KLM is to take full commercial control of services operated by Eurowings between Amsterdam and Germany.
The move, which will take effect on 26 March at the start of the 2001 summer season, follows Lufthansa's decision in October to buy a 24.9% stake in the German carrier.
Eurowings operates 13 routes from the Dutch hub to German destinations. It recently dropped Leipzig and Dresden, and a further three routes - to Dortmund, Munster and Paderborn - will end in March as part of KLM's network review. The other 10 will be systematically reassigned to KLM Group carriers.
KLM says that the move comes as a result of concerns over commercial security issues following Lufthansa's deal to acquire a stake in Eurowings. "In doing that, they have something in mind and it compels us to reduce our co-operation with Eurowings," it says. KLM adds that the decision also comes as part of an on-going programme to boost performance, which includes a review of co-operation with other airlines.
From the end of March, KLM Cityhopper will take over Amsterdam-Bremen services with Fokker 50s, while KLM will operate flights from Amsterdam to Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and Hamburg. Eurowings will continue to operate KLM flights between Amsterdam and Düsseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, Nuremburg and Hanover for now, but these routes will be transferred by the winter 2002/03 season, beginning in October 2002.
Source: Flight International
