Germanwings is to test the Boeing 717 in the European low-cost environment through a wet-lease agreement with Spanish carrier Aerolineas de Baleares (AeBal), in a move that could lead to its parent, Eurowings, acquiring the type. The German budget airline is an all-Airbus A320 family operator, but will evaluate Boeing's smallest jet across a range of routes in a pilot programme over the European winter season.
Germanwings' vice-president marketing, sales and business development, Andreas Bierwirth, says the carrier already has a requirement for two more aircraft for its winter timetable, and is taking the opportunity to look at the 717 after being impressed with its performance with US budget operator Air Tran. "The cost side on paper looks excellent and we want to analyse this," he says, noting that a smaller capacity than its 142- and 150-seat A319/A320s could be useful for some routes.
Spanish carrier AeBal will initially operate the services on a wet-lease basis. The next step, if the experiment succeeds, would be for regional carrier Eurowings to operate some 717 services for Germanwings next year. Eurowings - part-owned by Lufthansa - would also study deploying the aircraft on regional routes. Bierwirth says a decision on whether Eurowings will add some 717s will be made before the year-end.
GRAHAM DUNN / LONDON
Source: Flight International
