<a href="https://www.condor.com/us?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59i9OyW9lrB8EUH5nhLnj4UaZERfHSkgIHmP8jxlCAWKnz-inGOkAxiRoCUScQAvD_BwE">Condor</a> has canceled several routes to Canada and the United States due to a ruling by the German Federal Court of Justice that overturns a measure enacted by the Antitrust Authority. This measure established an interline agreement between the German leisure airline and Lufthansa, allowing passengers from North America to fly with Condor and connect to a Lufthansa service on a single ticket with checked luggage to their final destination.
Following this ruling, Condor has adjusted its schedule for the summer 2025 season by reducing the number of transatlantic destinations, discontinuing services from Frankfurt to Edmonton and Calgary in Canada and Baltimore, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, and San Antonio in the United States.
“Condor has cultivated strong professional and personal ties with San Antonio and the other affected communities over the years, and we deeply regret the loss of connectivity and service this will cause. We remain committed to exploring all avenues for fair competition, although we acknowledge that additional legal proceedings will take time to resolve,” said Dr. Jens Boyd, Commercial Director of Condor.
With this measure, San Antonio loses its only transatlantic connection; Baltimore, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, and Edmonton will no longer have nonstop flights to Germany; Minneapolis-St. Paul and Halifax will only be operated by Discover Airlines.
Condor has also made adjustments to its long-haul schedule, operating year-round to Bangkok and Johannesburg. Additionally, it is increasing flights in several West Coast cities in the United States, which are hubs for its codeshare partner, Alaska Airlines.
The German leisure airline has also added short- and medium-haul services from Frankfurt to Berlin, Milan-Malpensa, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino, and Zurich to feed its transatlantic flights.

Condor Cancels Multiple Routes to Canada and the U.S. After German Court Ruling

The <a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/lufthansa/">Lufthansa Group</a> has increased its firm order for the Airbus A350-1000, from 10 to 15 units. The new aircraft, scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030, have an approximate catalog value of 2 billion dollars.
With a total of 75 A350 aircraft ordered (60 of the A350-900 model and 15 of the A350-1000), the German group positions itself as one of the largest customers of this model worldwide.
According to the manufacturer, the A350-1000, with a length of 73.8 meters, offers 15% more capacity than the A350-900, standing out for its operational efficiency and sustainability. The first ten A350-1000, <a href="https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-03-lufthansa-orders-10-airbus-a350-1000-and-5-more-a350-900-aircraft">ordered in March 2023,</a> will begin delivery in April 2026.
“With the modern A350, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in Lufthansa Group’s history. We are investing more than ever to make air transport more sustainable, achieve our CO₂ reduction goals, and offer a first-class travel experience,” said Deutsche Lufthansa AG CEO, Carsten Spohr.
Lufthansa’s active A350 fleet consists of 28 units, operating from Munich (MUC) to Bangalore, Beijing, Bombay, Mexico City, Charlotte/Douglas, Chicago/O&#8217;Hare, Denver, Miami, Montreal/Trudeau, New York, Osaka/Kansai, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo/Narita, Vancouver, and Washington/Dulles. During the northern winter season, Boston, Cape Town, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, and São Paulo are also included.
Starting in April 2024, Bangkok and Toronto will join the network, and for the first time, some A350s will be based in Frankfurt to gradually replace the A340s, connecting to Denver, Seattle, Seoul, and Shanghai.
Additionally, Swiss International Air Lines and Edelweiss Air will receive 16 A350-900 starting in 2025, replacing their current A340-300 aircraft.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-186230" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000.jpg" alt="" width="1110" height="624" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000.jpg 1110w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-768x432.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-696x391.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-1068x600.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-747x420.jpg 747w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2023/03/Lufthansa-Airbus-A350-1000-150x84.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" />
<h3>The A350 will replace quad-engine aircraft within the next five years</h3>
With a current fleet of approximately 740 aircraft, the Lufthansa Group follows a long-term fleet strategy focused on quality, profitability, and emissions reduction. Including the latest aircraft order, the Lufthansa Group currently has around 250 aircraft pending delivery, including 100 wide-body aircraft.
In the medium term, twin-engine long-haul aircraft will gradually replace quad-engine models, including the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-600, and Airbus A340-300.
This order also addresses certification and production delays for the Boeing 777X, which must be delivered no later than 2026.

