- 50 percent more aircraft on short- and long-haul in summer 2018
- 40 aircraft will fly to 95 destinations more than 1,750 times a week
- New long-haul destinations from DUS: Fort Myers, Miami – and New York
- Eurowings growth creates almost 4,000 jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia
Eurowings is enjoying strong growth at its most important location in Düsseldorf. For the upcoming summer flight schedule, the low-cost subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group will increase its offering at Düsseldorf Airport by 30 percent, presenting its customers with a capacity of a million seats a month. More than 250 flights a day to 95 German, European and international destinations will not only consolidate Eurowings’ pole position in Düsseldorf but also expand it considerably. This growth is also reflected in the fleet size. Around 40 aircraft – an increase of around 50 percent – will be based in the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in the summer, with this first phase also including three long-haul jets.
Eurowings CCO Oliver Wagner emphasises that this growth in the region meets strong demand, “The catchment area of Düsseldorf Airport includes more than 18 million inhabitants and is, therefore, the largest in Germany – our offering is a direct response to the enormously high interest in short- and long-haul flights from Düsseldorf.” Wagner does not fear the competition at the state capital’s airport in NRW, “Not only are we the fastest growing airline in Europe, we also have the best products at the best price – and ultimately the best service for our customers.” Eurowings’ commitment, however, is also important to NRW for another reason: the growth will generate almost 4,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.
Thomas Schnalke, spokesman for the management of Düsseldorf Airport, “We’re delighted with Eurowings’ commitment to Düsseldorf. Here you have two strong, strategic partners standing side by side. We are very confident that the gap in the flight schedule created by Air Berlin leaving the market will be closed again by the end of the year. This success demonstrates the strength of our airport as a gateway from North Rhine-Westphalia to the world. In particular, Eurowings’ decision to significantly expand its long-haul operation from Düsseldorf is good for the entire Rhine-Ruhr region. The close partnership with Eurowings marks the beginning of a strong, customer-oriented collaboration which ultimately enables a better operational design of the processes.”
German domestic routes
Eurowings growth from Düsseldorf will increase sharply, particularly on domestic German routes. For example, there will be up to 9 daily flights between Düsseldorf and Hamburg, up to 13 flights between Düsseldorf and Berlin, up to four flights a day between Stuttgart and Düsseldorf and also up to four flights a day between Düsseldorf and Munich.
European routes
Flights to European destinations will also increase dramatically. There will be up to five flights a day connecting Düsseldorf and Vienna, up to eleven flights a day between the capital of NRW and Palma, the capital of Europe’s number one holiday island, Majorca. New summer destinations from Düsseldorf within Europe are the Greek island of Kos, Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Munich, Sylt, Stuttgart and Zagreb.
Long-haul expansion
Eurowings long-haul will also undergo significant expansion in Düsseldorf. So far, Eurowings has only one long-haul aircraft based at the Düsseldorf location. As of April 2018, this figure will rise to three which will be used mainly on attractive routes to the USA: to Fort Myers, Miami – and New York. For the first time, Eurowings will also be offering BIZclass, a particular attraction for business travellers which will be on sale soon. Four Airbus A330 currently operating at the Cologne/Bonn location will then be moved over for the winter flight schedule 2018/19. With seven long-haul jets, Eurowings will then pool its international business in Düsseldorf, offering up to 140 long-haul departures a month to attractive destinations in America and the Caribbean. Destinations outside the USA are Varadero (Cuba), Cancun (Mexico) as well as Puerto Plata and Punta Cana (both in the Dominican Republic). The more than 35 short- and medium-haul aircraft used in Düsseldorf will provide ideal conditions for supplying the growing Eurowings long-haul routes with feeder flights.
Düsseldorf is already the largest Eurowings location; the Lufthansa subsidiary has more aircraft based there than at any other airport. However, the around 40 aircraft planned for the summer are just the beginning. Wagner, “Düsseldorf plays a hugely important role in our planning – even beyond 2018.”
Cologne/Bonn, 19.02.2018
