Lufthansa’s low-cost arm Eurowings will add three new summer routes from Prague in 2023 and increase frequencies of its most popular destinations to meet growing demand, the carrier said in a press release.
The summer schedule will now include flights to Geneva, Rhodes, and Corfu. Eurowings will also offer a wider choice of busiest routes, including Denmark, Spain, Greece, and Sweden.
Starting next summer, Eurowings will fly 11 times a week to Denmark, its most preferred destination. It will also offer four weekly flights to Malaga and another three to Alicante. In addition, the Stockholm route will be served six times a week, while Athens – three, according to the release. Overall, Eurowings intends to increase its network from Prague to 18 offerings, it said. Prices start at EUR 39.99, according to its website.
Eurowings has recently celebrated its first year in Prague. It opened the hub during the pandemic last year. Prague is not only an aviation hub but a popular destination by itself, Bischof added, highlighting that the airline entered an emerging commercial market in the country.
“Prague and Eurowings are a match. We dared to take the step to the Czech Republic in a still uncertain situation. Still, it is becoming increasingly clear that people across Europe now want to travel again after the Corona restrictions,” CEO Jens Bischof said last week.
According to Bischof, Czech customers are frequent flyers and appreciate Eurowings’ flexible rebooking policy up to 40 minutes before departure. In addition, Bischof also confirmed that the airline would continue its expansion from Prague.
Jaroslav Filip, Head of Aviation Business at Prague Airport, also expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation with Eurowings. According to Filip, the parties will continue to expand their partnership in the near future.
Eurowings also reported increased demand for its New Year’s Eve flight to New York and ongoing interest in touristic places such as Rome, Barcelona, and Stockholm during the winter.
As a budget arm of Lufthansa, Eurowings mainly operates the Airbus A320 family. Its 100 aircraft fleet comprises 36 A319s, 56 A320ceos, six A320 neos, and two wet-leased Boeing 737-800s.
Another Lufthansa arm, SWISS Air, intends to restart the recruitment and education of new pilots from 2023 after a two-year hiring freeze during the pandemic, SWISS said in a press release.
”We are really pleased that, after a two-year hiring freeze, we can now offer a new generation of SWISS pilots job prospects, career perspectives, and an attractive workplace aloft, and can welcome more new colleagues to our cockpit crew corps,” SWISS Head of Flight Operations Stefan-Kenan Scheib said.
The European Flight Academy, operated by Lufthansa Aviation Training, will provide the training. In addition, interested parties will be eligible for financial aid, according to the release.
Lufthansa will conduct the training in different locations across Switzerland and the USA, it said. According to Manuel Meier, Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland, interested applicants need to have at least three years of basic vocational training or examination-free entrance to higher education.
