10/16/14
Lufthansa Group | Passenger Business
Abu Dhabi removed from 2015 summer flight plan

In recent years, considerable overcapacity has emerged on routes between Germany and the United Arab Emirates as a result of the massive expansion carried out by state-subsidised Gulf carriers.

This development has been accelerated partly because Etihad Airways (EY) has been able to offer and promote code share flights with Air Berlin during the last six flight plan periods unjustifiably. As a result of massive overcapacities, the route between Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi has become increasingly unprofitable for Lufthansa. Lufthansa now has to face the consequences and remove the route from the 2015 summer flight plan.

Every route that is cancelled in Germany also reduces the number of jobs in the German aviation sector. The value added will be shifted to the Gulf. This is another clear sign of what happens when unfair competitive environments reign.