Germanwings comes to BRU
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Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
In English here!
I was at the press conference this morning. The meeting was introduced by a representative of Brussels Airport, who underlined that already several low cost carriers were present at Brussels? Germanwings is a newcomer among them.
She was followed by Heinz Joachim Schoettes, the vice president responsible for communication at Germanwings. In a slide presentation, he showed that air traffic between Brussels and Germany increased by 20% in 2011. Germany is the second foreign country for the traffic from Brussels, just behind Spain, and before Italy, Turkey and the US: traffic to Germany represents 8% of the total number of passengers at BRU.
He went on by describing briefly his company. Germanwings was created in October 2002, with headquarters at Cologne. It has a fleet of 32 Airbus A319s and flies from Germany to more than 90 destinations, mainly in Turkey and Southern Europe, but also in the UK, North Africa, Israel. It carries 7.5 million passengers a year, a figure which has been stable for the last five years. It operated 200 flights a day, transporting 25,000 passengers with an average load factor of 80%.
Germanwings has five bases, all in Germany: Cologne, Stuttgart, Hanover, Berlin-Schönefeld (soon to be transferred to Berlin Brandenburg) and Dortmund. Germanwings is the number one carrier at both Cologne and Stuttgart.
The aircraft productivity is rather high at 10.2 hours per day.
Germanwings aims at being the quality carrier among the LCCs: it flies to main airports, it allows seat reservations, web check-in and mobile check-in, it participates in the Miles-and-More fidelity programme and has also its own fidelity programme called Boomerang, it is bookable through GDS and travel agencies.
Its passengers travel mainly for business (41.6%), then VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives: 22%), holiday (16%), city trips (14%) and other reasons.
Germanwings has three sets of tariffs: basic (starting at €29.99, with supplements for baggage, seat reservation, changes and cancellations, etc.), best (with less supplements) and flexible (all in).
Between Brussels and Stuttgart there will initially be 11 flights per week, starting on 20 May, and three weeks later, 16 flights a week, starting on 11 June: that is 3 daily flights from Monday through Friday, and one flight on Sundays.
The times from Brussels to Stuttgart:
08.35-09.40
16.55-18.00
20.15-21.20
In Stuttgart passengers will be able to connect to a large number of cities (another change from the usual LCCs): Berlin, Krakow, Vienna, Venice, Istanbul, etc.
In reply to some questions, the Germanwings representative could not tell the seat pitch, but mentioned that the first rows would have a larger pitch and the total number of seats in the A319 is 150, less than the other LCCs using the same aircraft.
In reply to another question, he said that indeed, Germanwings would take over Lufthansa flights from cities other than FRA and MUC.
I was at the press conference this morning. The meeting was introduced by a representative of Brussels Airport, who underlined that already several low cost carriers were present at Brussels? Germanwings is a newcomer among them.
She was followed by Heinz Joachim Schoettes, the vice president responsible for communication at Germanwings. In a slide presentation, he showed that air traffic between Brussels and Germany increased by 20% in 2011. Germany is the second foreign country for the traffic from Brussels, just behind Spain, and before Italy, Turkey and the US: traffic to Germany represents 8% of the total number of passengers at BRU.
He went on by describing briefly his company. Germanwings was created in October 2002, with headquarters at Cologne. It has a fleet of 32 Airbus A319s and flies from Germany to more than 90 destinations, mainly in Turkey and Southern Europe, but also in the UK, North Africa, Israel. It carries 7.5 million passengers a year, a figure which has been stable for the last five years. It operated 200 flights a day, transporting 25,000 passengers with an average load factor of 80%.
Germanwings has five bases, all in Germany: Cologne, Stuttgart, Hanover, Berlin-Schönefeld (soon to be transferred to Berlin Brandenburg) and Dortmund. Germanwings is the number one carrier at both Cologne and Stuttgart.
The aircraft productivity is rather high at 10.2 hours per day.
Germanwings aims at being the quality carrier among the LCCs: it flies to main airports, it allows seat reservations, web check-in and mobile check-in, it participates in the Miles-and-More fidelity programme and has also its own fidelity programme called Boomerang, it is bookable through GDS and travel agencies.
Its passengers travel mainly for business (41.6%), then VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives: 22%), holiday (16%), city trips (14%) and other reasons.
