an opportunity for JU to launch Munich with a few weekly flights, although I do realise majority of Lufthansa's Munich passengers are transfers.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly, the only missing major airport in Germany for JU.
DeleteThey could give it a try if they find enough PtP passangers.
DeleteThey could give it a try if they find enough PtP passangers.
DeleteYes, most of them are transfers, but we should also mention that there are many Serbian people living in Bavaria.
DeleteAlso, let's not forget that JU can also transport tranfer passengers via BEG to MUC.
It's now or never
DeleteMunich region has 6 million people.
DeleteIf JU can not find enough pax in such a market with so many people from the region living there then something is very wrong.
Don't forget that W6 flies daily BEG-FMM with A321 and that they also cover many P2P passengers for Munich region.
DeleteAlso, there are JU flights to SZG for people from Bavaria who live close to German-Austrian border.
I would say it is not that simple.
If W6 can fill an A321 to FMM then Ju can definitely fill an E-jet to MUC itself.
DeleteBesides JU rarely has lost a route battle to W6.
doesn't W6 fly double daily sometimes?
Delete@ 09:11
Delete+1
I think only on Monday.
Delete@09:13 Why not sacrifice two weekly NUE or SZG for much bigger market like MUC. Let's not forget that they canceled LYS once GVA was restored.
Delete^ Exactly!
DeleteI don't see how they will be able to replace all these flights. Something tells me most will be cancelled.
ReplyDeleteTheir Munich-Ljubljana flights are officially cancelled tomorrow. So it seems like these cancellations will stick.
DeleteIf this isn't the most opportune moment for JU to launch MUC than I don't know what it is.
ReplyDeleteI am quite currious to see if JU will react.
DeleteThey could even open MUC with ATR for a start just to test the market and it wouldn't be that costy.
A daily E-jet would be ideal. Not to mention all the connections it would sell to Montenegro, Dalmatia, Greece, SKP.
Delete+1
DeleteAnon 09:16 ...Greece ?? Only if the price is right ! Germany is very well covered by four airline companies .
DeleteAnd yet JU carries more than enough connecting traffic from Greece to Germany every day.
DeleteIt is not just ticket price but seat availability and especially schedule that make people choose a connection over a direct flight.
I can vouch for this. Frequent traveller on BEG-ATH-BEG. Every single flight there are transfers to Germany. Particularly Hamburg and Stuttgart. Also always transfers to Zurich.
Delete^ True dat!
DeleteAnon 09:50 , source for what you are saying ?? Source : trust me bro !
Deletewow!
ReplyDeleteThis is not good for anyone concerned
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess!
ReplyDeleteThat is excellent news for OU.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they wet lease A220s to LH.
DeleteGood idea :)
DeleteMost probably OU will increase capacity to MUC.
DeleteThey will do nothing. They sent ATR to MUC during the strike the other day. They are ignorant and incompetent
DeleteThis feels extremely rushed. Grounding 27 aircraft overnight with no clear replacement plan right before the summer season is bound to cause chaos, especially in smaller markets like Ljubljana.
ReplyDeleteSo passengers are expected to just deal with this overnight? No proper communication, flights disappearing from the system… not a great look for Lufthansa.
ReplyDeleteWhat proper communication? They made the decision and announced I straight away. Flights haven't "disappeared", they're cancelled. Everyone who was on an affected flight gets a free rebooking.
DeleteI doubt they’ll manage to replace all this capacity in time. Wet-leases are expensive and availability is limited heading into peak season.
ReplyDeleteFeels like Lufthansa is using the current crisis as an excuse to push through long planned cost cuts faster.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to have transferred people on Munich flights to other LH group carriers, as well as FRA flights. Fares are outrageous. I just searched BEG-BRU and Economy light is over 800 euros!
ReplyDeleteYep. The timing couldn’t be worse. Right before peak summer bookings. Expect higher fares and fewer options across the region.
DeleteMid-April is not right before the summer.
DeleteI recently flew on Lufthansa flight operated by CityLine on A319. How was that possible if it only has CRJ900? Would this route be affected?
ReplyDeleteYou flew on Lufthansa City Airlines, which has A319s and A320s. This is Lufthansa CityLine.
