Lufthansa confirmed on May 23, 2024, that it will be providing direct flights from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany to Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) in the capital of Lapland in northern Finland, twice a week over Christmas.听聽

The exciting new festive route will launch from November 30, 2024, leaving Frankfurt for Santa Claus鈥� favorite airport every Tuesday and Saturday.  

Flight LH852 will depart FRA at 08:30 and arrive RVN at 12:50, before flight LH853 leaves RVN at 13:50 and arrives back in Germany at 15:50. 

As well as visiting Santa Claus over Christmas 2024, Rovaniemi is popular for those looking to explore the Arctic Circle and witness the Northern Lights.听聽

In addition to Helsinki, Oulu, Kittil盲, Ivalou and Kuusamo, Rovaniemi is the sixth Finnish destination for Lufthansa. 

精东影业 spoke with Santa Claus who said he was 鈥済reatly looking forward to welcoming Lufthansa passengers from Frankfurt to his home in Lapland this year鈥�.听

Lufthansa will also fly from Frankfurt to Chi葯in膬u, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, in winter. This connection was initially launched in summer 2024.  

Nantes in France can now also be visited from Munich this winter, a destination which was also added in summer.听

All new destinations can be .

Lufthansa Group presents all four 鈥榊es To Europe鈥� aircraft in Brussels: pictures

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2024-05-14

The industry action began on February 1, 2024, and will last throughout the day with a raft of airlines warning customers that flights in and out of Germany could be affected.听聽

The German airport industry group advised that 1,100 flights have been cancelled or delayed, affecting an estimated 200,000 passengers.听

Security staff have walked out at Hamburg Airport (HAM), Bremen Airport (BRE), Hanover Airport (HAJ), Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), Stuttgart Airport (STR), Dresden Airport (DRS) D眉sseldorf Airport (DUS) Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) and Germany精东影业 main international hub, Frankfurt Airport (FRA). 

According to the union Verdi, which represents around 25,000 industry employees, three rounds of negotiations on increased pay for security staff have so far failed.  

Verdi is looking for its members to receive an increase of around $3 an hour and a more generous bonus structure. 

The demand is intended to compensate for the loss of purchasing power of employees due to inflation. 

Security staff members who work in passenger screening, goods screening and cargo screening have all taken part in the industrial action, although workers at Munich International Airport (MUC) and Nuremberg Airport (NUE) are still working due to being affiliated with a different union.  

Lufthansa advised customers who were scheduled to start their flight on February 1, 2024, from FRA, HAM, BRE, BER, LEJ, DUS, CGN, HAJ, STR and DRS to not attend the airport. 

SAS was also warning its passengers about disruptions to flights leaving Germany and SWISS was asking its customers to check their flight status before attending the airport. 

PLAY Airlines CEO on building a low-cost聽link between Europe and the US

• Executive Spotlight

byMiquel Ros

2024-02-01

The 12-year old, single-aisle aircraft had just landed at the airport after a flight from Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) and was parked on the tarmac. 

Passengers and flight crew had disembarked the plane when Lufthansa精东影业 catering truck approached the aft galley door in order to load meals for the next flight.

The truck driver miscalculated the distance and hit the aircraft while maneuvering. The aft side of the aircraft was punctured and the handrails of the catering truck were left embedded in the fuselage.

No one was injured during the incident.

However, this is not the first time a catering truck has caused damage to a Lufthansa aircraft at Frankfurt airport, and the incident marks the second catering mishap to occur in less than a year.

In April 2023, a Lufthansa A340-300 aircraft was damaged after a catering truck collided with the aircraft精东影业 right engine.

Lufthansa Airlines: its routes, services and fleet

• Airlines
• Aviation

byRosita Mickeviciute

2023-05-31

The airport精东影业 X account warned passengers that 鈥測esterday精东影业 weather conditions will proceed to affect today精东影业 flight schedule鈥� and asked them to check flight times. 

鈥淒ue to increased passenger volume we advise all passengers to arrive at the airport 2.5 hours before their flight time,鈥� the FRA statement continued. 

The warning comes after the airport experienced severe flooding on August 16, 2023, forcing airlines to divert or cancel flights from and/or to FRA. Videos shared on social media showed the airport精东影业 apron completely covered in water. 

According to flightradar24.com data, there were 561 tracked departures from FRA on August 16, 2023, while there were 610 tracked departures from Germany精东影业 busiest airport the day before. In comparison, FRA saw 678 tracked departures on July 21, 2023, the busiest day for the airport in the past 30 days. 

Meanwhile, Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METAR) of the airport, provided by flightradar24.com, showed the first thunderstorms with rain at 5:50 pm UTC or 7:30 pm local time (UTC +2). The last METAR reading with rain and/or thunderstorms was at 11:50 pm local time (UTC +2), with the next METAR reading at 12:20 pm local time (UTC +2) on August 17, 2023, warning pilots of recent showers and rain. 

Looking at the flight schedules for August 17, 2023, 34 departures and 81 arrivals have been canceled so far, according to flightradar24.com. 