Germanwings has three sets of tariffs: basic (starting at €29.99, with supplements for baggage, seat reservation, changes and cancellations, etc.), best (with less supplements) and flexible (all in).
Between Brussels and Stuttgart there will initially be 11 flights per week, starting on 20 May, and three weeks later, 16 flights a week, starting on 11 June: that is 3 daily flights from Monday through Friday, and one flight on Sundays.
The times from Brussels to Stuttgart:
08.35-09.40
16.55-18.00
20.15-21.20
In Stuttgart passengers will be able to connect to a large number of cities (another change from the usual LCCs): Berlin, Krakow, Vienna, Venice, Istanbul, etc.
In reply to some questions, the Germanwings representative could not tell the seat pitch, but mentioned that the first rows would have a larger pitch and the total number of seats in the A319 is 150, less than the other LCCs using the same aircraft.
In reply to another question, he said that indeed, Germanwings would take over Lufthansa flights from cities other than FRA and MUC.
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
They still have to figure out their prices. I just made a trial booking to Izmir and it is 150 € more expensive than Turkish ( stop Istanbul) and even more than Pegasus ( non stop !)
The reuturn flight at 4 am is a bit early
Because of time convenience, I will stick to my Turkish connection ( guess that member Hakan will be happy
)
The reuturn flight at 4 am is a bit early
Because of time convenience, I will stick to my Turkish connection ( guess that member Hakan will be happy
)Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
rather unrelated but did you check a booking with JAF/FHY? wonder where they stand in priceregi wrote:They still have to figure out their prices. I just made a trial booking to Izmir and it is 150 € more expensive than Turkish ( stop Istanbul) and even more than Pegasus ( non stop !)
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
No, I didn't check it now. I think I looked it up before , can't remember exactly but I think they had very little flights a week.cnc wrote:rather unrelated but did you check a booking with JAF/FHY? wonder where they stand in priceregi wrote:They still have to figure out their prices. I just made a trial booking to Izmir and it is 150 € more expensive than Turkish ( stop Istanbul) and even more than Pegasus ( non stop !)
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
Here is the Germanwings official announcement: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=47406
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
Hi,
I hope they will have a better LF than LH. Took the afternoon flight STR-BRU a few weeks ago on a F100.
There were less than 15 passengers. It will look even more 'empty' on an A319.
It was not a price issue, as it was a normal competitive price.
If this is the trend, I don't think Germanwings will continue this afternoon flight very long once started.
Unless they keep it to get a good time slot for the return from BRU to STR.
The morning and afternoon flights however, always seem to have a decent LF.
Rgds,
CRJ 900
I hope they will have a better LF than LH. Took the afternoon flight STR-BRU a few weeks ago on a F100.
There were less than 15 passengers. It will look even more 'empty' on an A319.
It was not a price issue, as it was a normal competitive price.
If this is the trend, I don't think Germanwings will continue this afternoon flight very long once started.
Unless they keep it to get a good time slot for the return from BRU to STR.
The morning and afternoon flights however, always seem to have a decent LF.
Rgds,
CRJ 900
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airazurxtror
- Posts: 3769
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 00:00
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
The bookings are open since at least two months.
I got me a Stuttgart return, early in August, for 77,98 euros total paid.
I would say that Germanwings is not a hard LCC like Ryanair, but rather a normal LCC in the same range as easyJet or Vueling.
I got me a Stuttgart return, early in August, for 77,98 euros total paid.
I would say that Germanwings is not a hard LCC like Ryanair, but rather a normal LCC in the same range as easyJet or Vueling.
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
They call themselves a "quality LCC". As I mentioned before:airazurxtror wrote:I would say that Germanwings is not a hard LCC like Ryanair, but rather a normal LCC in the same range as easyJet or Vueling.
- Main airports, not secondary airports
- Seat reservations
- Web check-in and mobile check-in
- Miles-and-More fidelity programme and also own fidelity programme called Boomerang
- Bookable through GDS and travel agencies
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567
-
cathay belgium
- Posts: 2379
- Joined: 18 Aug 2008, 00:17
- Location: Lommel-Belgium
- Contact:
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
Hi,
Altough I prefer SN , completly off-topic , but here's my unasked view on 4U !
Can't say 4U is that better than FR ,..
With FR you have the possibility ALSO for seatreservation ALSO with extra cost or you must have opted for an expensive FLEX ticket.. ( even 4U charges extra for luggage without flex ..)
