Summary
- Discover Airlines is planning to add nine Airbus aircraft by 2027, including six A330-300 and three A320s.
- In total, the airline should operate 33 aircraft by the end of 2027.
- While Lufthansa has attempted to improve its financial position and competitiveness at its main hubs with different AOCs, its unions have begun moving against the airline’s plans.
One of
Lufthansa Group’s
subsidiaries, Discover Airlines, which was spun off from
Eurowings
when it previously operated under the Eurowings Discover before it obtained its own air operator’s certificate (AOC), has announced an expansion of its fleet and all-aisle access (AAA) business class.
Nine more Airbus aircraft
Discover Airlines disclosed that it will take delivery of six Airbus A330-300 and at least three Airbus A320 aircraft in the next three years, expanding its current fleet of 27 aircraft to 33.
The airline plans to introduce the A330-300s by mid-2027, while the three A320s should join the carrier’s fleet in 2025.
Photo: Pavel1964 | Shutterstock
However, expiring leases will leave
Discover Airlines
without any A330-200 aircraft, with the trio exiting the fleet throughout 2026.
Still, with the incoming six A330-300s and three A320s, its fleet should grow to 33 aircraft by the end of 2027.
“Since its launch, Discover Airlines has relied on Airbus A330s on long-haul routes and Airbus A320s on short and medium-haul routes. Thanks to their capacity, range and efficiency, both aircraft types are ideal for the growing leisure travel segment.”
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Addressing the leisure market
Bernd Bauer, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Discover Airlines, said that after the airline gained its AOC in 2021, it was now taking further steps to consolidate its position as a leisure airline in
Germany
.
Photo: Pavel1964 | Shutterstock
At the same time, Discover Airlines should “sustainably” improve Lufthansa Group’s market presence in the ever-growing leisure market.
“With additional capacity and the upgrade to a next-generation product, we will be able to serve the leisure travel segment even more comprehensively, efficiently and flexibly in the future.”
The CEO concluded that the carrier was looking forward to accompanying even more travelers on their future endeavors to various leisure destinations.
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New business class product
Starting in 2027, Discover Airlines will introduce an updated business class product on the A330-300.
While it shared little details about the upcoming improvements to its onboard passenger experience, the carrier said that its new business class seats will grant all travelers aisle access (AAA).
Photo: Discover Airlines
In addition, the carrier plans to introduce new entertainment systems with larger screens and better resolution in all three travel classes.
“Further details on the product renewal are currently being finalized and will be announced at a later date.”
Out of the current ten A330-300s, two of each aircraft of the type were previously operated by
Brussels Airlines
and Edelweiss Air, while the remaining six were ex-Lufthansa planes, ch-aviation data showed.
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Potential strikes
On August 21, Discover Airlines pilots and cabin crew members, represented by the Cockpit Union (Vereinigung Cockpit, VC) and the Independent Flight Attendant Organization (Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation, UFO), approved a potential strike.
Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock
The two unions have demanded collective bargaining at all Germany-based
Lufthansa
carriers, including the main airline, Lufthansa CityLine,
Lufthansa City Airlines
, and Discover Airlines.
In a statement, UFO said that the two unions will fight for equal working conditions at all four airlines that operate in Germany.
“You have told us through many channels how indecent you find it that your employer chooses who negotiates the collective agreement terms for you because they hope to get the more compliant and easier-to-control union onboard.”
When Lufthansa Group announced its H1 results on July 31, the group said that Lufthansa would launch a comprehensive turnaround program.
“The disproportionately high increase in location cost in Germany and new collective labor agreements for cockpit, cabin and ground staff also had a negative impact on earnings.”
As such, Lufthansa will try various strategic measures, including the retirement of many of its four-engine aircraft, namely the A340 and Boeing 747-400, by 2028, as well as a strategic expansion of Discover Airlines and Lufthansa City Airlines.
The latter measure should enable Lufthansa to develop further the product offered at
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
and Munich Airport (MUC) “at competitive costs.”
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