Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

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Boeing767copilot
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Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by Boeing767copilot »

Lufthansa is launching its new “Lufthansa Italia“ brand in Italy tomorrow. With an initial fleet of six aircraft, Lufthansa will be offering the best of connections from northern Italy to major European destinations from February 2009. Lufthansa is to found its own Italian airline under the new brand early next year and apply for an Italian Air Operator Certificate (AOC). Flights to the first two destinations, Barcelona und Paris (Charles de Gaulle), will be operated from 2 February 2009. Flights to Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest and Madrid will be added to the timetable four weeks later. London (Heathrow) and Lisbon will be brought into the network with the start of the 2009 summer flight schedules at the end of March. An Airbus A319, seating 138 passengers in Business and Economy Class, will be operating the flights under the Lufthansa Italia brand.

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tolipanebas
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by tolipanebas »

For your information, the first 'Lufthansa Italia' plane has already been painted.

It features the very same looks as regular LH planes, but reads 'Lufthansa Italia' on the fuselage (same letter type and colours as the regular LH brand).

The plane is operating for LH with a sticker covering the 'Italia' part of the name till February 2nd next year... I suppose it was repainted to be used on the occasion tomorrow?

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by sdbelgium »

Here are some first pictures of the fuselage titles:

Image

Image

Image

Source: Lufthansa

Shanti
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by Shanti »

Is it possible there will be a LUFTHANSA BELGIUM in the near future?
Thanks for the info!

summersso
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by summersso »

Reminds me of Deutsche BA...

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by Sparrow »

Shanti wrote:Is it possible there will be a LUFTHANSA BELGIUM in the near future?
Thanks for the info!
Nope. Like mentioned several times by Lufthansa, they will keep the Brussels Airlines brand. Just like LX.

Kind regards ;)

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by TCAS_climb »

Curious to see how the Italian CAA will react to the AOC request... 8-)

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euroflyer
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

Is this an indication LH will NOT be the partner of the new Alitalia? Would not make that much sense to start a completely new company in Italy with an own AOC, new livery etcetera if AZ would be the future partner of LH in the very same market?!

And what will be the future of Air Dolomiti? They are owned 100% by LH so they ARE "Lufthansa Italia" basically ... Will they continue to fly in their own livery, or will they change as well?
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tolipanebas
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by tolipanebas »

Well, the group of investors taking over AZ has indicated they have a strong preference for AF-KL as strategic partner and AF has already said they ware willing to take 20% in a slimmed down AZ, so I think LH pretty much knows where the wind is blowing from. Besides, IF they were to take a share in AZ, it is on condition they'd be allowed to take the majority over time, something Berlusconi has always ruled out: AZ will stay Italian, remember???

As to Air Dolomiti... It really is just a regional airline, linking a number of regional italian airports with LH's hubs in FRA and even more so with MUC. They don't have any other international flights (except a single Verona-Vienna) and I don't think it is their core mission to do so either in the future. I take it they will continue to link Italian regional airports with the LH hubs just north of the Alps, and now also start regional routes to and from MXP to feed LH Italia. The Air Dolomiti brand is not known outside Italy and LH deemed it more appropriate to use its own brand rather than that of Air Dolomiti to start up flights to France, Belgium, Spain etc especially given the fact they also might consider some long haul operations in the future (NYC!).

BTW- strange that Air Dolomiti doesn't even have flights to ZRH...

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

tolipanebas wrote: As to Air Dolomiti... It really is just a regional airline, linking a number of regional italian airports with LH's hubs in FRA and even more so with MUC. They don't have any other international flights (except a single Verona-Vienna) and I don't think it is their core mission to do so either in the future. I take it they will continue to link Italian regional airports with the LH hubs just north of the Alps, and now also start regional routes to and from MXP to feed LH Italia. The Air Dolomiti brand is not known outside Italy and LH deemed it more appropriate to use its own brand rather than that of Air Dolomiti to start up flights to France, Belgium, Spain etc especially given the fact they also might consider some long haul operations in the future (NYC!).
BTW- strange that Air Dolomiti doesn't even have flights to ZRH...
I agree it would not have made much sense to use the name of Air Dolomiti for flights to NYC or even BCN, LHR etcetera. BUT they could change the livery of Air Dolomiti planes now to "Lufthansa Italia" as well? Or at least to "Lufthansa Italia regional" if this still fits on the fuselage :lol: :roll: to bring them in line with eurowings etcetera .. AND they could have used the AOC of Air Dolomiti for the new "Lufthansa Italia"?!

Somehow I feel this complete new company and new AOC layout indicates there are MUCH more planes to come to MXP soon than just the 6 A319s ... Anyway, LH will loose Air One as a partner if the new AZ chooses AF and this means probably LH will go to full competition in Italy against AZ/AP.

