Lufthansa is offering passengers compensation for rainy days on holiday, the latest travel company to do so.
People who book flights with them from Germany can claim 20 euro for every rainy day, for up to ten days.
The Lufthansa ‘sunshine rate’ is available until 18 August and is valid on flights departing between 1 September to 31 October to 36 destinations.
source: BBC
The European Union has given Lufthansa, the German national carrier, the green light to purchase SN Brussels, after it was agreed the merger would not create a monopoly over some of Europe’s most lucrative routes. It is not clear how much money Lufthansa is offering, although it is expected to take up a 45% stake in SN Brussels in a month. Lufthansa will also have an option of buying the remaining 55% shares in 2011.
source: The Observer
The Ufo trade union that represents staff at German airline Lufthansa voted Monday in favour of a possible open-ended strike to press demands for a 15-percent pay increase.
The vote was approved by a 96 percent majority according to a statement posted on the union’s Internet site but only backed the principle of a strike, not immediate action.
Ufo repeated recently that it favoured talks with Lufthansa to a walk-out.
source: The Associated Press
German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa still plans to invest in acquisitions to be ahead of the game when the global economic crisis ends, supervisory board Chairman Juergen Weber said.
Lufthansa is currently taking a breather after an acquisition spree last year, in which it set out plans to buy Brussels Airlines and Austrian Airlines, cutting the number of large independent airlines in Europe.
Scandinavian airline SAS is a potential target, while Spain’s Iberia could become available in the longer term if its merger talks with British Airways come to nothing.
source: Reuters
The takeover of much of the European airline industry by the continent’s biggest carrier seemed to move ahead today as separate reports linked German giant Lufthansa with bids for SAS of Scandinavia and Italy’s Alitalia.
Lufthansa recently took control of Britain’s bmi – Heathrow’s second biggest carrier – and has already taken over Swiss and Brussels Airlines and is in negotiations with Austrian Airlines.
Now executives at the German carrier have fuelled the belief they are stalking SAS.
source: Daily Mail
Lufthansa has launched an Italian subsidiary based in Milan and will begin services to the city four times a day from Heathrow at the end of March.
The German airline’s move comes as Italian carrier Alitalia remains in bankruptcy protection as it undergoes privatisation and a restructuring that will lead to a significant reduction in its network.
Lufthansa Italia will commence operations at Milan Malpensa on February 2 with a fleet of six aircraft. It will fly from Barcelona and Paris Charles de Gaulle to begin, adding services from Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest and Madrid in early March, and from Heathrow and Lisbon at the end of that month.
source: travelweekly.co.uk
The airline will take an 80% share of the UK company by buying the 50% owned by BMI chairman Sir Michael Bishop for £318 million.
The move was welcomed by Virgin Atlantic, who said the deal could allow a BMI alliance between the two companies to rival competitor British Airways.
The deal is expected to be completed by mid-January. It will give Lufthansa control of more flights from London Heathrow airport than any other airline except British Airways.
source: Sky News
Deutsche Lufthansa, the second-largest European airline, agreed to buy 45 percent of SN Brussels Airlines for €65 million as the pace of consolidation in the industry accelerates.
Europe’s largest carriers are vying to buy smaller competitors to expand networks and cut costs amid slowing economic growth and surging fuel bills. Lufthansa has also been linked with bids for Austrian Airlines Group, Scandinavian carrier SAS Group and BMI of Britain. Air France-KLM is the largest European carrier.
source: IHT
Lufthansa is moving aggressively into the north Italian market to take advantage of the parlous state of Alitalia.
The heavily loss-making Italian airline was locked in talks with the government, trades unions and potential investors about the terms for a last-ditch rescue as its operations were hit again by cancellations and industrial action.
The German flag carrier said it was planning to base six Airbus A319 short-haul jets at Milan’s Malpensa airport to launch a network of direct point-to-point services between Milan and leading European cities.
source: FT.com
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is still interested in rival Austrian Airlines after the Austrian government said it aims to keep at least 25 percent of the company in Austrian hands, management board member Stefan Lauer said.
The Austrian carrier’s supervisory board recently discussed a shortlist of possible partners that includes Lufthansa, Aeroflot, Air France-KLM and Turkish Airlines, and media reports said the board prefers a tie-up with Lufthansa.
source: Forbes
