Airline COVID-19 capacity, network, staff cuts for 17-22MAR

Files reveal Swiss and easyJet Switzerland state aid clash

Swiss targets 1,000 fewer jobs by YE21, CEO to depart

Lufthansa mothballs A380s, A340-600s; union slams Ocean idea

Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt Int'l) has announced that in light of a slower than anticipated market recovery, it will increase its group capacity reduction plans by 50 more aircraft, including the long-term and possible permanent grounding of all A340-600s and A380-800s.

"In addition to the fleet changes already communicated, the following decisions have been made: after six A380s were finally taken out of service in the spring, the remaining eight A380s and ten A340-600s, which were previously intended for flight service, will be transferred to long-term storage and removed from planning. These aircraft will only be reactivated in the event of an unexpectedly rapid market recovery. In addition, the remaining seven A340-600s will be permanently decommissioned," the group said in a press release announcing its new strategy.

Following the changes, the group will retire 150 aircraft, as opposed to the previously announced 100, by the middle of the 2020s. These decisions will result in an incremental EUR1.1 billion impairment charge, which Lufthansa expects to record in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Although media...

Swiss takes delivery of first A321neo

Swiss (LX, Zurich) took delivery of its first of eight A321-200Ns on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) following the arrival of HB-JPA (msn 9417) at Zurich airport on Friday, September 18.

The octet of twinjets is all powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1133Gs and seats 215 in an all-economy class layout albeit with a moveable dividing curtain. The aircraft will collectively replace Swiss's existing fleet of six A321-100s and three A321-200s.

A subsidiary of Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt Int'l), Swiss expects to debut A321neo operations on October 1 with service from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca and Berlin Tegel. After that, Vienna and Porto will follow on October 2, Athens Int'l on October 3, Lisbon on October 4, and Malaga and Belgrade on October 5.