LUFTHANSA CITYLINE, GmbH.: Am Holzweg 26, Kriftel, D-65830, Germany; Phone 49 (61) 92 407-0; Fax 49 (61) 92 407 466; Http://www. lhcityline. com; Code CL; Year Founded 1992. DLT (Deutsche Luftverkehrs, GmbH.) is renamed Lufthansa CityLine, GmbH. in March 1992 and becomes responsible for the parent’s nonstop European regional services. Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. will provide a number of support services, but under terms of the contract between the two carriers, it will also receive all of Lufthansa CityLine, GmbH.’s after-tax profits (if any).
Helmut Horn and Gerhard Schmidt are appointed joint managing directors. Airline employment is increased by 46.1% to 865. The initial fleet comprises 6 Avions de Transport Regional ATR42-320s leased from Cimber Air, A. S., 23 Fokker 50s (11 of which are leased), and 3 British Aerospace BAe (HS) 748-B2s, which are soon placed out of service.
During September, it is announced that the company’s German domestic and feeder services have been reduced to 15% of total operations as the result of high airport fees and low fares. A plan is announced to cooperate with ICE, the rail service that is its chief competitor.
In November, the carrier, European launch customer for the Canadair CRJ-100ER Regional Jet, places the first 2 of the 13 units of the new aircraft requested into service. No longer considering itself a regional operator, the company orders the word “regional” removed from these new jetliners and chooses not to renew its membership in the European Regional Association (ERA).
At this point, a new, modified Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. livery, including the famous “crane on the tail,” is also applied to all of the line’s aircraft. The company’s 1,500-sq.-m. flight training center for the RJ is opened in December at Berlin’s Schoenfeld Airport. It is operated by the new CityLine Simulator and Training, GmbH. subsidiary. Passenger boardings this year ascend 18.8% to 1,391,843.
On January 1, 1993, Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. takes the company over as a wholly owned subsidiary and establishes for it an additional new base at Cologne. Airline employment stands at 865 and the leased fleet of new Managing Director Karl Friedrich Rausch includes Cim-ber’s 6 ATR42-330s, 2 CRJ-100ERs, and 27 Fokker 50s.
While landing at Bremen on January 6 after a service from Paris, Flight 5634, a DHC-8-301 with 4 crew and 19 passengers, must choose an alternative runway after a Korean Air Lines/Korean Air (KAL) B-747 suffers a burst tire upon landing. As it does so, the DHC descends rapidly and flies into the ground 1,800 m. short of the runway (four dead).
As more CRJs arrive, they join the first two on the city-pair routes of Cologne-Stockholm, Cologne-Barcelona, Cologne-Madrid, Cologne-Rome, Berlin (Tempelhof Airport)-Stockholm, and Stuttgart-Stockholm.
The new units also initiate services in March from Hamburg to Stockholm, Milan, Manchester, and Warsaw as well as from Hanover to Barcelona, Munich to Oslo, and Frankfurt to Lugano. By summer, the carrier has been folded into the DLH domestic subsidiary Lufthansa Express, GmbH. and assumes responsibility for all of its parent’s 100-seater nonstop European flights, serving 60 cities in 20 countries, including new markets at Riga, Bucharest, Sofia, and Vilnius.
The fleet in 1994 includes 5 Cimber Air, A. S. ATR42-320s, 13 Canadair CRJ-100ER Regional Jets, and 25 Fokker 50s. Two more CRJ-100ERs arrive in May and June. Also, on June 16, a $75-million order is placed for three Avro (BAe) RJ85s, plus three options. Also requested are eight more Canadair CRJ-100ER Regional Jets.
Registered D-AVRO, the first RJ85 is delivered on October 17. In his acceptance speech, Managing Director Rausch notes that the new aircraft will be employed to offer city-class, single-class service under a new program known as CityLine Europe, which will hub at Munich. The Canadairs and Fokkers will join the program as soon as new leather seating can be fitted. The service will also feature different menus every week graded by flight stage length: 90 minutes, 90-130 minutes, and over 130 minutes.
The next two RJ85s arrive on November 18 and December 12, respectively, and also enter CityLine Europe service.