I think this might very soon bring changes to BruAir's codeshare partner in Italy as well ...
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

According to lufthansa.it website they will by May 2009 serving at least Monday to Friday
LHR, CDG and BRU 4 times
MAD 2 times
LIS, BUD, OTP 1 time

Flights to BRU from MXP will arrive in BRU at
8h45 (LH 1734)
10h20 (LH 1812)
14h45 (LH 1814)
19h30 (LH 1733)

Flights from BRU to MXP will leave BRU at
9h25 (LH 1732)
11h00 (LH 1813)
15h25 (LH 1815)
20h10 (LH 1735)
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tolipanebas
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by tolipanebas »

It seems the LH Italy flights will feature the regular LH IATA code, but be distinguished by a 1 as first of the four digits.

I agree with you: it is likely all of these flights will be code shared with SN by then.
At present SN and LH are already planning a full scale commerical integration as from next year, however, they may not officially announce any team up or share competition sensitive information as the take-over of SN by LH still needs EU approval. The reason it takes some time is because LH has immediately filled for an approval on a full take-over, rather than just ask for an approval for a strategic minority shareholding like they will be doing at first.

If you look carefully at the schedule, you'll see it leaves ample room for SN operated flights, e.g. an early morning outbound flight from BRU or a late evening outbound flight... Such a schedule can be very easily put together and would cover the route more than adequate.

BTW- it will be interesting to see where LH can get 4 daily LH slots from...
Or are they just going to market BMI flights to MXP?

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euroflyer
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

tolipanebas wrote:It seems the LH Italy flights will feature the regular LH IATA code, but be distinguished by a 1 as first of the four digits.
...
BTW- it will be interesting to see where LH can get 4 daily LH slots from...
Or are they just going to market BMI flights to MXP?
Yes, all LH Italia flights so far start with 17xx or 18xx, so the "1" seems to be the LH Italia sign ...

Regarding LHR slots, all 4 daily flights in the timetable (www.lufthansa.it shows it clearly) are clearly LH Italia operated flights. So they will either have to use slots so far owned by bmi or maybe they can step in for MXP-LHR flights operated by AZ in the past which they may stop? However, LH, together with LX and BMI do operate a big number of LHR flights each day (must be number two at LHR behind BA ?), so they should be able to arrange for some slots to become available for these flights ...
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

LH press release mentions the cabin crew will be all-Italian MXP based and the cabin interior will have some italian flair so should be somewhat different to the 'normal' LH design. Furthermore, together with the owners of MXP they are already working to improve facilities. A new LH lounge will open in spring 2009 and a new walkway from the parking area to the terminal is under construction.
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by sn26567 »

tolipanebas wrote:As to Air Dolomiti... It really is just a regional airline, linking a number of regional italian airports with LH's hubs in FRA and even more so with MUC.
Not so long ago they did a number of flights between BRU and MUC on behalf of LH. I had once the pleasure to be on board of one of these flights. Their dark green interior reminded very much of Italy and annoouncements were made in several langauges that included Italian.
André
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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by willem »

I'm happy to read this!
I often have to take flights from MXP to BRU and I got completely fed up with Brux Airlines. Always bussing to that crappy way too small Avro...
It will be a big improvement, assuming LH gets gates iso remote stands. Plus finally a decent airplane with some legroom and overhead storage!

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by Air Key West »

LH has announced that given the success of its Lufthansa Italia operations out of Malpensa, they are going to offer flights with Business and Economy class also to Rome, Naples and Bari, and that there would be a third flight to Brussels as from the end of March.
Anyone heard anything about code sharing with SN on the MXP BRU route ?
In favor of quality air travel.

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by sdbelgium »

Air Key West wrote:and that there would be a third flight to Brussels as from the end of March.
Indeed, the third flight is loaded starting 30MAR09.

Code: Select all

Carrier   Flight From Depart    To   Arrive    A/C  St   
--------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- ---- 
LH        1813   BRU  11:00     MXP  12:30     319  0    
LH        1815   BRU  15:25     MXP  16:55     319  0    
LH        1817   BRU  19:45     MXP  21:15     319  0    

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by ticketbuyer »

Lufthansa Italia have announced the following new flights;
Milan(Malpensa)-Rome 4 times a day, To Naples 2 times a day and Bari once a day. Starting 1st April
Fleet to be increased by a futher 2 A319s making a total of 8 based at MXP

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Re: Lufthansa launches new Lufthansa Italia brand

Post by euroflyer »

ticketbuyer wrote:a futher 2 A319s making a total of 8 based at MXP
Any idea where this aircraft will come from? From LH iself, from Germanwings again or from outside of LH?
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