Lufthansa's management is determined to massively restructure the group's core business, as internal manager statements indicate. This includes closing Lufthansa Cityline and follows recent strikes. Airlines CEO Jens Ritter faced pressure in emotional staff talks.
Frankfurt. Jens Ritter, head of Lufthansa Airlines, endured heated meetings last week in Frankfurt and Munich with Lufthansa Cityline's works council. Participants told Handelsblatt: "That was really no easy situation for Ritter."
On April 16, the group's board decided in a hastily called meeting to shut down Cityline immediately. The subsidiary operates feeder flights to Frankfurt and Munich and is part of Lufthansa Airlines, which includes the core Lufthansa brand.
Unrest persists at the group: Pilots and cabin crew recently went on strike for six days. Despite the strike wave, management remains resolute in overhauling the core business radically.