Lufthansa, the German airline, announced on Thursday that it will withdraw its first aircraft from service in response to strikes and rising fuel costs. The airline specified that 27 older planes belonging to its regional subsidiary, CityLine, will cease operations starting this coming Saturday.
According to a statement from Germany’s largest airline, the suspension will primarily affect both the parent company Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine, which has recently experienced widespread strikes by flight crews.
The 27 aircraft set for this initial withdrawal are Bombardier CRJ models owned by CityLine, which Lufthansa aims to fully discontinue.
Lufthansa noted that these planes are nearing the end of their technical operational lifespan and incur relatively high operating costs. This action is expected to help reduce additional losses for the struggling airline.
By the end of October, six long-haul aircraft from Lufthansa’s main brand are also scheduled to be retired. In addition to four Airbus A340-600s, two Boeing 747-400s will be taken out of service during the upcoming winter season.
The final farewell for this aircraft model is anticipated next year. Furthermore, around five medium-haul aircraft will be removed from Lufthansa’s fleet.