Lufthansa Expands Airbus A350-1000 Order to 15 Units, Valued at $2 Billion

For the summer season of 2025, Brandenburg Airport will feature a new transatlantic connection: <a href="https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/home?search=flight&amp;flightType=RT&amp;pax=1-0-0-0">Air Transat</a> will offer a nonstop service between Toronto-Pearson and Berlin, providing the only link between Canada and the German capital.
The leisure airline offers travelers codeshare flights with its partner Porter Airlines to other Canadian destinations, including Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, through Toronto-Pearson. The flights are already available for purchase.
Air Transat is the fourth airline to offer transatlantic flights from Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, complementing services by Delta Air Lines from New York-JFK, United Airlines from Newark, and Norse Atlantic from New York-JFK and Miami.
<h3>Flight schedule between Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) and Berlin (BER)</h3>
Starting June 19, 2025.
<ul>
<li>Flight TS 418: YYZ 21:05 &#8211; BER 10:55+1 Thursday and Sunday.</li>
<li>Flight TS 419: BER 12:25 &#8211; YYZ 15:15 Monday and Friday.</li>
</ul>
The route will be operated using Airbus A321LR aircraft with a capacity of 199 seats in two classes: 12 in Club Class and 187 in Economy.
For the summer of 2025, Air Transat’s European network from Toronto-Pearson will also include services to Amsterdam, Athens, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Dublin, Faro, Rome-Fiumicino, Glasgow, London-Gatwick, Lisbon, Manchester, Porto, Lamezia-Terme, Venice, and Zagreb.
«The new connection with Toronto is another step on the path toward expanding BER&#8217;s long-distance services. We are delighted to have secured a strong new partner in Air Transat. The connection with Toronto improves the capital region’s connectivity and opens new travel opportunities to North America for travelers from Berlin and Brandenburg,» said Aletta von Massenbach, CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH.
«This new route aligns with our revenue diversification strategy by targeting a key market with potential. It leverages our A321LR aircraft, allowing us to offer a high-quality flight experience, as well as our joint venture with Porter, which connects the German capital with several important Canadian cities,” said Sebastian Ponce, Chief Revenue Officer of Transat.

Air Transat Expands European Network with Nonstop Berlin Flights from Toronto

<a href="https://www.taag.com">TAAG Angola Airlines</a> and Lufthansa Technik have signed a long-term agreement for aircraft component services for the Angolan airline’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The first unit is expected to be delivered in January, and for twelve years, both the 787-9 and 787-10 will undergo Total Component Support (TCS) from the MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) experts.
Additionally, Lufthansa Technik will support TAAG Angola Airlines through an Aircraft Production Inspection Program (APIP), which not only covers the 787 fleet but also the airline’s Airbus A220 fleet, which is currently being assembled.
The TCS will provide the Angolan airline with access to Lufthansa Technik’s global component pool, increasing the availability of parts for its Dreamliner fleet and delivering significant cost advantages. The agreement includes not only traditional component maintenance, repair, and overhaul services but also AOG (Aircraft On Ground) support, as well as various pooling and logistics services. The close cooperation between both companies will enable the Angolan airline to enhance the efficiency of its technical operations.
Lufthansa Technik specialists thoroughly understand the technical specifics of next-generation aircraft and are responsible for ensuring the quality of TAAG Angola Airlines’ most advanced aircraft from the very beginning, even before delivery. Through the APIP, they will oversee the entire production process directly at the aircraft factory until the plane is accepted.
“With the addition of two modern aircraft types to our fleet almost simultaneously, we are pleased to rely on the renowned engineering expertise and extensive experience that only Lufthansa Technik experts can provide,” said Nelson Oliveira, CEO and managing director of TAAG Angola Airlines. 
“The new contract with Angola Airlines represents one of our largest Dreamliner component service agreements in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, I congratulate everyone involved in achieving this significant milestone,” said Kai-Stefan Roepke, Vice President of Corporate Sales for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Lufthansa Technik.

