LTU is planning to drop some of its long range services to the USA and Asia during its next winter season because of a fall-off in loads.
The German charter airline says it will stop operating to Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, as well as Bangkok, although this service will "definitely" be reinstated in the following summer season, insists LTU. The other routes may also return, depending on demand, says the carrier, adding that the decision has no effect on its fleet planning.
The services are now being flown by its fleet of four Boeing MD-11s, which LTU will sell to Swissair at the end of 1998. These will be replaced by a fourteenth Boeing 757-200 and two more 767-300ERs, to take the fleet to seven aircraft.
LTU introduced feeder flights from Munich into Düsseldorf to try to improve revenues on its less profitable long range routes, but this loss-making service may also be dropped. At the same time, the airline is attempting to attract higher-yield passengers with a business-style cabin on its longer routes, in response to a similar move by rival Condor.
Source: Flight International