In July 2023, FRA welcomed more than 6 million monthly passengers for the first time since the pandemic, according to an announcement from the airport精东影业 managing group Fraport on August 11, 2023. While that was an increase of 20% compared to the same month in 2022, Fraport noted that it was still 13.1% below 鈥渢he pre-crisis level of 2019鈥�.  

At the end of H1 2023, Fraport welcomed a total of 26.87 million passengers, earning 鈧�1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) in revenue and ending the period with a net profit of 鈧�85 million ($92.4 million). 

Frankfurt Airport parent Fraport sees a lot of positives in H1 2023

• Airport
• Aviation Economics & Finance

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-08-09

Year-to-Date (YTD) to June 2023, Fraport welcomed 26.87 million passengers throughout its locations, 29.1% more than compared to H1 2022. On average, wide-body aircraft carried 23% of the flights, with an average total load factor of 83.6%. 

As such, the group earned 鈧�1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) of revenue in H1 2023, resulting in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of 鈧�481.4 million ($527.5 million). That is an increase of 33.8% and 17.9% compared to the same period last year, respectively. 

The overall profit was 鈧�85 million ($93.1 million), a complete turnaround from the group精东影业 H1 2022 net loss of 鈧�53.1 million ($58.1 million), which was driven by a one-off item during the period. 

鈥淲e are seeing sustained recovery in passenger demand across our portfolio of global airports,鈥� Stefan Schulte, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fraport, said. 鈥淎t our home base in Frankfurt, passenger numbers recovered to 80 percent of pre-crisis levels in the first half of 2023.鈥� 

Schulte noted that FRA should see sustained growth during the next six months of the year, 鈥渋ncluding a rise in the share of business travelers鈥�. Meanwhile, airports that are focused on leisure travelers, continued to benefit 鈥渇rom the ongoing strong demand for holiday travel鈥�. 

鈥淭his is particularly true for the Greek airports, which continued to clearly surpass the levels from pre-crisis 2019 during the first six months,鈥� Schulte concluded. 

Looking forward, the group provided a more precise outlook, saying that throughout Fraport精东影业 managed airports, passenger numbers should be in the middle of between 80% and 90% of 2019 levels. The full-year profit should be in the upper half of the range of between 鈧�300 million ($328.6 million) and 鈧�420 million ($460 million). 

In total, Fraport operates 28 airports throughout the globe, with most of them (18) being in Europe, excluding Pulkovo Airport (LED) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, whose management is currently suspended due to the war in Ukraine. The company also manages Fraport USA, which develops airport concessions throughout several airports in the United States (US), including New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). 

A guide to New York精东影业 airports: JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty

• Airport

byRosita Mickeviciute

2023-07-13

The nine-year old aircraft was used by Lufthansa for its North American and Asian routes. It was then placed in storage at Teruel Airport (TRL), along with the airline精东影业 13 other A380s, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In January 2023, the A380 aircraft, with registration D-AIMK, spent time at Lufthansa Technik精东影业 site in Manila International Airport (MNL), where it received over 30 days of heavy maintenance and checks. 

The aircraft received its final maintenance at Lufthansa Technik精东影业 hub in Frankfurt before it left for MUC airport.

Flight LH9916 departed Frankfurt Airport (FRA) at 08:30 local time. The aircraft circled above Leipzig for around two hours before finally landing at Leipzig Airport (LEJ) at 11:12 local time.

After spending half an hour on the ground, the flight departed for MUC airport, where it arrived at about 12:30 local time. 

According to Lufthansa, the A380 will resume its service to North America by June 2023, with daily flights from MUC airport to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) as its first route.  

The A380 will then also be flying from MUC to New York精东影业 John F Kennedy Airport聽 (JFK) beginning July 4, 2023, in time for the US Independence Day.

Lufthansa reveals first Airbus A380 routes for the upcoming summer聽

• Aircraft

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-03-22

According to Lufthansa精东影业 website, 鈥渢he ver.di trade union has called for a one-day strike at several German airports鈥� on March 27, 2023, which 鈥渨ill largely bring flight operations at Lufthansa to a standstill鈥�. The strike has been affecting Lufthansa精东影业 operations at Munich Airport (MUC) since March 26, 2023, the carrier noted.听聽

Ver.di said its representatives working in passenger control, personnel and goods control, and in service areas will strike at several German airports. The affected airports are Bremen Airport (BRE), Dortmund Airport (DTM), Dresden Airport (DRS), D眉sseldorf Airport (DUS), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Hamburg Airport (HAM), Hannover Airport (HAJ), Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), Leipzig/Halle (LEJ), MUC, and Stuttgart Airport (STR).听

In a statement released on March 24, 2023, announcing the strikes, the union said that 鈥渧er.di has been in negotiations with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) for years to increase the time surcharges for night, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday work as well as a better collective bargaining agreement for overtime pay for security and service staff at commercial airports.鈥澛�

However, despite the strikes, the two sides could not find a solution and there is 鈥渘o written negotiable offer鈥�, the union said.

鈥淭here is a lack of sufficient specialist staff at the airports, so that there could be longer waiting times for holidaymakers this summer as well. Employers have it in their hands to keep the skilled workers employed and to attract new ones with more attractive conditions,鈥� union representative Wolfgang Pieper added.

