Lufthansa in a new look in a spirit of optimism

In addition to the strong growth of the low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, the aircraft of the core Lufthansa brand also have to be repainted to the new design, which was presented in full for the first time. This process at Lufthansa is expected to take seven years because the normal deadlines for repainting are being used.

At the ceremony, a Boeing 747-8 and an Airbus A321 were on display in the new look, which also features a new form of the 100-year-old crane symbol. By the end of the year, 40 jets will already be wearing the new dress, which had caused some discussion on social networks due to the lack of the basic color yellow on the fuselage. However, the color will remain in particular at points of interaction with customers, such as at the counters, and will be used in a more targeted manner, said marketing chief Alexander Schlaubitz.

"In top form"

Customers, shareholders and employees had to put up with a lot in three tough years of restructuring, Spohr explained. In return, the Group had experienced the best financial year in its history in 2017. Figures are to be announced in March. And, "Our core company, Lufthansa, is back in top form." For him, the new brand world is the icing on the cake of modernization, Spohr said.

The holiday was accompanied by the fact that Lufthansa had reached a long-term collective agreement with the Verdi trade union for the approximately 30,000 ground services employees. In a first stage, they are to receive a 3 percent pay increase, retroactive to February 1.

A second stage on May 1, 2019, will also amount to 3 percent, but is linked to the economic success of the respective subcompanies, as both sides announced. If the agreed targets were not met, for example at the cargo company Lufthansa Cargo or the catering subsidiary LSG, salaries there would only rise by 1.8 percent in the second stage. The term is 33 months until the end of September 2020. The company has also concluded long-term collective agreements with pilots and flight attendants.

Expansion of Eurowings

The Eurowings platform, on which several companies offer flights, is to become the third-largest provider of point-to-point services in Europe this year with more than 200 aircraft. To this end, it has acquired around 70 aircraft from the Air Berlin legacy, which now have to be repainted.

"In the meantime, around 80 percent of the crews have also applied to us," the head of the Swiss parent company continued. Following Air Berlin's exit from the market, he expects competition to become even tougher with better positioned competitors. Air Berlin's capacities would be "110 percent" replaced.

The aircraft of the Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines, whose 50 aircraft are nevertheless included in the Eurowings Group, will not be repainted in the Eurowings colors. Spohr guaranteed the Belgians continued independence. "The brand will not be touched."

The company would also retain strong Belgian elements on short- and medium-haul routes because it represented a certain value as a brand on the Belgian market. In addition, it would take on the important role in Brussels of organizing Eurowings' long-haul center with around 20 aircraft in Düsseldorf, Munich and Brussels.

Brussels Airlines emerged from the former state-owned airline Sabena and has traditionally had a strong presence in the African business. The airline's independence is considered a political issue in Belgium. The Lufthansa Group took over the company completely last year and parted company with Group CEO Bernard Gustin this week.

He is said to have spoken out against the cooperation plans with Eurowings. He was replaced by Lufthansa manager Christina Förster. Spohr had no news on takeover candidate Alitalia. He said Lufthansa was only interested in a company that had already been restructured. (SDA)