Eurowings fills gaps left by Ryanair in Berlin flight schedule

(Alliance News) - Deutsche Lufthansa AG subsidiary Eurowings is stepping in to fill gaps in the flight schedule at Berlin's international airport following the announcement that Ryanair jets are to be withdrawn. 

The company plans to station two new aircraft at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) for the winter timetable and to offer additional flights. 

The airline has named Bologna in Italy, previously a Ryanair destination, as a new destination. There are also to be additional flights to the Canary Islands with stops in Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife.

The Eurowings fleet at BER will thus grow to 11 aircraft, serving nearly 50 destinations. More than 300 crew members are assigned to the aircraft. 

"We believe in Berlin and see - despite all the crises - good prospects for the location," said Eurowings Chief Executive Max Kownatzki in a statement.

A few days ago, Ryanair Holdings PLC announced it was withdrawing its seven aircraft stationed in Berlin for cost reasons and cutting its winter flight schedule at the airport in half. 

The Dublin-based airline cited high government taxes and fees, as well as rising airport charges, as the reasons. 

The Verdi trade union sees the withdrawal more as a reaction to the establishment of a local works council at the Ryanair subsidiary Malta Air. 

On Thursday, the German parliament will debate the planned reduction in air passenger duty, which Ryanair has criticized as insufficient.

With the additional Eurowings flights, the Lufthansa Group's presence as market leader in the capital is growing. In addition to Eurowings, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SunExpress also operate regular flights to and from Berlin.

Ryanair shares were 1.1% higher at EUR22.59 each on Wednesday afternoon in Dublin, while Lufthansa shares were up 0.8% at EUR7.73 each in Frankfurt.

source: dpa

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