TAAG Angola Airlines Secures Long-Term Maintenance Deal with Lufthansa Technik

The Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport in Tulum welcomed its first direct flight from Europe this Thursday, December 12. The route, operated by Discover Airlines, connects Tulum with Frankfurt (FRA), Germany.
The inaugural flight was conducted on an Airbus A330-300 with a capacity of 283 to 302 passengers, divided into business, premium economy, and economy classes. The aircraft landed at 4:00 PM with 199 passengers onboard after a 10-hour journey. The route will operate twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, and will be available until April 2025.
The reception ceremony included the participation of the Governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, and the German Ambassador to Mexico, Clemens von Goetze. Both emphasized the significance of this new connection for boosting tourism in Tulum and strengthening cultural and commercial relations between the two countries. “The arrival of this flight strengthens the ties between the German and Mexican people and marks a new era of opportunities for the Mexican Caribbean,” Lezama stated during her speech. Meanwhile, the German ambassador highlighted: “This flight not only connects two destinations but serves as a cultural and economic bridge between our nations.”
Discover Airlines, the leisure airline of the Lufthansa Group, already operates regular flights to Cancun, connecting to Frankfurt up to six times per week during peak seasons. Now, with the addition of Tulum as its second destination in Mexico, it expands connection options for European travelers. Furthermore, being part of the Lufthansa Group, passengers can access other European destinations from Frankfurt.
<h4>Outlook for Tulum and the Region</h4>
Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport aims to position itself as a new gateway to the Mexican Caribbean, attracting international airlines such as Delta, United, American Airlines, and Copa Airlines, which have already announced routes from the United States, Canada, Central America, and South America. With the arrival of <a href="https://www.discover-airlines.com/us/en/homepage">Discover Airlines</a>, a new era of direct connectivity with Europe begins.
The growing air connectivity is also driving the development of hotel infrastructure in Tulum, with numerous projects underway to meet the increasing tourism demand.<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-348663" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="900" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM.jpeg 1600w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-13-at-2.13.52-AM-150x84.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a> 
«`

Discover Airlines Launches First Direct Flight from Frankfurt to Tulum

At 7:48 PM on December 9 and after a four-year absence, <a href="https://www.lufthansa.com/">Lufthansa</a> resumed its seasonal flights between Munich (MUC), Germany, and São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU). The new route will be operated three times a week until March 28, 2025.
«Munich is one of the most underserved destinations in Germany, and this new route will allow it to establish connections with the Brazilian and South American markets, as well as provide a second connection option to Germany, complementing the route to Frankfurt and facilitating links to Europe and Asia», said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7203856979621064704/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maria Cecilia Domingos</a>, Senior Analyst of Airline Business and Market Intelligence at GRU Airport.
«Offering direct access to Munich, one of our two hubs, alongside Frankfurt, is a very welcome boost for our customers throughout Brazil as well as in South America», said Felipe Bonifatti, General Director of the Lufthansa Group for South America and the Caribbean.
The connection will be operated with an Airbus A350-900, configured for 293 passengers, divided into 48 seats in business, 21 in premium economy, and 224 in economy. The airline will offer 1,758 seats per week.
<ul>
<li>Flight LH 504 MUC 11:40 &#8211; 20:10 GRU / Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.</li>
<li>Flight LH 505 GRU 22:05 &#8211; 13:40 (+1) MUC / Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-348151" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos.jpeg" alt="" width="1536" height="1920" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos.jpeg 1536w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos-240x300.jpeg 240w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos-720x900.jpeg 720w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos-768x960.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/LH-Guarulhos-150x188.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" />
<h4>Lufthansa expands in Brazil</h4>
This year, Lufthansa had already announced an increase in flights between Rio de Janeiro and Frankfurt to five per week (starting in March 2024) and changing the aircraft operating the route to the Boeing 787-9, one of the most modern aircraft in its fleet (starting in October 2024).
In addition, Lufthansa operates daily flights to São Paulo/Guarulhos from Frankfurt (FRA) with Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 747-8i, which, along with Buenos Aires, are the only destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean regularly served with Boeing 747 passenger aircraft.
According to ANAC Brazil, Lufthansa transported 289,862 passengers between January and October 2024, with an occupancy rate of 88%. It is the seventh most important European airline in Brazil.

