German regional carrier LGW has filed for insolvency after Lufthansa low-cost subsidiary Eurowings terminated a wet-lease agreement.
LGW’s parent, logistics provider Zeitfracht Group, says Eurowings ended the deal “at short notice in view of current developments”, having parked around 90% of its own fleet.
Dusseldorf-based LGW operated its 15 Bombardier Q400 turboprops exclusively on Eurowings’ behalf.
Zeitfracht says the regional carrier has “currently no lasting positive economic perspective” but is still looking for ways to continue operating.
“We have made intensive efforts to find employment for our LGW aircraft throughout Europe and will continue to do so,” states LGW managing director Dominik Wiehage.
He adds that it is “impossible to estimate – as things stand today – whether we will receive public funds to bridge the period until air traffic resumes”.
However, the group wants to “keep the option open” for LGW staff to be “involved again in a new start in air traffic”.
LGW employs pilots and flight attendants numbering 294 in total, plus a further 60 in administration or maintenance.
The entire fleet is parked in Slovakian capital Bratislava.
In 2019, Zeitfracht disclosed a plan to replace its turboprop fleet with Embraer 190s, with a schedule to complete the transition in 2021.
LGW’s sister carrier, which formerly operated as WDL Aviation, has a fleet of E190s.
Zeitfracht last year combined WDL and LGW under new German Airways branding.
German Airways’ website indicates that it has five E190s available for wet-lease and charter flights.
Previous customers cited on the website include Air France, now-defunct Air Italy, Braathens Regional Airlines, EasyJet, Finnair, Polish flag carrier LOT, Greek regional airline Sky Express, and several German football clubs.
Cirium fleets data shows that German Airways has a BAe 146 in addition to the E190s. The entire fleet is listed as being in storage.
Zeitfracht has not responded to Cirium’s request for comment about German Airways’ operating status and the potential impact of the LGW insolvency.
