EMAS and ISO 14001 are internationally recognized standards for environmental management systems. ISO 14001 specifies requirements for how companies can continuously improve their environmental performance, minimize risks and comply with legal requirements. EMAS builds on this, but goes further: in addition to the ISO requirements, EMAS demands additional transparency, regular external audits and the publication of an environmental statement.

As part of the certification process, Eurowings is publishing its first environmental statement for the years 2022 to 2024. It documents the environmental impact of all German locations and shows how the airline is systematically working towards its ecological goals.

‘The introduction of a certified environmental management system is a logical step towards embedding sustainability even more firmly in our corporate organization. The successful certification shows that we take our environmental goals seriously and continuously optimize our processes,’ says Ruben Baumgarten, Sustainability Manager at Eurowings.

There are plans to extend certification to Eurowings' pan-European locations in the coming year.

The environmental statement is now available on the Eurowings website and will be updated annually with the latest figures to provide a transparent overview of the continuing development of the environmental management system.

SAFt, a play on words involving the German word for ‚juice‘, aims to inform guests about SAF during the flight and offer the sustainable aviation fuel for purchase. Eurowings travelers can thus make a spontaneous and uncomplicated contribution to more sustainable flying. SAF is produced from biogenic waste from renewable sources, such as used cooking oils, and has a carbon footprint that is around 80 percent lower than that of fossil kerosene over its entire life cycle. As a drop-in fuel, SAF is compatible with fossil kerosene and is blended with it before being transported to the airport and then fed into the airport infrastructure. There is no refueling of individual flights with pure SAF.

The smoothie is also all about sustainability: the organic smoothie from kraftschluck is produced in Germany and has no added sugar. Kraftschluck is a young start-up from Nuremberg that guarantees that 99.9% of its fruit comes from German organic farms with short transport routes. The offer of CO₂ compensation that can be booked online in advance (Planet Blu) remains in place. This can be booked in advance for all Eurowings guests via the website www.eurowings.com.

With the new booking conditions, Eurowings Holidays is responding to the current uncertainty of many holiday makers who want a safe and trouble-free travel experience for their best days of the year. The new booking conditions for package holidays of Eurowings Holidays apply to all new bookings from 6 to 17 June 2024 for the travel period until the end of the year. They include both free rebookings and free cancellations of the trip up to four days before the start of the trip (previously 14 days before the start of the trip and 50 euros cancellation fee per person). The special conditions apply to bookings via all sales channels including the Eurowings Holidays website, travel agencies and online third-party providers such as travel portals. 

“The current insolvency of FTI reinforces the issue of ‘carefree travel’ and the sensitivity to trust in the chosen tour operator”, says Eurowings Head of Sales Michael Erfert. “Customers, especially in more price-sensitive sales channels such as online travel portals, will give much more weight to trust in the brand in their purchasing decisions from now on. The holiday brand Eurowings Holidays will benefit from this thanks to its proximity to Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group.” 

“Since the beginning of the week, we have seen a sharp rise in incoming bookings of more than 70 per cent compared to similar periods before the FTI insolvency. The effect is therefore clearly noticeable – and we are certain that it will be sustainable”, adds Karlheinz Kögel, who has been operating the tour operator brand Eurowings Holidays with his HLX Group since December 2019. 

About Eurowings Holidays 
Eurowings Holidays is a sales brand operated by the HLX Group (including HLX.com and Lufthansa Holidays). The main shareholder of the company is Karlheinz Kögel, who founded the last-minute specialist L'tur back in 1987. Via Eurowings Holidays, flights can be combined with inexpensive accommodation and rental cars in all categories to create a package. The extensive portfolio includes flights within Europe, but also to North America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. 

The Prague base is part of the pan-European growth strategy that Eurowings has been consistently pursuing. In addition to the German home bases, locations in Palma de Mallorca, Salzburg, Prague, Stockholm and Graz have been successively added. In the course of this expansion, the team has also become increasingly international. Currently, employees from over 60 nations work for the airline with the "Euro" in its name. The success story of Eurowings began around 30 years ago: Launched back then with ATR 72 propeller aircraft as a regional "air taxi", the airline now operates a fleet of more than 100 modern Airbus aircraft and flies more than 20 million passengers a year to more than 150 destinations throughout Europe.

"The mark of over 5,000 employees is a significant milestone for our airline and shows the trust that our employees place in us," says Eurowings Managing Director HR and Finance Kai Duve. "Every minute, a Eurowings aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in Europe - and it is thanks to each and every one of our employees that our guests can reliably fly to their destination with Eurowings. Together with our growing team, we want to bring even more Eurowings to Europe in the future and become a leading European leisure airline."

