CAPA: Lufthansa fleet retirement represents around 20% of ASKs due to long haul focus

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Lufthansa. Europe's first fleet cut; will go deeper, others to follow', stated (11-Apr-2020) Lufthansa's plans to reduce the fleet under its mainline brand and Eurowings are the first such restructuring announced by a major European airline group in response to the expected significant decline in air travel post COVID-19 travel restrictions. The permanent retirement of 21 widebodies and 11 narrowbodies represents 9% of the Lufthansa branded fleet and 13% of its seats. The focus on widebodies means that the ASK impact will be greater, possibly around 20%. Other European airlines are expected to soon follow with further fleet cuts, with Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines expected to potentially cut their fleets by at least as much as Lufthansa in percentage terms. [more - CAPA Analysis]