Lufthansa Brings Back Munich-São Paulo Route After Four Years

Amid the worsening situation in Cuba, which has intensified the decline in demand, Condor will cease operations on the island on May 2, 2025. For the first time, the Caribbean island will lose its connection with Germany, further reducing the availability of flights to Europe.
Cuba has historically been one of the most popular destinations for German tourists, drawn by its beaches and nostalgic charm. Various airlines have connected both countries over the years, including Lufthansa, Cubana de Aviación, LTU International, Air Berlin, and Condor, among others.
However, over the last decade, the number of passengers traveling to the island has dropped significantly. In 2017, Cuba received 243,172 German tourists, while in 2022, only 58,715 arrivals from Germany were recorded. The years 2023 and 2024 showed no signs of recovery in the tourism sector either.
The situation in Cuba remains critical. In recent months, power outages and shortages of essential goods have worsened. Additionally, travel recommendations from the Federal Foreign Office, updated in late October, may have contributed to the slowdown in bookings. According to these recommendations, tourists should “carefully plan their trip to Cuba and carefully consider the necessity of the trip.”
In this context, Condor confirmed that it will not offer flights to Cuba for the first time since 1990 during the upcoming boreal summer. “We will reallocate capacity to destinations with higher demand,” a spokesperson for the airline told the German outlet <a href="https://www.aerotelegraph.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aeroTELEGRAPH</a>. “The planning of flights and the network design of airlines are fundamentally based on the principle of economic efficiency,” they added.
The last connection to Holguín (HOG) is scheduled for April 27, 2025, to Varadero (VRO) on April 29, and to Havana (HAV) on May 2. The company did not provide details on a possible return during the 2025-2026 boreal winter season. According to data from the Cirium platform, the airline currently operates a daily flight between Cuba and Germany using Airbus A330-900 aircraft.
<h4>Cuba continues to lose airlines and destinations</h4>
Cuba’s position is also affecting other key markets, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
During 2024, the TUI Group withdrew from Cuba. This company, the largest tourism airline connecting various airports in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands with five or six Cuban destinations (Havana, Varadero, Holguín, Santa Clara, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Coco), announced timidly that it will operate flights from London/Gatwick and Manchester in 2025.
Currently, regular flights by Aeroflot, Air France, Air China, Edelweiss, Turkish Airlines, Air Europa, and Iberia to Europe remain, along with charter operations by Nordwind, Plus Ultra, and World2Fly.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of Transportation has revealed that American airlines are requesting flexibility in their operations with Cuba, seeking to reduce frequencies or adjust aircraft in line with market demand. At present, American Airlines, Southwest, Delta, and United connect Havana with Miami, Houston, Tampa, Atlanta, and New York. There are also operations to Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Santa Clara, and Varadero.

Condor to Stop Cuba Flights in 2025: Germany’s Link Severed

Thirty years ago, on November 30, 1994, the company <a href="https://www.lufthansa-cargo.com/en/home">Lufthansa Cargo</a> was established, laying the groundwork for significant growth and innovation over the last three decades.
1994 &#8211; 2004: In its early years, the cargo business expanded with 737-300F, DC-8-73F aircraft, and later 747-200 and MD-11F freighters. The digitalization of logistics processes began, offering products and solutions to meet customer needs. Additionally, the company performed its first round-the-world flight in partnership with Air New Zealand and created the world&#8217;s first global cargo alliance, WOW, in collaboration with SAS Cargo and Singapore Airlines.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-347827" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1732786416274.jpeg" alt="" width="1278" height="719" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416274.jpeg 1278w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416274-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416274-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416274-150x84.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1278px) 100vw, 1278px" />
2005 &#8211; 2014: This period saw modernization and expansion. The cargo aircraft fleet was updated with more fuel-efficient models. AeroLogic was founded in collaboration with DHL Express to expand into the long-haul market. Additionally, the Frankfurt Animal Lounge and the Pharma Hub Frankfurt were inaugurated.
In 2013, the airline began a partnership with the «Aktion Deutschland Hilft e.V.» alliance to provide faster support in crisis situations. That same year, the cargo aircraft fleet was modernized again: the first of five B777Fs was introduced during a major launch event.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-347828" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1732786416248.jpeg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416248.jpeg 1280w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416248-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416248-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416248-150x84.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
2015 &#8211; 2024: In recent years, the company has observed an increase in digitalization, service expansion, and updates to its fleet and hubs. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of the global market. The airline played a key role in mobilizing vital supply chains, distributing vaccines and masks during the health emergency. As a result, even passenger aircraft were temporarily converted into freighters, known as «preighters.»
During the fall, in collaboration with DB Schenker, the world&#8217;s first carbon dioxide emission-free freighter rotation was conducted. In 2021, the last MD-11 freighter was retired from the fleet, leaving only B777F models in operation. The following year, short- and medium-haul routes were added to the network using A321 freighters.
This enabled the inauguration of 13 new stations worldwide in 2023. In 2024, the first operation with A321 freighters was conducted from the Munich hub. Additionally, the company added a transpacific service to its schedule, establishing for the first time a direct connection between Vietnam and the United States.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-347829" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1732786416175.jpeg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416175.jpeg 1280w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416175-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416175-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/1732786416175-150x84.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
&nbsp;

