Germany's embryonic low-fare market is developing rapidly as more local airlines unveil plans to enter the sector.
Charter airline Air Berlin is to launch a low-fare network of European services in October from Germany. The move follows low-fare ventures by Eurowings/Lufthansa and tour operator TUI (in conjunction with Germania as Hapag-Lloyd Express), which are preparing to launch low-fare flights from Cologne/Bonn. Belgium's Virgin Express is also setting up a hub at the airport.
Operating from seven German cities - Berlin, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munster, Nuremberg and Paderborn - Air Berlin will serve Barcelona, Bergamo (near Milan), London Stansted and Vienna, with one-way fares starting at c39 ($38). The airline, which flies 28 Boeing 737-400s and -800s, says the plan is not a full-blown move to create a low-cost operation because it will offer full service elements such as free on-board service and seat reservation.
Meanwhile, two German start-ups are planning to enter the no-frills sector. BerlinJet is expected to launch low-fare services this week with an Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia between Frankfurt and Brussels. A Frankfurt-Berlin Tempelhof service is planned for next month.
Frankfurt Hahn Airport-based OtteAir aims to start low-fare flights in November with a 737-400 to several European destinations.
Scandinavian Airlines is evaluating how to respond to the low-fare carriers. Options include using one of its subsidiaries or launching under its own brand.Source: Flight International