Enplanements this year reach 2,198,325.
Airline employment grows 14.6% in 1995 to 1,321 as the fleet replacement program also picks up speed. In January, the company’s requests for Avro aircraft is increased by seven in a $175- million follow-on order. Eight more Canadairs, valued at $146 million, are also requested. The Fokker 50 contingent declines to 13 after 10 CRJ-100ERs begin to enter service after April. In addition, three more Avro RJ85s arrive by May, a seventh in June, and three more during the fall. In addition, four Cimber Air, A. S. ATR42-320s remain in operation.
Meanwhile, early in the year, CityLine Europe flights from Munich commence to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Leipzig, Milan, Minsk, Rome, Sofia, and Vienna. Flights to Oslo, Budapest, and Florence are also inaugurated.
Passenger boardings jump 15.8% to 2,610,837.
The workforce is increased by 12.3% in 1996 to 1,484 as the fleet replacement program approaches its end. The addition of 8 Canadair Regional Jets increases the number of that type in the fleet to 29; meanwhile, 5 Avro RJ85s arrive, bringing representation of that type to 17. The last three Fokker 50s are turned over to Avro as partial payment; the manufacturer passes them on to a leasing concern.
In April, the joint-venture CityLine Avro Simulator and Training facility opens at Berlin’s Schoenfeld Airport. Work begins on a DM 18-million ($10-million) headquarters, office, and warehouse complex at Bonn’s Konrad Adenauer Airport, which is scheduled to open in late 1998. The facility will become known as “the airplane,” because its ground plan is designed roughly along the lines of a Canadair jetliner.
An agreement with the pilots’ union, also in April, allows the carrier to remove the CityLine Europe titles previously painted on the new RJ85s and replace them with Lufthansa titles.
A route is started from Bremen to London (LCY). Primarily to serve the needs of Siemens, which is building a new factory in the Wallsend region of Great Britain and needs transport for its employees, Lufthansa CityLine, GmbH., on July 15 launches twice-weekly CRJ roundtrip flights from Munich to Newcastle via Birmingham.
It is announced in November that the company’s Kriftal operation will be integrated at Cologne in 1998. In December, a $70 million follow-on order is placed for three more Canadair CRJ-100ERs, plus three options.
Customer bookings this year increase 17.5% to 3,067,780.
The employee population is reduced by 3.6% in 1997 to 1,430.
The carrier’s unions, in January, agree to a new labor contract with the carrier. In exchange for a new pension plan, the 1,530 employees waive wage increases in favor of profit sharing.
In February, the last Fokker 50s and the Cimber Air, A. S. ATRs are retired as the carrier accepts one more Canadair and two RJ85s. The Fokkers are passed to affiliate Contactair Flugdienst, GmbH. & Co.
Also in February, CityLine becomes the first European airline to receive certification for the Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system, HGS-2000. The company equips its 28 Canadairs with the system and on March 1 is permitted by the government aviation ministry to become the first German regional authorized to make manual Category 3A instrument landings.
The need for transport for Siemens employees now having ended, the twice-weekly flights into Newcastle cease on March 26.
On April 1, European skies are totally deregulated. On this date, the company takes over the Friedrichshafen to Dusseldorf route from which Regional Airlines, S. A. had elected to retire following its purchase of the turboprop routes of Deutsche BA Luftfahrtgesselschaft, GmbH.
Also on April 1, the company joins with Bombardier Business Aircraft, Ltd. to form European Business Jet Services at Schoenfeld Airport in Berlin. When it begins flying in the fall, EBJS will offer charter services to those European destinations with no scheduled air service.
The 200th CRJ-100ER built is delivered to the carrier on October 24; it is the carrier’s 30th Canadair. Three days later, thrice-daily weekday Avro RJ85 service is inaugurated between Frankfurt and London (LCY).
Passenger boardings accelerate 25.4% to 3,841,000. The figure represents more than a third of all Lufthansa intra-European flights. Revenues total DM 1.37 billion, with profit up 67% to DM 10.9 million.