According to a statement issued by BLDS, the strikes will result in no planes landing or taking off from Germany, with trains and buses also grinding to a halt.

鈥淭he trade unions are saying goodbye to the proven tradition that solutions are reached at the negotiating table in Germany,鈥� stated Ralph Beisel, the General Manager of the BDLS. Beisel added that the strike is 鈥渁n attempt to introduce French conditions in Germany by means of a general strike鈥�.

鈥淭he image of Germany as a location for air transport is being damaged among international travelers,鈥� Beisel concluded.

The action marks the second strike across several of Germany精东影业 airports during March 2023. The first strike occurred on March 13, 2023, when all departing flights from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) were canceled. The strikes, also organized by ver.di, affected BRE, HAM, and HAJ airports in addition to flights at BER.

It was a follow-up to a strike in February 2023, when the union also called for aviation security personnel surcharge increases, halting traffic at seven German airports.听

READ MORE: No departures at Berlin Brandenburg Airport due to strikes, arrivals affected 

Union members working in the public sector, as well as aviation security and ground handling employees, will go on strike on February 17, 2023. The strikes will affect seven German airports: Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Munich Airport (MUC), Stuttgart Airport (STR), Hamburg Airport (HAM), Dortmund Airport (DTM), Hannover Langenhagen Airport (HAJ), and Bremen Airport (BRE). 

“The employees are jointly putting pressure on the respective employers because no results have been achieved in the previous negotiations,” stated Christine Behle, the deputy chair at ver.di.  

“In the public service, we are facing the second round of negotiations without an offer and are demanding with the employees that the employers [鈥 submit a negotiable offer in February,鈥� she continued. According to Behle, the labor shortage in ground handling services is 鈥渃atastrophic鈥�, which is why 鈥渁n attractive wage increase鈥� is needed to avoid the situation of summer 2022. Aviation security employees are also 鈥渆ntitled to an increase in the surcharges in the collective wage agreements.鈥疎mployers have so far refused to accept this legitimate demand,鈥� Behle noted.  

The union精东影业 deputy chair said that 鈥淚nflation, high energy, and food prices鈥� have resulted in 鈥渕any workers no longer knowing how to pay rent or fill the fridge鈥�. As a result, workers 鈥渘eed significantly more money to make a living.鈥�  

ver.di精东影业 statement indicated that due to the union action, 鈥渄elays, cancellations and even the partial standstill of air traffic are expected to have a strong impact, especially in domestic air traffic鈥�. The union announced the strikes two days in advance, giving travelers notice and enabling them to 鈥渇all back on alternative options鈥�. 

However, aid delivery to Syria and Turkey would be exempt, and 鈥渧er.di would offer employers emergency service agreements鈥�. 

All Lufthansa flights grounded due to major IT outage

• Airlines

byMiquel Ros

2023-02-15

From May 1, 2023, the national airline of the UAE will increase its current single daily service from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). boosting weekly flights from seven to 11.  

Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer of Etihad Airways explained the increase in frequency would lead to 鈥済reater connectivity to our growing network”. 

The flag carrier confirmed the additional flights will be operated by one of Etihad精东影业 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. 

The announcement comes after the airline revealed it will be commencing flights to D眉sseldorf from October 1, 2023, and Copenhagen on the same day.听

Etihad announces two new European routes: Dusseldorf & Copenhagen

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-01-18

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will operate four weekly flights to Copenhagen and three weekly flights to Dusseldorf, also via the Boeing B787 Dreamliner. 

鈥淲e are pleased to offer our guests more flights to Frankfurt, one of Europe精东影业 most important airports. The increase in frequency also means greater connectivity to our growing network and the opportunity to welcome more visitors to Abu Dhabi where they can enjoy our world-renowned hospitality, culture, leisure activities and cuisine,鈥� De added.  

Frankfurt is one of Europe精东影业 major financial hubs and is home to the European Central Bank. 

SQ 317 was bound for Singapore精东影业 Changi Airport (SIN) from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on November 24, 2022 when the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) after detecting an issue with the A380精东影业 cabin pressure. 

Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) flight from London to Singapore is diverting to Frankfurt. The reason is currently unknown

鈥� Flightradar24 (@flightradar24)

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that SQ 317 left LHR on November 24, 2022 at around 11:20 (London local time) and was expected to arrive in Singapore at 07:50 local time the following day.

“The pilots decided to divert to Frankfurt as a precautionary measure after detecting a cabin pressurization issue,” an airline spokesperson.

The diverted flight, which had 79 passengers and 27 crew members, landed safely in FRA at around 14:00 local time.

The A380 was grounded in FRA for repairs, and passengers were provided accommodation and meals. 

A relief flight, SQ9326, departed SIN at 08:00 local time on November 25, 2022 and is expected to arrive in FRA at 14:25 the same day.

The flight will then depart from FRA as SQ9325 at 15:55 local time and arrive in Singapore at 11:05 local time on November 26, 2022.

British Airways A380 from Johannesburg diverted to Barcelona

• Airlines

byRytis Beresnevicius

2022-11-08