Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa said that hundreds of aircraft would remain grounded due to the Corona-virus crisis until 2022.
The airline also announced further job cuts as the travel bans and border closures have crashed demand for airlines.
A letter to staff from Lufthansa’s executive board that said 300 aircraft would remain grounded next year and that 200 aircraft would be grounded in 2022.
According to the airline’s annual report, the group had a fleet of 763 planes at the end of last year. In March, Lufthansa grounded around 700 aircraft of its 763-unit fleet and reduced its passenger capacity by 95%.
In April, the carrier announced it was retiring six Airbus A-380s, five Boeing 747-400s and seven Airbus A340-600 aircraft from service and reducing capacity for the long term, partly in response to the Corona-virus.
It also said it was ceasing operations for its German-wings brand.
In the summer of 2023, when we will hopefully have put this crisis behind us, we will still likely have a fleet that is 100 aircraft smaller, the board said in the letter.
It added that the maintenance unit Lufthansa Technik and catering business LSG would also face additional jobs cuts.
New Europe / ABC Flash Point News 2020.
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