In early 1998 the fleet of the joint managing directors, Karl-Heinz Koepfle and Georg Steinbacher, includes 32 CRJ-100ERs and 18 Avro RJ85s.
In May, the carrier joins with Crossair, Ltd. to become joint European launch customer for the Fairchild Dornier 724JET. On September 17, an order is placed for 10 Bombardier Aerospace CRJ Series 700 regional jets, with options taken on 10 more. Simultaneously, a follow-on order is placed for 10 additional CRJ-100s, for delivery beginning in the first quarter of the year 2000.
Beginning in August, all of the company’s Avro RJ85s are sent, one after another, to Avrotec in the U. K., where they are upgraded to the latest production standard.
The company occupies its new DM 18-million ($10-million) headquarters, office, and warehouse complex at Bonn’s Konrad Adenauer Airport during the last week in October; simultaneously, the 32nd CRJ-100ER is also received.
A ?22-million contract is signed with Debonair, Ltd. on November 1. Under its terms, the British airline will operate short-haul replacement services from Munich, committing five of its BAe 146-200/300s to the operation beginning in March.
As the year ends, the carrier operates to 76 destinations in 27 countries. It also carries a third of Lufthansa’s European passenger traffic.
Passenger boardings ascend 14.9% to 4.39 million.
The carrier’s 50th CRJ-100ER is received in January 1999 and is christened Little Europe. As part of its color scheme, the jetliner wears depictions of landmarks at its strongest European markets on both sides of its all-white fuselage. On the right side are renderings of Cologne Cathedral, Brussels’ Atomium, London’s Big Ben, the Colosseum from Rome, and the Eiffel Tower from Paris. Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, onion domes of Eastern European churches, and the Prater in Vienna all appear on the left side.
The 51st Canadair CRJ100ER is received on March 22 and the same day enters service on the company’s route from Cologne/Bonn to Barcelona. The carrier’s Canadair fleet now links 51 cities in 19 European countries.
As scheduled, Debonair, Ltd. begins operating five BAe 146-200s from Munich on behalf of Cityline on March 28. Twice-daily “Team Lufthansa” flights are offered by four aircraft to Birmingham, Helsinki, Manchester, and Toulouse. The fifth, which had previously operated “Air France Express” service, flies one roundtrip every weekday to both Brussels and Marseilles, followed by weekend flights to Amsterdam, Marseilles, Vienna, Milan (twice), and Manchester.
Also on March 28, Flightline, Ltd. becomes the second British “Team Lufthansa” carrier and the seventh overall. Employing a BAe 146-200 that it had previously leased to Aer Lingus Commuter (Aer-linte Eireann Tioranta, Ltd.) and has now painted in the colors of the Lufthansa organization, Flightline offers daily roundtrips from Dussel-dorf to Birmingham, Budapest, Helsinki, and Nice.
In need of short-term extra capacity, Debonair, Ltd. wet-leases a BAe 146-100 from Lufthansa CityLine. The German aircraft will be operated over the British line’s routes from Moenchengladbach to London (CTN) and Barcelona through May 6.
Also on March 28, daily (except Saturday) CRJ100ER roundtrips begin from Cologne/Bonn to Geneva; at the same time, the same number of CRJ100ER return flights are started between Hanover and Vienna.
On behalf of Lufthansa CityLine, GmbH., Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. places a $1.6- billion firm order on April 29 for 60 Fairchild Aerospace 728JETS, along with 60 options, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2002. Fairchild Aerospace Chairman/CEO Carl Albert joins with DLH Chairman/CEO Jurgen Weber in announcing that the planes for the launch customer will be assembled at the manufacturer’s facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen.
During late April and early May, a number of new Canadair charter routes are opened on behalf of various tour operators. Among these is a service from Frankfurt to Patras/Araxos in Greece on April 10 and to Palermo and Catania on April 17, from Hanover and Cologne/Bonn to Shannon on May 1, and from Dusseldorf to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain on May 9.
