TUI Group to halve TUIfly fleet, merge airline functions under one company

TUIfly MD Oliver Lackmann confirmed (18-Jun-2020) plans for the restructuring of the carrier were presented during a supervisory board meeting on 18-Jun-2020. The plan includes an adjustment of TUIfly's fleet to about half of the current 39 aircraft and a reduction in workforce "to a healthy and future-proof level" to adapt to "fierce price competition" in the German market, with jobs in technical, administrative and crew functions to be cut. Negotiations are also based on an employment protection scheme, excluding dismissals for operational reasons with effect before the end of 2021. In addition, central functions are to be more closely integrated across all five group airlines. In a first stage, TUI's European airlines will be merged under one company, based in Hannover. In the future, TUIfly intends to concentrate on the departure airports of Hannover and Duesseldorf as the largest fleet locations, as well as Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart. Mr Lackmann concluded the airline must reach an agreement with works councils and trade unions "as quickly as possible". [more - original PR]