The final route transfer means that the decision to operate all domestic and European routes under Germanwings apart from at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs has now been fully implemented.
Germanwings has taken over a total of 115 routes from Lufthansa in recent month, with 52 routes solely at Dusseldorf Airport. It is one of the biggest structural projects ever undertaken by the company, and has been completed to the timescale.
The new Germanwings service between Dusseldorf and Zurich will comprise 24 flights per week, making it one of the most-high volume routes from the North Rhine – Westphalian capital.
The early morning flight will depart Dusseldorf at 07:00am, with a midday flights departing at 13:30pm, an afternoon flight at 17:05pm, and an evening service at 18:55pm. The airline will face direct competition on the city pair, with airberlin operating the route 28 time weekly and SWISS operating the route 20 times per week.
Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: “As a result of low costs in the WINGS business model, we combine favourable prices with the punctuality, quality and safety of the Lufthansa Group. This combination meets with a positive response among our passengers and also finds favour in many European markets.”
The new concept of Germanwings – a revolutionised low-cost carrier was introduced into the market in July 2013. A full subsidiary of Lufthansa, the airline flies from its ‘home’ airport in Cologne/Bonn as well as from Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Berlin-Tegel, Hanover and Hamburg to more than 110 destinations across Europe and beyond.
“At the same time therefore, the success of the project will bolster our confidence for the creation of our new Eurowings, which will be launched before the year is over,” he added
Thomas Winkelmann, spokesman for the Germanwings Executive Board: “We have never been bigger, and have never been a market leader at so many German airports. Of much greater importance, however, is the fact that we are once again enjoying success in commercial terms.”
The completion of the migration of Lufthansa routes to Germanwings represents the successful conclusion of a major project that has been a big challenge for the company.