Germanwings, your German budget airlines, is about to revolutionise the low-cost market in Europe by offering the highest-quality airline experience in this sector in Europe. On 1st July 2013 'new Germanwings' will introduce a completely new brand and product concept allowing passengers to fly 'à la carte'.
Our passengers will be able to put together individualised packages ranging from budget, no-frills travel to a more refined passener experience with more advantages and extra services, all of which will be tailored to your specific needs. In the broader context of economy class, 'new Germanwings' will have three fare brackets with differing services provided in each.
The 'Best' bracket is our top category with business travellers in mind principally, but also non-business passengers. The 'Smart' bracket includes some extra services and the possibility to purchase others. The 'Basic' bracket is the purely low-cost category.
As of 1st January 2013 'new Germanwings' will included Lufthansa's decentralised European routes not operating out of our Frankfurt or Munich hubs. Our aim is a smart, dynamic and innovative service. From 1st July 2013 the new airline will officially be launched. From that point onwards Lufthansa aircraft to be incorporated into 'new Germanwings' will gradually be re-equipped and transferred.
Our logo is also going to change to reflect this new brand and product concept. The key element will be a stylised burgundy and yellow 'W', transforming the wings in Germanwings into a succinct icon. All of the airline's aircraft
will gradually be painted in the new livery after the brand is launched on 1st July 2013.
'New Germanwings' aims at being even more attractive to our customers. We will be deveoping our mobile booking and information systems, thereby ensuring direct and spontaneous interaction with passengers. All our fares will be displayed fairly with no hidden costs and our new cheaper 0180 number will replace the old 0900 number. Germanwings will continue to offer our enticing €33 starting fare for one-way tickets.
Yours,
Thomas Winkelmann (CEO Germanwings)
To see the new appearance click here:
An overview of our new fares
The answers to all your questions
Will there be changes to the timetable?
Over the next two years ‘new Germanwings’ will gradually take over all Lufthansa routes not operating out of the Frankfurt and Munich hubs. Included thus are the current Lufthansa connections in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Stuttgart and Berlin. This process has already partially begun, in Stuttgart and Hamburg, for instance.
Over time the other legs will be transferred to Germanwings starting with Berlin and continuing with Hamburg and Düsseldorf. Overall ‘new Germanwings’ will have an expanded timetable and eventually fly to around 110 destinations once the transitional period is over.
I have a Lufthansa booking for one of the affected routes. What happens if ...
... Germanwings starts operating this route?
If a scheduled Lufthansa flight is taken over by Germanwings, your booking will automatically be changed. Your ticket will still be valid. Business class and economy flex fares (LH booking classes Y, B and M) will be rebooked to Germanwings’ highest booking class (I). You will receive updated information as to the changes.
How is the fare structure going to change?
In the broader context of economy class ‘new Germanwings’ will offer three fare brackets with differing services included.
In the ‘Best’ fare bracket, the highest category, our target customers are business travellers. This isn’t to say that non-business travellers won’t find it attractive.
The ‘Smart’ fare bracket includes certain services and you can add individual extras as you wish.
The ‘Basic’ fare bracket is our pure low-cost option. Here we have maintained Germanwings’ enticing €33 starting fare for one-way tickets.
The ‘Best’ and ‘Smart’ fare brackets will also include fully flexible variations. These new fares will be bookable as of 1st July 2013. For a more detailed summary of the various fare elements please go to our fare overview.
In future will Germanwings offer free drinks and snacks as Lufthansa currently does?
In the Smart and Best fare brackets drinks and snacks will be included. The Basic fare just includes the fare of the flight. As in all fare brackets you can order extra à la carte drinks and snacks for a fee.
What about the frequent-flyer programmes?
Germanwings’ frequent-flyer programme, the Boomerang Club, will still exist and ‘new Germanwings’ will also be part of Lufthansa’s Miles&More programme. As to date, you will be able to choose which programme you want each time you book a flight.
You can collect reward and status miles with Germanwings flights or use premium miles collected to book your next Germanwings flight.
How many aircraft will ‘new Germanwings’ be operating?
Alongside the 32 aircraft Germanwings currently operates, around 30 Lufthansa aircraft will be transferred to Germanwings.
Additionally, the 23 aircraft currently operated by Eurowings covering Lufthansa flights not flying out of the Frankfurt and Munich hubs will also be incorporated into Germanwings. The ownership structure, however, will not change.
Overall ‘new Germanwings’ will operate around 90 aircraft.
Will I only be able to book ‘new Germanwings’ flights online?
No, you will be able to book ‘new Germanwings’ flights through all the normal channels, in travel agencies too. Germanwings routes will also be available on Lufthansa websites.