Upon the September 30 collapse of Debonair Airways, Ltd., CityLine suspends the “Team Lufthansa” service the U. K. airline had been providing. The following week, however, it makes temporary arrangements to resume flights, handing a replacement “Team Lufthansa” contract to British Midland Commuter, Ltd. Plans are made for BMC to take over the five BAe-146s leased by Debonair, hire required personnel, and continue the flights from Munich. Unhappily, the relaunch is delayed by difficulties in transferring the 146 leases and a November service resumption will be pushed into the new year.
Beginning on October 16 and continuing through next April 29, Saturday CRJ100ER roundtrip charters are operated from Hamburg to the Spanish Balearic island of Ibiza. Beginning on December 26 and continuing through March 26, weekly CRJ100ER return flight charters are operated from Berlin (Tegel) to Ostersund, in central Sweden.
Overall, CityLine passenger boardings jump 11.3% on the year to 4,895,000.
Airline employment at the beginning of 2000 stands at 1,726, a 7.9% increase over the previous 12 months. The fleet now includes 39 Canadair CRJ100ERs and 18 Avro RJ85s.
The delayed inauguration of “Team Lufthansa” service by British Midland Commuter, Ltd. from Munich begins on February 7, employing a single leased BAe 146-200.
By March, one each chartered ERJ-145, B-737-59D, BAe 146-200, and Airbus A321-231 have been stationed at Munich to fly the CityLine subservice previously operated by Debonair Airways, Ltd.
The first Lufthansa Cityline Canadair CRJ200ER and the 40th Canadair regional jet received enters service on March 16. With the beginning of the summer schedule on April 1, weekly CRJ100ER return flights are launched from Hanover to Venice. Six times a week Canadair roundtrips are introduced between Hanover and Geneva on April 3.
On April 17, the B-737-59D and ERJ-145 are returned by British Midland Commuter, Ltd. to British Midland Airways, Ltd. and replaced with two more BAe 146-200s. BMC joins “Team Lufthansa” in May and its BAes are repainted.
Business Class service is added to the one-class City Class product on July 1, differentiating a somewhat higher standard of service provided to executives on a number of its flights.
Orders are placed by CityLine on September 22 for 10 more CRJ700s, bringing the total number of company orders for the enlarged regional jet to 20.
The twice-daily CRJ roundtrips from Munich to Nice and Toulouse are increased to thrice daily on October 29. The new frequency is provided with an Avro RJ85. In keeping with the policy of parent Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. to develop Munich as a second and southern hub, CityLine now raises by 40% the number of its nonstop connections from the Bavarian capital to 421 weekly flights to 35 European destinations. Daily CRJ roundtrips are started to Belgrade.
For the first time in the space of a year, CityLine, on November 9, boards its five millionth passenger. The unknown customer count reaches the new record peak on the day’s Flight 5897 from Brussels to Munich.
The first full Phase III CRJ700 simulator in Europe completes installation at Berlin (Schoenfeld Airport) on December 18. Jointly financed by Bombardier Aerospace, CityLine, and simulator manufacturer, the center was opened in 1991; the CRJ700 simulator will be turned on in March.
Overall enplanements for the year jump 17.3% to 5.7 million.
LUFTHANSA EXPRESS, GmbH. See DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA, A. G.
LUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES, A. G. See DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA, A. G.
LUFTSCHIFFBAU ZEPPELIN, GmbH. See DEUTSCHER ZEPPELIN-REEDEREI, A. G.
LUFTTRANSPORT, A. S.: P. O. Box 2500, Tromso, N-9002, Norway; Phone 47 7767 0022; Fax 47 7767 2975; Code L5; Year Founded 1983. This rotary-wing carrier is established at Tromso in 1983 to provide unscheduled shuttle service to oil fields off the north coast employing four Aerospatiale AS-332L Super Pumas. Among the sites served from a field at Andenes is a gas-drilling rig in the Tromso Field of Elf Aquitane Norge, A. S. Another contract is held with Norsk Hydro A. S. and the state oil company Statoil for service from Andenes to two rigs in the Tromso field.
Early in 1984, the company accepts a contract from Saga Petroleum, A. S. to fly Bell JetRangers on its behalf in Benin, Africa. Mobil Exploration Norway, Inc. now grants the charter operator a contract to fly Super Pumas from Bergen’s Flesland Airport to the Statfjord field eight times per week. The contract ends the near-monopoly on offshore support held by competitor Helikopter Service, A. S. (HS).