Lufthansa Cargo Celebrates 30 Years: Key Achievements and Future Plans

The industrial plan of ITA Airways and Lufthansa, recently approved by the European Commission, will begin implementation in January 2025. This agreement, marking one of the largest integrations in the aviation industry over the past two decades, aims to transform ITA into a key player within the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline conglomerate.
The integration will not be limited to a simple commercial operation: it will require renegotiating thousands of contracts with suppliers and customers, aligning commercial infrastructures, optimizing connections and flight schedules, adjusting fare bands, and integrating loyalty programs. ITA’s «Volare» program will merge with Lufthansa’s «Miles&amp;More,» while aircraft maintenance plans and premium passenger management, including VIP lounge access, will also be updated.
<a href="https://www.corriere.it/economia/trasporti/aerei/24_dicembre_01/ita-lufthansa-il-piano-di-sviluppo-focus-su-fiumicino-nuote-rotte-e-ruolo-per-air-dolomiti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Leonard Berberi&#8217;s report in Corriere della Sera</a> (Italian), this process, expected to last at least two years, will also aim to reduce costs in areas such as handling, catering, and maintenance, while improving revenue management using Lufthansa’s operational «brain» in Zurich.
<h4>Fiumicino and the role of Air Dolomiti</h4>
Rome-Fiumicino will be incorporated into Lufthansa Group’s multi-hub system, strengthening connectivity for ITA Airways&#8217; long-haul flights. Within this framework, Air Dolomiti, the group’s Italian airline, will play a key role in feeding intercontinental connections from Rome. Additionally, a commercial agreement is being negotiated with SkyAlps, a regional airline based in Bolzano, to operate lower-demand routes between Rome and medium or small airports. However, this will require obtaining the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification first.
<h4>New routes and network adjustments</h4>
The plan includes a significant expansion towards Africa and South America, with new routes to Bogotá (Colombia) and additional destinations in Brazil to complement existing ones in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In Europe, greater focus will be placed on the leisure segment, which has proven to be particularly profitable, while enhancing connectivity in Eastern Europe as a bridge to the Americas. Simultaneously, unprofitable or non-strategic routes will be eliminated to optimize the network.

Major Integration: ITA Airways Joins Lufthansa Group with Big Expansion Plans

The <a href="https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/home.html">Lufthansa Group</a> introduces «Green Fares» for long-haul services to offer more sustainable flights. Starting December 4, the «Green Fare» will be available for booking in all travel classes on more than 850,000 flights per year across the company’s global network.
The most sustainable ticket includes compensation for individual flight-related carbon dioxide emissions.
The Lufthansa Group was the first airline group in the world to introduce «Green Fares» for short- and medium-haul services about two years ago. After testing on selected intercontinental routes, the fare is now available for booking on all long-haul services.
Since the introduction of «Green Fares» in February 2023, more than two million passengers have opted for this fare and have offset approximately 190,000 tons of carbon dioxide. This amount is equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions of more than 1,300 flights from Munich to New York on an Airbus A350.
«We have set ambitious goals to make flying more sustainable. To achieve this, we invest billions of euros each year in new aircraft and pioneering technologies, among other things. With our innovative Green Fares, we also engage our customers and offer them, as the first airline group in the world, the opportunity to actively contribute to more sustainable aviation on more than 850,000 flights,» said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group.
«The Lufthansa Group has always contributed to the progress of aviation. As the first airline group in the world, we have offered our own fare for more sustainable flights for two years now. And with success: demand is continuously increasing. In addition to technological solutions, we focus on innovative offerings for our customers to make flights more sustainable,» added Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer of the Lufthansa Group.
The Green Fare applies to flights operated by Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, and Air Dolomiti. The only exceptions are flights operated by other airlines and standalone routes in selected traffic areas managed by Joint Venture partners. Eurowings also provides a price for greener flights under the PlanetBlu brand.