In total, 72% of Eurowings employees are "flying" staff: around 48% of the Eurowings workforce is employed in the cabin and around 24% in the cockpit. There are currently vacancies in both cabin and cockpit – employees are currently being recruited for the Eurowings bases in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Salzburg and Prague.  In addition, Eurowings also offers many attractive career fields on the ground, including IT, engineering and law. Apprentices are also currently being recruited in the field of aircraft mechanics for the start of training in August 2024. More information on all vacancies can be found here: https://www.eurowings.com/en/information/about-us/career.html.

Modern uniform regulations

Since the beginning of the year, Eurowings has updated its uniform policy for cabin crews to promote diversity, openness and a tolerant working environment. The updated policy allows visible tattoos (with the exception of tattoos on the neck, face and hands) and up to three piercings per ear (none on the face). Unisex rules for hairstyles, make-up and jewellery have also been introduced.

Without the commitment of Eurowings, the Dubai trip would not have been financially feasible for the ambitious gymnastics team. Germany's largest holiday airline supported the project with direct flights from Stuttgart to Dubai so that the athletes could compete internationally with the best in their field this weekend.

It was not only an athletic highlight in the lives of the gymnastics talents: some of the girls come from Ukraine and had to leave everything behind when they escaped the war. They have found a new home in Magdalena Brzeska's team and train with great passion and strong will. But in order to take the next step, the girls need to compete on the big international stage. Magdalena Brzeska: "With this campaign, we are setting an example of courage and hope for international sports and for young athletes all over the world. I am very grateful to Eurowings for supporting the team."

The young gymnastics talents have now returned to Germany: with eleven gold and eleven silver medals in their luggage, they were the most successful team at the international competition in Dubai.

Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings: "As an airline, we connect people and cultures – and thus also promote top-class sport. When we heard about the passion with which the girls fight for their sport, but have no chance to compete on the international stage, there was only one decision: We support this trip because it also shows our passion at Eurowings to make children's dreams come true."

"The girls are like my family. I get as much love from them as a mom," says Magdalena Brzeska. The 45-year-old was born in Poland came to Germany at the age of twelve herself with nothing but  a gym bag in her hand. She won back-to-back championship titles for TSV Schmiden (Baden-Württemberg) and took part in European and World Championships. She was part of the German team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA). As a regular guest on popular TV shows, she is still known to a wide audience today – including as the winner of the RTL dance show "Let's Dance".

She began developing and training young talents as a coach at an early stage. In 2006, she founded the "Magdalena Brzeska Talent School" for young gymnasts at her home club TSV Schmiden. She has been head coach and director of a rhythmic gymnastics center in Ulm since 2013.

"Our incoming bookings are clear: people want to fly on holiday again. With the A321neo, our guests fly with what is currently the most modern, efficient and quietest medium-haul jet in the world," says Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings.

Flying more sustainably through innovation and investment

Compared to its predecessor "ceo" (current engine option), the Airbus neo aircraft generation is characterized by a 50 percent reduction in noise emissions as well as 15 percent less paraffin consumption, with equally reduced carbon emissions. Eurowings is the first Lufthansa Group airline to equip all 13 Airbus neos with the LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine from CFM. The new, significantly larger engines can save another 3,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide per aircraft and year. Thanks to the reduced fuel consumption, the neo also has roughly 500 kilometers more range than its predecessor. Germany's largest holiday carrier has ordered a total of eight A320neo with 180 seats and five A321neo with 232 seats. A total of seven A320neo aircraft were in operation in 2022, with one more expected in 2024. Eurowings is expected to take delivery of a further three Airbus A321neo in the course of 2023.

What will happen to the Mallorca Airbus?

Immediately after landing, D-AEEA was officially handed over to Eurowings Technik. The technical operation in Düsseldorf with around 120 employees will carry out the remaining outfitting of the aircraft in the coming weeks. The first commercial flight with passengers is expected to take place in August to Mallorca.

Large variety of attractive priced flights to Mallorca during the summer holidays

What the YouGov survey also shows is this: as Germany's leading leisure airline, Eurowings still has attractively priced offers on the market that correspond to the desired price range of its customers. Despite strong advance bookings, the Lufthansa Group airline, which specializes in direct flights within Europe, still offers tickets in the preferred price segment – even in the busiest season during the summer holidays. Those who are flexible in terms of departure date and time can still book cheap flights at off-peak times and during the week. For even more comfort during the journey, Eurowings offers personalized additional services. The three most popular services among YouGov respondents: a large piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kilograms (39 percent), flexible rebooking (32 percent) and a free middle seat (24 percent).