Operations continue apace over the next five years, during which time HS acquires shareholding. By 1987, HS has acquired ownership, and Lufttransport becomes a subsidiary (later a division) of the giant rotarywinged concern.
When HS is reorganized during the summer of 1989, onshore operations are made Lufttransport’s responsibility.
There is little change in company operations during the early years of the 1990s. Passenger and cargo charters, VIP and executive transport, construction, external load, survey, and air-sea rescue flights continue to be provided, as well as coast guard work.
When HS is awarded a five-year emergency medical services (EMS) contract in May 1993, responsibility for operations on the new aeromed-ical routes is divided between Lufttransport and A/S Morefly from bases at Tromso, Bronnoysund, and Vigra. Both companies are assigned purely domestic onshore responsibilities during the remainder of the year.
In 1994, Managing Director Gunnar Bjoersvik’s carrier operates from bases at Voss, Bronnoysund, and LongYearbyen, Spitsbergen. The fleet includes 7 Eurocopter AS-350B Ecureuilss and 2 each SA-315s, SA-365Ns, Bell 212s, and Bell 205As, plus 5 Bell 214Bs.
Flights continue in 1995-1996. During these years, two AS-350Bs and two Bell 214Bs are withdrawn. On April 22, 1997, the company obtains a 5-year, Nkr 200-million air ambulance contract from the Norwegian Social Security Department.
By 1998, Managing Director Bjoersvik oversees a 160-person workforce and enjoys annual revenues of $30 million. His rotary-wing fleet includes 5 Aerospatiale AS-350 Ecureuils, 2 SA-315 Lamas, 2 Bell 212s, 3 Bell 214Bs, and 2 Bell 212s. Additionally, the fixed-wing aircraft include 10 Beech Super King Air 200s, 1 Partenavia Spartacus, and 1 Dornier Do 228-200.
Lufttransport, on June 9, signs a sale and lease-back agreement for seven Beech Super King Air 200s, which it will fly in support of the Norwegian ambulance service. The deal is valued at Nkr 20 million.
During the summer of 1999, the company’s Helikopter Service, A. S. parent is taken over by its North American rival, Canadian Helicopter Corporation, Ltd. (CHC).
CHC undertakes a program of rationalization during the first half of 2000, selling off a number of noncore operations. Among these is Luft-transport, A. S., which is passed to Norwegian Air Shuttle, A. S. on July 14 in consideration of a sum of Nkr85 million (C$14.3 million).
LUFTTRANSPORT SUD, GmbH. See LTS (LUFTTRANSPORT SUD, GmbH.)
LUFTTRANSPORT-UNTERNELHMEN, GmbH. & CO, KG. See LTU INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
LUFTVERKEHR FRIESLAND BRUNZEMA & PARTNER, K. G. (LFH): Flugplatz/Airport Harle, Wittmund, Carolinensiel,
D-26409, Germany; Phone 49 (4464) 8011; Fax 49 (4464) 8321; Http://www. inselfleuger. de; Code LFH; Year Founded 1983. Organized at Wittmund in September 1983 to succeed Luftverkehr Wil-helmshaven-Friesland, GmbH., President Jan-Luppen Brunzema’s carrier is outfitted with 2 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, 1 Cessna 206, and 1 Cessna 172C. Regularly scheduled services are inaugurated from Harle Airport on October 1 linking Wittmund with Wangerooge. Enplanements reach 3,500 by year’s end and the employee population reaches seven.
Destinations served in 1984-1985 also include Baltrum, Borkum, Busum, Juist, Langeoog, Norddeich, Norderney, Westerland/Sylt, and Wyck. Harle and Helgoland are added to the route system in 1986.
Two more Cessna 172s are purchased in 1987. Flights begin to Fehmarn in 1988 and the year’s enplanements total 47,315.
Airline employment is increased by 18.2% in 1989 to 13 and the fleet includes 2 Islanders and 3 172Cs. Passenger boardings ascend 5.6% to 50,121.
