Lufthansa will fly to Vnukovo in addition to Domodedovo

[sn26567]

As per 09NOV11 GDS timetable and inventory display, Lufthansa starting 25MAR12 introduces new service to Moscow Vnukovo Airport.

Details:

Berlin Brandenburg – Vnukovo Service Increases from 1 to 2 Daily. Berlin Tegel – Moscow Domodedovo will operate until 02JUN12

Code: Select all

 LH3016 BER0850 – 1320VKO 320 x7
 LH3018 BER1530 – 2000VKO 320 x6
 
LH3017 VKO1410 – 1450BER 320 x7
 LH3019 VKO2050 – 2130BER 320 x6

Frankfurt – Moscow Vnukovo NEW 2 Daily service, in addition to existing 4 Daily service to Moscow Domodedovo (Reduce from 5 Daily)

Code: Select all

 LH1470 FRA1325 – 1825VKO 32S D
 LH1472 FRA2000 – 0100+1VKO 320 6
 LH1472 FRA2015 – 0115+1VKO 320 x6
 
LH1473 VKO0920 – 1030FRA 320 D
 LH1471 VKO1910 – 2020FRA 319 6
 LH1471 VKO1920 – 2030FRA 320 x6

Source: Airline Route

[RoMax]

As expected, Lufthansa is possibly going to work with the Russian airline UTAir which has a big hub a Moscow Vnukovo.

Star Alliance still lacks a Russian airline. They focused on Rossiya before, but as you know it was decided to include this airine (togheter with some others) with Aeroflot, so this isn't possible anymore. Star sees Transaero and UTAir as possible members. For Transaero they said they lack an extensive domestic network, UTAir is very strong on the domestic market, but has some other disadvantages.

Lufthansa may work togehter with UTAir in the view of inviting them into Star Alliance at a later time.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... vo-365026/

[jimyvr]

That's what I thought as well, in addition to all the speculations by Russian media regarding DME.

[sn26567]

... in addition to all the speculations by Russian media regarding DME.

Hi Jim. Can you please elaborate?

[jimyvr]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/ ... 48063.html

A member on FlyerTalk posted this article regarding LH and DME

[sn26567]

You have good lectures. The article says it is a first step towards a full move, which LH denies.

The next question is: will the companies of the LH group also move?

[RoMax]

You have good lectures. The article says it is a first step towards a full move, which LH denies.

The next question is: will the companies of the LH group also move?

I think it will depend on how the partnership with UTAir develops. Star Alliance (and Lufthansa) really want a Russian member with a strong domestic network (the international network offered by Transaero is nice, but the domestic network is needed the most for Star). Above that Vnukovo is developing as a modern airport, with modern facilities and as DME is getting full, Vnukovo could be a good alternative.

In my opinion Vnukove could develop as the Star hub in Moscow, while DME the Oneworld hub (with S7 Airlines) and SVO the Skyteam hub. But as I said before, it will depend on the partnership with UTAir.

[RoMax]

Lufthansa is planning to operate more flights to Vnukovo than first planned...7 daily in total.

- Berlin- Vnukovo: 2 daily eff 3 June (now 1 daily to DME)
- Dusseldorf- Vnukovo: 2 daily eff 3 June (now 2 daily to DME)
- Frankfurt- Vnukovo: 2 daily eff 25 March, DME reduces from 5 to 4 daily
- Hamburg- Vnukovo: 6 weekly eff 3 June (now 6 weekly to DME)
- Munich-DME: 3 daily to Domodedovo unchanged

So 7 daily to DME (4 from FRA, 3 from MUC), currently they are operating 12 daily flights to DME. Vnukovo will also get (almost) 7 daily flights (first only two daily from BER and FRA was planned, so DUS and HAM is extra).
So except for Munich all of LH's hubs/focus city's will be connected with Vnukovo.

[RoMax]

Transaero with their biggest hub in Domodedovo is moving some flights to Vnukovo and they are negotiating to move some leisure long haul routes from DME to Vnukovo.

More to follow? Now we already have Lufthansa, Anadolujet/Turkish and Transaero (partly) moving from DME to Vnukovo.