Eurowings is still losing money and is therefore seeking to optimise its operations even further. operating costs. La hybrid" subsidiary of Lufthansawhich has taken over all the German airline's point-to-point routes, is therefore obliged to make further cuts to its in-flight and ground services.
Last year, the company already restricted its in-flight service with the elimination of a free snack for "Smart" passengers. Eurowings introduced new, even more restrictive rules on 1 March.
The changes concern the company's lowest fare, "Basic. The company has certainly decided to lower these Basic fares even further compared to its second booking class, the Start fare, which corresponds to a traditional Economy fare. The management of Eurowings explains that it is in fact adapting its offer to customers who only want to travel at the lowest price and who can, if necessary, pay extra for any other service.
The airline is therefore strictly limiting the number of baggage items in the cabin. Until now, 'Basic' passengers could take one piece of cabin baggage measuring 55x40x23cm and one piece of second small bag for a computer, for example. This is no longer automatically included and will be counted as additional cabin baggage. The airline also offers the possibility of purchasing this option online. Eurowings explains that the loading of hand baggage in the cabin or hold, when the aircraft is full, is one of the main reasons for the airline's delays. This new policy should therefore help to better monitor the situation. flight punctuality.
Another new feature: Basic Class passengers will not be able to make their check-in online, rather than at the airport. In this way, the airline hopes to reduce waiting times at the counters for other passengers. However, Basic passengers wishing to continue checking in at the counter will have to purchase this option. Eurowings is also offering priority boarding for this fare class. The services offered by the other fares, Smart and BIZclass, remain unchanged.
Furthermore, Lufthansa has just announced that Eurowings will be taking over a route abandoned by its parent company in 2012: the Frankfurt-Calgary will be operated from 1 June to 6 October in a three-class Airbus A330-200, including a Bizclass.
Lufthansa has thus begun to equip the seven Airbus A330-200 aircraft it charters to SunExpress with a real business class - with a two-metre-wide lie-flat seat. This reconfiguration will enable the same on-board service to be offered on all the carrier's long-haul routes by early 2021. Only the routes from Düsseldorf to the United States and the future Frankfurt-Calgary route will benefit from a business class product comparable to Lufthansa standards.