Lufthansa’s Green Fares: Over 850,000 Sustainable Flights Annually Starting December

Lufthansa Cargo will adjust its Airfreight Surcharge (ASC) starting January 1, 2025, to account for the rising costs of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) due to mandatory blending regulations. The airline will factor in these additional environmental costs to its pricing structure, particularly for flights departing from European Union (EU) countries, where a 2% SAF blending rate will be required.
Other nations, such as Singapore and India, are also implementing their own SAF quotas, with Singapore mandating 1% SAF by 2026, and India planning quotas between 1-5% by 2027. The EU aims to increase its blending rate to 6% by 2030, while the UK and Japan have set even higher targets of 10%.
Lufthansa Cargo highlights that the increasing cost of SAF cannot be borne solely by the airline industry. While SAF is key to reducing carbon emissions, it is still up to five times more expensive than conventional jet fuel, and supply remains limited. Lufthansa urges policymakers to provide more robust support to build a competitive SAF market.
Introduced in 2015, the Airfreight Surcharge is designed to cover fluctuating operational costs like fuel and security. The surcharge is adjusted based on a cost index monitored by Lufthansa Cargo. Starting in 2025, SAF costs will also be included in this index.
&nbsp;
As part of its mission to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Lufthansa Cargo has set ambitious sustainability goals. The airline aims to cut its CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, through the use of SAF, modern aircraft, and operational efficiency. Its “Sustainable Choice” program also offers customers the option to reduce their carbon footprint with SAF credits and climate protection projects.
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SAF, blended with regular jet fuel, reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle. However, due to its high production costs and limited availability, Lufthansa Cargo stresses the need for governmental action to promote its widespread adoption.

Lufthansa Cargo to Add SAF Costs to Airfreight Surcharge Index from 2025

Lufthansa is reorganizing its operations in Asia: the airline is considering suspending its non-stop flights between Frankfurt and Beijing, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lufthansa-weighs-cancelling-frankfurt-beijing-route-due-competition-2024-09-20/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>. Increasing demand in particular from China and rising operating costs have led to low profitability, making the service unviable.
Currently, the German airline offers five weekly flights on Airbus A340-300 between Frankfurt and Beijing, previously this route was operated on Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8i aircraft. Its partner airline Air China also operates this segment eleven times a week on Boeing 777-300ER.
The decision to suspend this route will be made in October, according to an executive of the airline, it will continue with its daily operation between Munich and Beijing. Lufthansa has still suspended its services between the Bavarian capital and Hong Kong, while other Lufthansa Group airlines such as Austrian Airlines and SWISS have not resumed their operations to Beijing-Capital since the start of the pandemic.
The situation of airspace restrictions due to the Ukraine-Russia war and the geopolitical situation in the region has caused several airlines to modify their operations in Greater China. British Airways has canceled its flights to Beijing Capital and has reduced its flights to Hong Kong to one daily flight on a Boeing 787 and Virgin Atlantic has ceased its services to Shanghai and Hong Kong, the airline has operated for more than 20 years in both destinations.
See also: <a style="color: #ffcc00;" href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/lufthansa-eyes-investment-in-airbaltic-amid-expansion-strategy-in-europe/">Lufthansa Eyes Investment in airBaltic Amid Expansion Strategy in Europe</a>

Lufthansa considering suspending flights between Frankfurt and Beijing

According to reports from <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2024/09/09/bna-airport-nonstop-flight-europe-discover-airline.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Business Journals</a>, Nashville International Airport could get another transatlantic service from Discover Airlines, which has selected this destination to expand its network in North America.
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority has been negotiating for months for a European route, to increase competition and create more affordable fares. This possible new transatlantic service will boost business and tourism in the region.
Discover Airlines tentatively begins service to this destination in May 2025 with three flights a week on a 270-seat Airbus A330-200, and the leisure airline must also receive approval from the Lufthansa Group board to materialize this route. Discover&#8217;s network in the United States currently has services to Philadelphia, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Las Vegas, and Anchorage.
In May 2018, British Airways began non-stop flights to Nashville on Boeing 787s, providing the only transatlantic service to that destination. According to statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, 116,655 passengers were flown between Nashville and London-Heathrow in 2023.
See also: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/08/lufthansas-discover-airlines-faces-four-day-strike-by-pilots-and-cabin-crew/">Lufthansa’s Discover Airlines Faces Four-Day Strike by Pilots and Cabin Crew</a>
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Nashville airport could get second transatlantic service from Discover Airlines