Both fly to SXF in Berlin, and with 4U more as a domestic and leisure routes (until now) and with FR also serving BCN,MAD,CIA,... ( with FR you even has better 'lounges/in the big terminal'instead of the special 4U hangar in SXF )
Web check in,check..
Mobile check-in and M&M , travel agencies ( who needs that nowadays 
)is only for frequent business pax an issue...
The only point where 4U scores is that they give you some silence during the flight but I really miss the bell after landing !
Business pax would prefer 4U but they will miss LH, leisure people still will opt for FR as fares are lower and quality isn't that better ( exc. LH offcourse )
With this noticed, I think most people will see the difference of service between LH and 4U.
Pity more and more airliners follow FR way of flying, because what's the next step from LH to 4U to FR...
( Iberia express, Air France/Transavia, Alitalia/Air One, .. )
Sad times IMHO ..
CX-B
Altough I prefer SN , completly off-topic , but here's my unasked view on 4U !
With an experience on both 4U and FR (in Berlin ) I can decide :sn26567 wrote:They call themselves a "quality LCC". As I mentioned before:
Main airports, not secondary airports
Seat reservations
Web check-in and mobile check-in
Miles-and-More fidelity programme and also own fidelity programme called Boomerang
Bookable through GDS and travel agencies
Now beat that, Ryanair!
Can't say 4U is that better than FR ,..
With FR you have the possibility ALSO for seatreservation ALSO with extra cost or you must have opted for an expensive FLEX ticket.. ( even 4U charges extra for luggage without flex ..)
Both fly to SXF in Berlin, and with 4U more as a domestic and leisure routes (until now) and with FR also serving BCN,MAD,CIA,... ( with FR you even has better 'lounges/in the big terminal'instead of the special 4U hangar in SXF )
Web check in,check..
Mobile check-in and M&M , travel agencies (
who needs that nowadays )is only for frequent business pax an issue...The only point where 4U scores is that they give you some silence during the flight but I really miss the bell after landing
!Business pax would prefer 4U but they will miss LH, leisure people still will opt for FR as fares are lower and quality isn't that better ( exc. LH offcourse )
With this noticed, I think most people will see the difference of service between LH and 4U.
Pity more and more airliners follow FR way of flying, because what's the next step from LH to 4U to FR...
( Iberia express, Air France/Transavia, Alitalia/Air One, .. )
Sad times IMHO ..
CX-B
New types flown 2024 : DO228, A338 , PC6
-
airazurxtror
- Posts: 3769
- Joined: 17 Nov 2005, 00:00
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
- EasyJet and Vueling also often go to main airports (Ryanair does it also in some instances : Madrid, Barcelona, Budapest ...).sn26567 wrote: They call themselves a "quality LCC". As I mentioned before:Now beat that, Ryanair!
- Main airports, not secondary airports
- Seat reservations
- Web check-in and mobile check-in
- Miles-and-More fidelity programme and also own fidelity programme called Boomerang
- Bookable through GDS and travel agencies
- you can buy a reserved seat on most LCC, Ryanair included
- Web check-in is available on all LCC as far as I know, mandatory on Ryanair
- no fidelity program on Ryanair - but who needs it ? And how many m&m do you get for buying a 10,99 euros flight ? (perhaps no m&m, only Doritos ?
)- no travel agent for Ryanair - frankly, who needs a travel agency for an intra-European flight ?
Besides, a travel agent is not exactly low-cost, as a rule. I have just inquired : at a Jetair agency, for a Jetairfly trip, they ask 21 euros reservation fee per flight !
Ryanair does not aim to beat Germanwings as regard frills - same as Germanwings does not aim to beat the Ryanair fares, I guess.
But perhaps the main point : little by little, the LCC's conquer Brussels Airport - it was long overdue.
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
http://www.aero.de/news-15169/Germanwin ... lines.html
Germanwings improves the integration with the LH Group airlines with new agreements with Brussels Airlines through BRU and with Austrian Airlines through VIE.
Germanwings improves the integration with the LH Group airlines with new agreements with Brussels Airlines through BRU and with Austrian Airlines through VIE.
Re: Germanwings comes to BRU
Germanwings has signed an interline agreement with Brussels Airlines for the BRU-STR route. This remains short of a full codeshare agreement...
André
ex Sabena #26567
ex Sabena #26567