Lufthansa has announced plans to launch a new regional airline in the middle of this year.
Originally founded in Munich last summer, City Airlines will offer short- and medium-haul flights from Lufthansa’s secondary base in Munich.
According to Simple Flying, the new airline will have an all-Airbus fleet and is likely to include the Airbus A319, which has a maximum capacity of 160 passengers.
Although the routes have not yet been confirmed, the airline’s website says it will fly daily from its home base in Munich to major European cities and remote regions.
According to Aviation Source News, the next significant steps for the new carrier will be acquiring a fleet, securing an Air Operators Certificate, and successful negotiations with the Cockpit Union to ensure pilots and cabin crew can be hired.
Lufthansa had originally planned to hire 250 captains from Germanwings (which ceased operations in 2020) for the new carrier. However, this plan was met with opposition.
Hiring for ground staff has already begun, and job postings for cabin crew will be available on its website from summer this year.