JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Preussag has acquired a minority holding in Polish charter airline White Eagle Aviation (WEA) as it reveals plans for a pan-European brand for its airlines.
The German tour operator group now encompasses seven different airlines in six European countries with a total fleet of 90 aircraft. The 29.3% share in WEA, Poland's largest independent airline, gives Preussag entry into the Polish aviation market where it already owns tour operators TUI Poland and Scan Holidays. Preussag says that the deal offers operational benefits, as it allows the group to share costs on maintenance facilities, ground handling and fuel purchase. WEA will also have access to Hapag-Lloyd aircraft on wet lease and has the right to draw on Hapag-Lloyd's options on Boeing 737-800s, which have to be converted by next June.
WEA, which started charters on 20 routes to North Africa and the Mediterranean last year, wants to strengthen its position in the Polish market ahead of open skies liberalisation and the privatisation of flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines.
Key to WEA's integration into Preussag's "World of TUI" brand is a fleet renewal programme.
WEA's current mixed fleet of Soviet-era turboprops and jets will be relegated to cargo services, while the airline's two Boeing 737-400s will be joined by an additional narrowbody early next year. The airline also retains several helicopters for its air taxi service across Poland.
The group's two largest airlines, Hapag-Lloyd and Britannia, unveiled new harmonised liveries earlier this month.
Michael Frenzel, Preussag board member, says the plan is to create a "sustainable major global brand", starting in the UK, Scandinavia and Germany. Preussag and its Lufthansa-backed rival C&N Touristik are now racing to acquire operations across Europe.
Preussag also owns a minority stake in Italy's Neos and acquired 34.4% of French charter airlines Corsair and Air Lyon after the European Commission cleared its stake in tour operator Nouvelles Frontières last year. The company is also in talks to acquire Sobelair from Sabena.
Source: Flight International
