Germanwings

Infobox_Airline
airline=Germanwings
logo=Germanwings logo.pnglogo_size=300
fleet_size=29 (+9 orders)
destinations=67
IATA=4U
ICAO=GWI
callsign=GERMAN WINGS
parent=Eurowings
company_slogan = "Deine Flügel" or "Your Wings"
founded=1997
headquarters= Dortmund, Germany
key_people=Thomas Winkelmann (CEO)
Dr. Joachim Klein
hubs=Cologne Bonn Airport
Stuttgart Airport
focus_cities=Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport
Hamburg Airport
Dortmund Airport
frequent_flyer=Boomerang Club
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.germanwings.com

Germanwings is a low-cost airline based in Cologne, Germany. It operates services to over 66 destinations in Europe. Its main base is Cologne Bonn Airport, with secondary bases at Stuttgart Airport, Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport and Hamburg Airport and Dortmund Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 86 | date= 2007-04-03] On 29th January 2008, plans were announced to merge low-cost airline operations of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and TUI Travel PLC (Germanwings, Eurowings, TUIfly) into a joint and independent holding company. [Announcement of TUI AG [http://www.tui-group.com/en/pressemedien/press_releases/2008/20080129_tuitravel_strategy.html] ]

History

The airline was established in 1997 (as "Eurowings Flug GmbH") and was renamed to Germanwings GmbH on 27 October 2002. It is wholly owned by Eurowings, which is fully controlled and 49% owned by Lufthansa. Its main competitors are other no-frills carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet as well as TUIfly and Air Berlin. The airline is rapidly expanding and is continuing serving new destinations. Over and above the airline is the first low cost airline in Germany which offers connecting flights. This special program was founded around Fall 2007 and is called Smart Connect.

Destinations

Fleet

The Germanwings fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 28 June 2008):

*29 Airbus A319-100 (plus 9 on order)

In May 2008, Germanwings fleet age is 5.2 years old. [ [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/?file=calcop&opp=Germanwings Germanwings Fleet Age] ]

On 7 December 2005 the airline signed an agreement to purchase 18 Airbus A319 aircraft (with a further 12 options). These are their first direct orders with Airbus and deliveries will start in July 2006 until 2008. [Aero International, June 2006] During winter 2004-2005 Germanwings leased two Boeing 717 from Aerolíneas de Baleares to test this type, but no order was made after.

References

External links

* [http://www.germanwings.com/ Germanwings]
* [http://www.theairdb.com/airline/germanwings.html Route map and statistical information]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=4U&al_op=1 Germanwings Fleet]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Germanwings&distinct_entry=true Photos of Germanwings aircraft]