After having <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/06/eu-approves-remedies-for-lufthansas-entry-into-ita-airways/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquired 41% of the Italian airline ITA Airways</a>, the expansionist ambitions of the Lufthansa group are not only focusing on TAP Air Portugal, but also on another company in northern Europe.
According to Bloomberg, the German airline is considering investing in <a href="https://www.airbaltic.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">airBaltic</a>, the Latvian airline that has experienced significant growth over the last decade after being nationalized and is known for being one of the largest operators of the A220 family (specifically, the CS300 variant, for which it was the launch customer when Bombardier still owned it in 2016).
Lufthansa&#8217;s entry into airBaltic would occur before the airline launches its anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO). The negotiations, according to the report, are still in an early stage and no decisions have been made.
Both the German airline and airBaltic, along with the Latvian Ministry of Transport, have refrained from commenting on the information. However, the Minister of Economy, Viktors Valainis, stated that a potential investor was «a very well-known company» according to Baltic News Network. The agency also reported that during a meeting held on August 30, the Latvian government agreed that the State should retain at least 25% plus one of the total shares after airBaltic&#8217;s IPO. The investor would acquire 10% of the shares.
In 2023, airBaltic transported 6.9 million passengers, a 47% increase compared to 2022. Revenues reached 668 million euros (+34%), with an EBITDAR of 158.9 million euros and profits of 33.7 million euros. In the first half of this year, the number of passengers transported increased by 15%, and revenues by 16.5%, with stable EBITDAR, but losses amounted to 88.8 million euros, mainly due to issues with Pratt &amp; Whitney engines, currency fluctuations, and rising fuel costs.
The Latvian airline operates 47 Airbus A220-300s and expects to close the year with 48 aircraft. By 2029, the fleet is expected to reach 100 A220-300s, considering current orders.
Its network consists of more than 130 routes connecting over 70 destinations through its bases in Riga, Vilnius, Palanga, Tallinn, and Tampere.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-337101" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024.jpg" alt="" width="1091" height="796" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024.jpg 1091w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024-300x219.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024-768x560.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/09/airbaltic-red-2024-150x109.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1091px) 100vw, 1091px" /></a>
The current portfolio of airlines within the Lufthansa Group also includes Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, and subsidiaries such as Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa Airlines, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines, and Eurowings.
Last week, the group&#8217;s CEO, Carsten Spohr, <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/el-ceo-de-lufthansa-se-reunio-con-autoridades-portuguesas-por-la-venta-de-tap-air-portugal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visited the Portuguese government to explore opportunities related to the privatization of TAP Air Portugal</a>.

Lufthansa Eyes Investment in airBaltic Amid Expansion Strategy in Europe

Delta will suspend another route to Germany: by the end of this summer boreal season, it will cease flights between Atlanta and Stuttgart on <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/05/delta-air-lines-boosts-minneapolis-transatlantic-connectivity-with-new-service-to-dublin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boeing 767-300ER</a>. Last year, the company canceled the Dusseldorf route, leaving these two German destinations without transatlantic services. The airline will continue to operate from <a href="https://www.atl.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport</a> to Frankfurt and Munich.
Stuttgart is home to Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, also based in Atlanta. This service catered to the market of automotive travelers, the airline for decades has operated out of Stuttgart. Delta customers can access this destination with its transatlantic partners Air France and KLM through their hubs in Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam.
Delta established itself as the U.S. airline flying to the most destinations in Germany with a total of five, now with the cancellation of the Stuttgart route the number is reduced to three, the same number as United Airlines. Delta&#8217;s German network has year-round flights to Frankfurt and Munich, and seasonal service to Berlin.

Delta Air Lines suspends flights to Stuttgart

Due to the conflict between Hamas and Hezbollah, which has caused a drop in demand in the Middle East region, Lufthansa has modified its scheduling in the area and the airline now avoids flying over Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
As of September 16, 2024, Lufthansa will suspend its services to Kuwait (operated with a stopover in Dammam) and Bahrain (operated with a stopover in Riyadh). On the same date, the airline will modify its operation in Saudi Arabia by operating Frankfurt &#8211; Riyadh -Dammam.
<h3>Flight schedule Frankfurt (FRA) &#8211; Riyadh (RUH) &#8211; Dammam (DMM)</h3>
From September 16, 2024.
<ul>
<li>Flight LH 622: FRA 13:10 &#8211; 19: 55 RUH 20:45 &#8211; 21:45 DMM daily flights.</li>
<li>Flight LH 623: DMM 23:55 &#8211; 01:05+1 RUH 01:55+1 &#8211; 07:20+1 DMM daily flights.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Route data</h3>
<ul>
<li>From March 2025, the service will be reduced from 7 to 5 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
The route will be operated on Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 255 passengers in three classes: 42 Business Class, 28 Premium Economy, and 185 in Economy.
Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, and SWISS have suspended services to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil in the face of regional tensions.

