Eurowings (EW, Düsseldorf) took delivery of its first A320-200 (sl) from parent Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) on January 10. The aircraft, D-AIZQ (cn 5497), is currently in Bratislava undergoing a repaint ahead of its entry into service for germanwings (4U, Cologne/Bonn) this summer.

Eurowings will operate a total of twenty-three A320s for and on-behalf of germanwings this summer as part of the latter's transformation into a regional European budget carrier. The A320s are replacing germanwings' outgoing fleet of twenty three CRJ900s, also operated by Eurowings.

The budget carrier's longhaul budget operation is also set to make its début this year with Lufthansa announcing an October 15 launch date. As previously reported, the operation will launch with a trio of A330-200s out of its Cologne/Bonn hub.