Is more sustainable flying allowed to cost more?

At the same time, there is a stronger focus on the issue of sustainability. What would a more environmentally friendly flight be worth to travelers? In the survey, 49 percent of the participants said they would be willing to pay more to fly more sustainably. For 25 percent, a surcharge of 5 to 10 percent would be conceivable, 8 percent would even pay more than 10 percent. At Eurowings, guests can choose a more sustainable flight at the click of a button, offsetting the carbon emissions of their flight by contributing to high-quality climate protection projects.

*The data used is based on an online survey conducted by YouGov Deutschland GmbH, in which 2098 people participated between 1 and 3 February 2023. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population aged 18 and over.

"Together with the entire Lufthansa Group, we also want to lead the competition in terms of sustainability. To this end, we are investing billions in the world's most efficient aircraft and have now set up more than 50 projects on board and on the ground at Eurowings alone that help to conserve resources as much as possible," says Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings. However, many topics in aviation, such as carbon savings through new engines, are very technical and complex and therefore difficult to communicate. Bischof: "That is why we want to make climate and environmental protection visible and tangible on our doorstep as well. The initiative in Cologne's Königsforst is another milestone on this path."

Eurowings and Cologne/Bonn Airport jointly launched the project together and are equally involved as partners. Thilo Schmid, Chairman of the Executive Board of Cologne/Bonn Airport: "Climate protection and sustainability have been firmly anchored in our corporate strategy for many years. As an airport, we naturally assume ecological, social and societal responsibility. The project in Cologne's Königsforst is another building block in our numerous sustainability-oriented activities. It is precisely because of its regional significance in the immediate vicinity of the airport and in one of the most popular local recreation areas for the people of Cologne that it has a very special significance for us as a company rooted in the Rhineland."

Environmental protection at the gates of Cologne/Bonn Airport

The Königsforst is a 2,519-hectare forest area east of Cologne that is part of the larger Bergische Heideterrasse area. The popular nature reserve serves people of the region as a recreational area and is also a habitat for numerous birds and other animals. In order to maintain this, vacant areas caused by drought in recent years and infestation by bark beetles are currently being extensively reforested. Eurowings and Cologne/Bonn Airport are doing just that by planting new mixed forest through the Cologne-based impact Start-Up "Planted". Where there are still small seedlings now, various tree species will start to grow upwards in the coming years. They don’t just bind carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but also serve as air and water filters.

Sustainability at Eurowings

Eurowings takes its responsibility for effective climate protection seriously and, as part of the Lufthansa Group, has a clear goal: by 2030, the company's own net carbon emissions are to be halved compared to 2019, and by 2050 Lufthansa Group as a whole aims to achieve a neutral carbon balance. In particular, Eurowings is focusing on fleet modernization with investments in 13 aircraft from the A320neo family, the most modern and efficient medium-haul jets in the world. Eurowings is also the first airline in Germany to offer customers simple carbon compensation for their flights; through climate protection projects in Germany. Eurowings provides information on all other sustainability measures on its website: https://www.eurowings.com/en/information/about-us/sustainability.html

Sustainability at Cologne Bonn Airport

Taking responsibility for climate protection as well as for environmental and noise protection are the top priority at Cologne Bonn Airport. The topic of sustainability has been an integral part of the company's activities for years. The airport aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 65 percent by 2030 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2045 at the latest. As early as 2035, apron access is to be limited only to vehicles and equipment with zero-emission drives.

The airport relies on a wide range of measures and projects: among other things, the use of intelligent building technology to reduce carbon emissions in terminals and cargo halls, the expansion of a sustainable energy infrastructure, an in-house combined heat and power plant to supply cooling and heating, photovoltaic systems on the cargo halls, and the ongoing conversion to LED lighting indoors and outdoors.

About Planted

The Cologne-based impact start-up Planted offers companies the simplest and most effective solution to take action against the climate crisis. The subscription model combines the local planting of climate-stable mixed forests in Germany with global climate protection projects. In this way, trees are planted sustainably every month with the organisation's own climate forester and companies, together with their employees, are made climate neutral through compensation projects. In addition, companies can plant company forests in Germany with Planted or have a TÜV-certified eco-balancing of their company carried out. In this way, Planted not only guarantees maximum climate protection through CO₂ reduction and supports the forests here in Germany that have been severely damaged by climate change, but also creates awareness for more sustainable economic development. The start-up, founded at the beginning of 2021, has already been able to save over 100,000 trees together with its customers. 

