Jens Fehlinger, a seasoned Lufthansa Group executive, will take over as CEO of SWISS International Air Lines on October 1, 2024. He succeeds Dieter Vranckx, who is joining the Lufthansa Group Executive Board. Fehlinger brings a wealth of experience in aviation management, including leading crisis management during the pandemic and restructuring efforts.
Lufthansa, the German airline giant, announced it will implement an environmental charge of up to €72 on European flights to cover the increasing costs of EU climate regulations. The charge will be added to flights departing from EU countries, Britain, Norway, and Switzerland starting in January 2024. The airline cites the EU’s requirement to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a major driver of the new charge.
Lufthansa Group is expanding its reach within Europe with the launch of Lufthansa City Airlines, a new subsidiary focusing on short- and medium-haul flights from major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The airline is set to begin operations on June 26th, offering increased connectivity for passengers across the continent.
Lufthansa has announced updates to its winter flight schedule, including the resumption of non-stop flights from Munich to Sao Paulo, Vancouver, Bangalore, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. The airline will also introduce its new Allegris cabin interior on select routes and continue to offer flights on the iconic Airbus A380 to Bangkok, Delhi, and Los Angeles.
Travelers in Minneapolis-Saint Paul can now enjoy a direct link to Germany and Europe through Lufthansa’s new non-stop service connecting the Twin Cities to Frankfurt. Starting today, the service operates five times a week using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, offering convenient connections to Lufthansa’s extensive global network.
Since 1984, Lufthansa German Airlines has played a pivotal role in fostering air travel between Germany and South Korea. Initially, flights included a stopover in Alaska, but by 1991, direct flights were introduced, solidifying the connection between the two nations. In a groundbreaking move, Lufthansa has partnered with Korea’s KTX rail service to offer a seamless rail-and-air travel option promoting sustainability. Passengers can enjoy streamlined services like boarding pass issuance, luggage check-in, and immigration clearance right at the Seoul Station City-Airport Terminal. With 17 weekly flights between Europe and Korea, including the first direct flight from Seoul to Zurich, Lufthansa continues to demonstrate its commitment to the Korean market.
In a bid to cater to the growing winter tourism in Lapland, Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines have announced the introduction of three new routes to the region. Lufthansa will commence bi-weekly services from Frankfurt to Rovaniemi in November 2024, while Austrian Airlines will launch weekly flights from Vienna to Kittilä in December 2024 and Ivalo in January 2025. These new connections will provide travelers with convenient access to Lapland’s enchanting winter wonderland, further enhancing the region’s global appeal.
Passengers onboard a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8I at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) experienced a harrowing landing on April 12, 2023. The plane touched down but immediately bounced back into the air, prompting shocked reactions from the commentator recording the event live. The incident comes amidst ongoing concerns raised by the Allied Pilots Association regarding flight safety issues in the United States. The union has urged pilots to report any safety concerns they encounter without fear of intimidation.
