Keppler replaces Kurth at Hapag-Lloyd Express
A dispute over how German low-cost carrier Hapag-Lloyd Express should develop has led its founder and chief executive Wolfgang Kurth to resign. He has been replaced by the carrier's chief financial officer Roland Keppler.
Kurth objected to plans of parent TUI, the giant German leisure group, to bring Hapag-Lloyd Express and its sister company Hapag-Lloyd Flug much closer together to conduct joint route planning, marketing and other activities. Kurth wanted to retain the independence of Hapag-Lloyd Express, says the airline. TUI disagreed. The airlines are now managed on the basis of a "joint platform", says TUI, although it insists they will remain separate brands.
From January, Hapag-Lloyd Express was integrated into TUI's central Europe sector managed by Dr Volker Boettcher, managing director of TUI Germany. The current head of Hapag-Lloyd Flug, Wolfgang John, has taken on responsibility for both his airline and Hapag-Lloyd Express within TUI's Central Europe sector.
Although mainly a leisure carrier, Hapag-Lloyd Flug has repositioned its seat-only product to boost this part of its business and is marketing itself as a low-cost carrier.
A former Lufthansa manager, Kurth joined Hapag-Lloyd's aviation engineering operation in 1979 rising to become managing director in January 1990. After heading TUI Airline Management, which manages many of the operational aspects of the seven carriers that TUI owns, he moved to launch Hapag-Lloyd Express in October 2002. In January 2004 he was named president of the newly formed European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA). Stefan Vilner, commercial director of Scandinavian carrier Sterling, has taken temporary charge at ELFAA until a new president is announced.
Keppler left Hapag-Lloyd Flug after 10 years to join Kurth in creating Hapag-Lloyd Express. At Hapag-Lloyd Flug he was chief financial controller.
MARK PILLING LONDON
Source: Airline Business