"Our passengers can now combine carbon-neutral travel with support for regional compensation projects in a very simple way," says Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof. To make this possible, Eurowings has made it significantly easier to book carbon offsetting on eurowings.com and in the Eurowings app. From now on, a single click when booking a flight is enough to directly support regional climate protection projects, as Bischof emphasizes: "This makes climate protection tangible for many people virtually on their doorstep."

Moorland is important for climate protection

Intact moorlands are among the most important carbon reservoirs on earth. In their peat, they store about twice as much carbon as is contained in all the world's forests. With this, they play a crucial role in climate protection. In the climate protection projects supported by Eurowings in northern Germany, part of this unique moorland is being restored. In the long term, waterlogging will make it possible for typical raised bog vegetation to grow here again. This efficiently sequesters carbon that would otherwise be emitted through oxidative processes as carbon dioxide.  The project will create a valuable habitat for many endangered species – right on our doorstep.

Carbon-neutral flying does not have to be expensive

Contributing to climate protection doesn't have to be expensive at all: for example, carbon compensation for a Eurowings flight from Düsseldorf to Palma de Mallorca costs 3.10 euros. In the future, travelers who have opted for carbon compensation for their flight will receive proof of their compensation in the booking confirmation.

Moorland projects support ambitious climate goals of the Lufthansa Group

Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals and aims to cut its net carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve carbon-neutrality by 2050. Based on scientific calculations, carbon emissions are continuously reduced through fleet renewal and optimization, improved operational efficiency, and the use of sustainable aviation fuels. As part of Lufthansa Group, Eurowings is also working to further reduce its carbon footprint. For example, the airline has made the largest sustainability investment in the company's history with the upcoming 2022 Airbus A320neo fleet induction: around EUR 1.5 billion for 13 brand-new A320neo and A321neo aircraft – the most modern, efficient and quiet medium-haul aircraft in the world.

Eurowings provides information on all other sustainability measures on its website:
www.eurowings.com/en/information/about-us/sustainability.html

About myclimate:
The international initiative with Swiss roots is one of the world's leading providers of high-quality voluntary carbon offsetting measures. With projects of the highest standard, myclimate drives measurable climate protection and sustainable development worldwide. Voluntary offsetting of carbon emissions currently takes place in more than 144 climate protection projects in 41 countries. In these projects, emissions are reduced by replacing fossil energy sources with renewable energies, realizing local reforestation measures with small farmers, and implementing energy-efficient technologies. The carbon offsetting projects of myclimate meet the highest standards (Gold Standard, Plan Vivo) and, in addition to reducing greenhouse gases, demonstrably make a positive contribution to sustainable development on a local and regional level.

Find out more about Eurowings' climate projects in Germany and around the world here:
eurowings.compensaid.com/projects/portfolio

Germany's largest holiday airline has been preparing the arrival of the new aircraft generation thoroughly - togetherwith experts from Eurowings Technik - for months. According to the current planning, the first Airbus A320neo will enter into service with Eurowings in spring 2022. The first aircraft of the larger A321neo model will follow in spring 2023. Eurowings has ordered a total of eight A320neo (180 seats) and five A321neo (232 seats).

"With the neos, Eurowings is getting brand-new, highly efficient aircraft equipped with the best technology currently available. This milestone investment in our fleet is an important signal for all our customers, but also a vote of confidence by the Lufthansa Group in the future viability of Eurowings," says Jens Ritter, Chief Operating Officer of Eurowings.

"We are therewith not only getting a very competitive aircraft, but also a future-oriented aircraft with state-of-the-art technology, which strongly focuses on sustainability in our company and in the entire Lufthansa Group. We are making rapid progress on our chosen path toward low-emission flying – through significantly lower fuel consumption, correspondingly lower emissions and significantly less noise. This results in high cost efficiency, so that the investments are accompanied by considerable savings in the long term. Nevertheless, we remain committed to continue our efforts in bringing Eurowings out of the crisis and into profitability.“

50 per cent quieter and 15 per cent less fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Why is the neo the most efficient short- and medium-haul aircraft on the market? With leading technology from Airbus and CFM LEAP, the aircraft has a significantly improved environmental performance compared to the ceo series (current engine option) with 15 per cent less fuel consumption and correspondingly lower CO₂ emissions. The considerable savings are due not only to the new engines but also to the 2.40-metre-long wing tips, the so-called sharklets. This results in aerodynamic advantages that ensure greater efficiency. In addition, the sharklets save up to 800 tons of CO₂ per aircraft per year.