Lufthansa suspends flights to Bahrain and Kuwait

Nonstop long-haul services between Munich Airport and destinations in the United States have grown significantly: when the airport began operations in 1992, there were 39 weekly flights to five destinations. Today, there are 140 weekly flights to 14 different destinations. On August 26, the airport recorded the 50 millionth passenger to the United States since the airport opened.
Lufthansa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines currently have non-stop flights to and from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, New York-JFK, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington-Dulles. Lufthansa operates daily services to Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington with the Airbus A380.
Seven destinations have multiple daily flights from Munich: Chicago three times per week and double daily  to Charlotte, Denver, Newark, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles. New York-JFK also has two flights a day, three times a week.
There is currently a supply of 44,000 seats each way and an occupancy factor of over 90%. In 2023, three million passengers in non-stop traffic with the United States were recorded for the first time, and since June 2022, monthly passenger numbers have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In July 2024, more than 355,000 passengers flew nonstop to the United States.

Munich Airport welcomed its 50 millionth passenger from the U.S.

The pilots and cabin crew of Discover, Lufthansa Group&#8217;s holiday airline, have announced a four-day strike that will begin on Tuesday, August 27 at 0:00 (CET) and will extend until 23:59 on Friday, August 30.
The industrial action will affect all Discover Airlines flights departing from German airports and comes as a result of the lack of agreement with the unions VC (pilots) and <a href="https://www.ufo-online.aero/images/themen/eurowingsdiscover/pdf/Discover%20Streikaufruf%2008%202024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFO</a> (CC) in the context of the negotiation of new collective agreements reached with Verdi, another pilots&#8217; and CC union, whose conditions are deemed unacceptable by the first two.
«The management of Discover Airlines, which has been refusing appropriate tariff agreements through the majority cabin crew union UFO for years, already made a strike inevitable earlier this year. Now, this management is once again forcing UFO into an industrial dispute. In a sudden and nocturnal action, a tariff agreement was hastily created with another union, which contains unacceptable conditions for our members, while Discover&#8217;s management refuses to continue negotiations with UFO,» said Joachim Vázquez Bürger, UFO president.
See also: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/08/discover-airlines-suma-mas-aeronaves-y-moderniza-su-cabina-para-vuelos-de-larga-distancia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Discover Airlines adds more aircraft and modernizes its cabin for long-haul flights</a>
«Our colleagues, after years of stagnation, are now facing not only &#8211; completely unexpectedly and suddenly &#8211; insufficient conditions, but also unprecedentedly unsupportive conditions, some of which are unbearable. The fact that essential salary components are tied to the employer&#8217;s favored union affiliation is already highly questionable. But the fact that they are willing to abuse job security for a membership recruitment program reminiscent of mobile phone providers, under the premise of &#8216;those who do not participate will be dismissed more quickly,&#8217; leaves us stunned. Unfortunately, the employer leaves us no other choice but to engage in industrial action,» added Harry Jaeger, head of tariff policy.
The airline responded by condemning this industrial action, highlighting that the agreement reached with Verdi guarantees wage increases of up to 38% for CC and up to 16% for pilots.
<h3>The impact of the Discover strike</h3>
According to information obtained by Aviacionline through Cirium, this week Discover has 248 flights scheduled from its airports in Germany, so the industrial action could affect around 50,000 passengers (plus a similar number on inbound flights).
From its main bases in Frankfurt and Munich, Discover Airlines flies to around 40 destinations in Europe, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean.
<figure id="attachment_335119" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-335119" style="width: 1157px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-335119" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024.jpg" alt="Discover Airlines Network - August 2024" width="1167" height="715" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024.jpg 1167w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024-300x184.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024-768x471.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/08/discover-airlines-red-agosto-2024-150x92.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1167px) 100vw, 1167px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-335119" class="wp-caption-text">Discover Airlines Network &#8211; August 2024</figcaption></figure>
Its fleet consists of 14 Airbus A320s, 3 Airbus A330-200s, and 10 Airbus A330-300s.