Lufthansa group cuts over 10 000 weekly flights  

Austrian Airlines will temporarily suspend scheduled flight operations, while other airlines within the Lufthansa Group cut capacity by 90% on long haul routes. This is in reaction to the entry restrictions imposed by many countries in response to the spread of COVID-19.

The last Austrian Airlines flight, OS 066, will land in Vienna from Chicago at 08h20 on March 19. “Until then, flight operations are to be reduced in a controlled manner in order to bring all passengers and crews home if possible,” the Lufthansa Group said in a statement.

“Initially”, flights will be cancelled until March 28, the group said. “Passengers who have booked a flight with Austrian Airlines during this period will be rebooked on other airlines if possible.”

In addition, Lufthansa Group airlines will further reduce their short- and long-haul schedule. The cancellations will lead to a sharp decline in long-haul services to Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Overall, the Lufthansa Group’s seating capacity on long-haul routes will be reduced by up to 90%, which is 1 170 flights per week. A total of 1 300 weekly connections were originally planned for summer 2020.

Within Europe the flight schedule will also be further reduced. “Around 20% of the originally planned seating capacity will still be offered. Originally, some 11 700 weekly short-haul flights were planned.

“The additional cancellations will be published over the next few days and passengers will be informed accordingly,” the group said. The new timetable for all Lufthansa Group airlines will initially be valid until April 12.

Getting people home

Lufthansa, Eurowings and Austrian Airlines have scheduled more than 20 special flights with over 6 000 guests on short notice to fly cruise passengers and holidaymakers back home. Wide-body aircraft are being used to offer as much capacity as possible on these return flights.

“Since thousands of German, Austrian, Swiss and Belgian citizens are still waiting to return to their home countries, Lufthansa Group airlines have made arrangements for further evacuation flights and are in close contact with the governments of their home countries concerning this,” the group said.

Seychelles updates travel advisory

Following the escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak, Seychelles has revised its travel advisory effective March 18.

The updated measures require that any passengers who have been to any country in Europe in the last 14 days (except returning Seychellios citizens) will be prevented entry into the Seychelles.

In the event that a traveller from these countries arrives in the Seychelles, the carrier airline or vessel will be responsible for the immediate return of the passenger, the Seychelles Department of Health said in a statement.