A third Islander and fourth 172C are acquired in 1990, followed by a fourth Cessna 172 in 1992.
In 1993, Chairman Brunzema’s fleet visits Wangerooge, Langeoog, Baltrum, Norderney, Juist, Borkum, Helgoland, Heide, Busum, St. Peter-Ording, Wyk-Fohr, Westerland-Sylt, and Fehmarn. This schedule is maintained in 1994 and, as traffic improves, a fifth Cessna 172C is requested.
Late in 1995, the company places an order with Pilatus Britten-Nor-man for a new PBN2B-26 with which to replace one of its older units. The aircraft features use of new three-blade noise reduction propellers. The new aircraft is delivered in 1996. The workforce reaches 17 by 1997-2000.
LUFTVERKEHR SABLATNIG, GmbH. See LLOYD LUFTVER-KEHR SABLATNIG, GmbH.
LUFTVERKEHR WILHELMSHAVEN-FRIESLAND, GmbH.: Germany (1975-1983). LWF is organized as an air taxi in 1975, but within several years begins to offer scheduled services linking Wil-helmshaven with the Frisian Islands destinations of Schortens, Heid-muhle, Harte/Friesland, and Wangerooge. The fleet by decade’s end comes to comprise 3 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, 1 Cessna 402, 1 Cessna 310, and 1 Cessna 206. Operations cease late in 1983.
LUFTVERKEHRSGESELLSCHAFT RUHRGEBIET, A. G. (LURAG): Germany (1925-1926). LURAG is established at Dorsten on January 11, 1925 by local industrialists and bankers, government entities, and Junkers Flugzeugwerke, A. G. On February 24, the new company joins the airplane manufacturer’s Trans Europa Union of airlines.
Employing F.13 cabin monoplanes provided by Junkers, LURAG inaugurates revenue services on April 20 that link its base with Munster, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and the Swiss city of Zurich. Flights to Kassel, Erfurt, and Leipzig commence in July. The fleet is increased throughout the year, reaching a total of 5 F.13s and 5 G.24s.
Late in the year, as the French complete their occupation of the Ruhrgebiet, the airline transfers its operations to Essen.
The company gains shares in the new Deutsche Luft Hansa, A. G. when it is formed in January 1926 and shuts down its own flight operations, offering its aircraft to the new state carrier.
LUKUM AIR SERVICE, S. A.: Zaire (1981-1990). Also known as LUKAS, LAS is set up at Kinshasa in 1981 as an all-cargo carrier. Regional and domestic freight and contract service flights are launched with 2 Douglas DC-6s, 2 DC-4s, 1 Bristol Britannia 300F, and 1 DC-3.
A Boeing 707-320C is acquired in 1982, followed by a DC-8-50F in 1985. Flights continue through the end of the decade.
LUMBINI AIRWAYS, LTD.: P. O. Box 6215, Kathmandu, Nepal; Phone 977 (1) 482 725; Fax 977 (1) 483 380; Code LUMB; Year Founded 1996. With a goal of providing daily flights to domestic tourist spots, Lumbini is established at Kathmandu in 1996 as a joint venture between Nepalese and Japanese investors. R. Sakya is named managing director and he recruits a workforce of 200 and 4 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters.
Revenue flights commence on April 15, 1997, linking the carrier’s base with Lukla, Pokhara, Jomsom, Meghauly, Braratpur, and Bhaira-hawa. Charters are also operated to bush locations such as Nepalgunj, Phaplu, and Semara.
Flights continue during the remainder of the year and into the new millennium.
LUNDY AND ATLANTIC COAST AIR LINES, LTD.: United Kingdom (1937-1939). Atlantic Coast Air Services, Ltd. is renamed Lundy and Atlantic Coast Air Lines, Ltd. on April 26, 1937; however, the previous Short Scion Lundy-Barnstaple service is continued.
In accordance with the Air Navigation Order of September 16, 1938, this carrier is granted route certification from Barnstaple-Lundy on October 21 by the new ATLB.
A total of 1,400 passengers are carried on the year.
War is declared on Germany on September 3, 1939 and all civil flying ceases; this airline operation is not resumed.
World History