DeleteI checked the ticket, it clearly says CityLine. Was it Lufthansa flight operated by Lufthansa CityLine operated by Lufthansa City Airlines? It was a MUC-BEG.
DeleteMost likely. CityLine only has CRJ900s.
DeleteIt is also possible that your flight was originally scheduled on CityLine and they replaced it.
DeleteLJU route was operated by CRJ9 and A319 and ALL of them were operated by CityLine.
DeleteCityLine also had some 319
DeleteIf they don’t communicate quickly and clearly, this could seriously damage trust, especially among frequent flyers. Not that it is very high at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Now I suggest the EU to keep their eyes shut while Lufthansa buys TAP as well. Everything is allowed when Lufthansa is in question.
ReplyDeleteTrue, although they are trying to buy a minority stake. I guess the EU idea is to have only three strong groups to be able to compete (or rather form a cartel) with the US3 and ME3.
DeleteDoes the CityLine fly to Zagreb?
ReplyDeleteNo. There were no CityLine flights scheduled to Zagreb this summer season. They are, however, scheduled from October 25.
DeleteThank you admin!
DeleteThe real question is: who fills the gap?
ReplyDeleteJU and OU should make the best of this opportunity.
DeleteIn LJU there is no one to fill the gap.
Delete^ Probably Air Dolomiti.
DeleteCityline has 12 A319 in service (also grounded as of tomorrow).
ReplyDeleteThey don't. All were transferred. They only have CRJs.
DeleteThey still have A319. Older will be scrapped but newer (ex LH and ex OS) will be transferred to LH City, which will probably take some time.
DeleteSince years LH has been relying on an extensive network (now slashed) and a good opinion formed years ago (like a kid in the high school who can get away with anything just because at the beginning the teachers formed good opinion about him).
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that this is a very average airline that offers almost nothing on board, the staff is professional, but usually unfriendly (compare it with Aegean). They are lucky to be located in the center of Europe so sometimes there is no better choice, but it definitely is a no-thrills airline. Lagging behind the likes of Aegean or even LOT.
The MUC and FRA airports are not as nice transfer centers as e.g. VIE.
What keeps some passengers coming back in M&M program.
It is not average. It is a world leader for app interface and functionality, and its transfer system is the best in Europe for an airline of its scale.
DeleteMUC is probably the best airport for transfers in Europe. It's also a very friendly and covenient hub with a great ontime performance.
DeleteLH's app is brilliant and one of the best in the world. Very efficient and responsive.
"app interface and functionality" - what? Well functioning app, but not better than many others. The best in Europe transfer system is not really their merit, in a sense that it's the airports that make the transfer smooth and enjoyable or not. FRA and MUC are easily navigable indeed, although quite big. If you have to spend a few hours at the airport, VIE is much much nicer airport.
DeleteTheir app is fantastic, extremely responsive and easy to use. Both Lufthansa and the Miles&More apps. You can have both. I am sorry but you are not right here.
DeleteHow is VIE better than MUC? I am sorry but this is pure and utter nonsense.
How is the LF app better than e.g. Aegean or LOT? I see no big difference. M&M app I don't like. If I want to book an award flight, it takes me to the website. That's one of the most basic functionalities for a loyalty program. It should be inside the app.
DeleteRegarding VIE, I wrote that if you have to wait a few hours, it is much more passenger friendly than MUC and FRA. For instance, you have lots of comfortable chairs to stay on. But, as I wrote before it is not LH per se.
Perfect opportunity for OU to jump in both Zagreb and Ljubljana... If it's not too soon
ReplyDeleteHau jes nou
DeleteI mean it is definitely too soon. Why to rush? Why to risk? Why to work? Odnija vrag i prišu. It's too early definitely. Treba i pokoju kahvu ispit. Stoka sitnog zuba will pay anyway.
DeleteAir Dolomiti just removed Ljubljana as a destination on their website too
ReplyDeleteIt's been removed for a while. They're only flying under the Lufthansa flight code from Frankfurt to Ljubljana this summer season.
DeleteWhat did unions expect after grounding the airline for 4 days.
ReplyDeleteIf Slovenia was smart, they would take/lease 5 CRJs and the AOC...
ReplyDeleteif my grandma had wheels, she would have been a bike. let that sink in
Delete