Archive 2008

Issue December 2008

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Lead

• Economy:
  

  Clearing the way for investments in air transport

  
  The airports in Frankfurt and Munich have to be expanded in the coming years. According to scientific studies, the expansion plans will put well over 100,000 additional people to work  a bona fide bright spot in the wake of reports of reduced working hours and impending waves of layoffs. It is now up to the Federal States to advance the airport expansions further with resolve.

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Analyses

• Airline market:
  

  Policy makers must support consolidation

  
  Everyone benefits from the necessary consolidation: Government budgets will not have to pay subsidies for chronically unprofitable airlines. Successful examples  like SWISS  show that airlines can gain real prospects for the future.

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• Single European Sky:
  

  Declaration of intent must be followed by action
  

  By 2012, EU air navigation services are to operate on the basis of nine airspace blocks. So far, the participating countries have signed an as yet nonbinding declaration of intent in November 2008 for merely one single block. Much remains to be done to finally breathe life into the Single European Sky following decades of discussion.

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Germany

• Education:
  

  Lufthansa supporting Teach First Germany
  

  All too often, children and youth in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods are left behind. A particular problem is that schools are reaching their limits in the face of mounting difficulties  Teach First Germany is doing its part to help improve education for at-risk groups.

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News

• ++ Lufthansa Italia taking off ++ Timid airport charges directive ++

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• ++ Reducing aircraft noise ++ Beware of phoney prices ++

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Issue September 2008

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Lead

• Emissions trading:

  Serious distortion of competition for EU airlines

  Emissions trading makes flying over Europe more expensive and longer routes over the Gulf states cheaper  thus resulting in more carbon emissions. To prevent European aviation from being entirely left out of the global competition for air passengers, fairness, reliability, and common sense must be brought back into EU climate policy. more ...
  

Analyses

• Single European Sky:
  

  Achieving breakthrough on second attempt
  

  The EU member states must end their delay tactics in the reorganisation of European air navigation services. The proposals of the EU Commission must be approved by the end of 2008. Otherwise, the detours airlines are compelled to fly will continuing producing roughly 16 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

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• Air passenger rights:
  

  Lufthansa leads the way
  

  Air passenger rights are extensively protected in Europe. Passengers must also be able to assert respective legal claims. Time and again, unprofessional airlines put profits before passengers. Lufthansa has long been countering this trend by setting standards for service and consumer protection.

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• Low-cost carriers

  Subsidy-hunters - here today, gone tomorrow
  

  Low-cost carriers profit from support programs and state aid. But this assistance is not a guarantor of loyalty to location, as current trends have shown.

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• Sustainability:

  Company goal at Lufthansa
  

  Only companies that also shoulder responsibility over and above narrow cost-benefit analyses will be successful over the long term. Lufthansa has long been striking a balance between economic, environmental, and social aims.

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Aviation industry explained

• Securing fuel prices
  

  Lufthansa cannot escape the price trend on the crude oil market, but it is mitigating possible price fluctuations through consistent and successful hedging. In this way, the airline has been able to save close to U.S.$ 3 billion since 1990.

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Special on the "Environment" June 2008

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Lead

• Securing mobility for tomorrow
  

  Lufthansa's environmental principles
  

  The aviation industry must respond to environmental and climate policy challenges. With its strategic environmental program, Lufthansa is pointing the way to 2020  15 guiding principles lay the foundation for striking a balance between economic interests and environmental responsibility. more ...

Involvement

• Aircraft noise
  

  Further reducing emissions
  

  According to the EU advisory body ACARE, noise emissions in air transport are to be reduced 50 per cent by 2020  and Lufthansa is making a substantial contribution to this effort. Policy makers also play a pivotal role: They must implement maximum noise limits in a consistent manner and continue supporting research projects.

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• Promoting the environment
  

  Making a difference together with our partners
  

  Lufthansa has long been engaged in preserving biological diversity and is relying on long-term partnerships with environmental organisations to achieve this aim  from the Global Nature Fund to Kranichschutz Deutschland.

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• Tangible

  Successes in climate and environment protection
  

  Lufthansa is continually reducing its average jet fuel consumption. The fleet now requires 30 per cent less fuel per passenger and 100 kilometres than it did in 1991  due to several process optimisations, investments and innovations.

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Issue June 2008

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Analyses

• Security
  

  Effectively using opportunities of new EU regulation
  

  The EU Commission is relying on real value-added security: Now, in contrast to past practice, EU member states may tighten security measures only in well-founded, individual cases. In addition, the EU regulation opens up opportunities to simplify security procedures. We must quickly seize these opportunities to the benefit of travellers.

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• Liability protection in case of terrorist attacks
  

  A duty of government
  

  Airline companies alone are to be made liable for third-party damages occurring in the wake of terrorist attacks. Governments are thus passing on billions in obligations to the airlines, thus abdicating their political responsibility.

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• Noise emissions
  

  Aviation industry implementing controls
  

  Lufthansa will place over 170 quieter aircraft into service in the coming years. This will provide considerable relief to residents living near airports. Much will also be achieved when the Aircraft Noise Act, including all its specific sound insulation measures, is finally implemented.

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Aviation industry explained

• Airport coordinators and slots
  

  What are slots? How are takeoff and landing rights allocated at German airports? And who monitors compliance? You will find the answers here.

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News

• Transatlantic air transport

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Issue February 2008

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Analyses

• Airport charges
  

  Strengthening EU aviation through fair arrangement
  

  Disputed airport charges have been straining the relationship between airlines and airports for years. The European Council and the EU Parliament must now agree on a sustainable directive to create more transparency and efficiency  an aim which would benefit EU aviation in global competition.

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• Consolidation
  

  Lufthansa breaking new ground
  

  Lufthansa is advancing consolidation of the airline market. Now that SWISS has successfully integrated into the Lufthansa Group, it is taking off again. Lufthansa was the first EU airline company to respond to the open skies agreement and has acquired shares in the U.S. airline JetBlue. Further steps towards liberalisation of transatlantic air transport must follow.

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• Giovanni Bisignani (IATA)
  

  On a path to zero emissions
  

  Aviation can grow over the midterm and remain carbon neutral through greater efficiency. Within 50 years, the goal of zero emissions in air travel can be attained through technological advancements. Policymakers must shore up this vision with the right regulatory framework.

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Explaining the fundamentals

• Traffic rights
  

  What governs traffic rights?
  

  Why are they of such central importance to international air transport? Who negotiates traffic rights? The answers can be found in the new section Aviation industry explained.  more ...

News

• Sustainability: Lufthansa s approach ++ Single European Sky: EU member states called to task ++
  

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