Improved environmental balance through highly efficient engine technology

The suffix "neo" stands for "new engine option". Eurowings is the first and only airline within the Lufthansa Group to equip all 13 neos with the LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine from CFM. The new, significantly larger engines can save another 3,700 tons of CO₂ per aircraft per year. Thanks to the reduced fuel consumption, the neo also achieves around 500 kilometres more range than its predecessor.

Eurowings sets standards in active noise protection

State-of-the-art engines and improved aerodynamics ensure that the 85-decibel maximum sound level contour of an A320neo taking off is about 50 per cent lower compared to the A320ceo. Noise emissions are certified to be approximately 30 decibels below current ICAO limits and represent a significant step forward in noise and emissions reduction compared to today's fleet. In addition to the new engine technology, all new A320neo and A321neo aircraft are equipped with vortex generators, which have an additional noise-reducing effect.

The introduction of the Airbus A320neo and A321neo into service is part of the many activities and measures taken by Eurowings to noticeably reduce aircraft noise. As part of the Lufthansa Group, Eurowings has been involved for many years in noise research, which creates the basis for successful active noise protection. Only this costly and highly complex research and development work leads to quieter aircraft and engine generations. In addition, Eurowings is involved in the development of optimised flight procedures and routes together with system partners.

Redesigned airspace cabin for even more passenger comfort

The Eurowings A320neo will be configured with 180 seats. The A321neo will have a seating capacity of 232 and will be operated on busy holiday flights, for example to Palma de Mallorca. All neos will include the familiar Eurowings fares: BIZclass, SMART and BASIC. The new baggage compartments in the Airspace Cabin have a 40 per cent larger volume and can even hold 60 per cent more suitcases, as these can be stowed vertically in the compartments. Another highlight is the new flexible lighting system, which adapts to passengers' biorhythms depending on the phase of the flight and time of day, illuminating the cabin in either warm orange or cooler blue tones.

First Airbus A320neo in the air from spring 2022

From spring 2022, the aircraft will be successively delivered from the factory and added to the Eurowings fleet. According to current planning, Eurowings will receive the first Airbus A320neo in spring 2022 from the Airbus factory in Toulouse. After a final upgrade by Eurowings Technik, the first neo with the registration D-AENA will take off on its inaugural flight a few weeks later. Eurowings is scheduled to receive a total of seven Airbus A320neo aircraft in 2022 according to plan and a further one in 2024. The first of a total of five Airbus A321neo aircraft is expected to follow in spring 2023.

Eurowings and Sagrotan strengthen confidence in air travel

The health and safety of its passengers and employees is a top priority at Eurowings. Thanks to a comprehensive hygiene concept, which the Lufthansa Group already implemented at the beginning of the pandemic, safe flying is still possible. By choosing Sagrotan as the number 1 for disinfection and well-being, both partners are sending a clear signal to further strengthen confidence in air travel. Current data from the "Reckitt Global COVID Tracker" shows that awareness of the relevance of hygiene measures has increased: two-thirds of German respondents say they now wash their hands more frequently. 58 percent use disinfectants more frequently than before.  The cooperation with Reckitt complements the airline's comprehensive measures for the safety of its passengers and employees along the entire travel chain: numerous hand hygiene measures protect against infections and thus 

make an important contribution to ensuring that travelers and crews reach their destinations safely. Among others the flexible rebooking options, the option to book a free middle seat as well as the Corona insurance, which offers passengers comprehensive protection, complete the "WeCare" concept of Eurowings. 

“Our aim is to offer a carefree experience when travelling with Eurowings.  And this also means doing everything we can to offer hygiene protection measures along the journey in times of the corona pandemic. So as part of our WeCare promise, we have partnered with the number 1 disinfection brand in Germany and will offer Sagrotan products both at check-in and onboard.”  says Lorenza Maggio, Vice President Product, Customer Experience & Marketing at Eurowings. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, Eurowings has already developed comprehensive measures such as giving the option to customers to add a free middle seat for hygiene or comfort reasons for as little as 10 euros. In addition, all aircraft are equipped with HEPA filters, which clean the cabin air of impurities such as bacteria, viruses and dust."

"Sagrotan has been the expert in hygienic cleanliness for over 100 years. Our products have been proven everyday helpers for millions of Germans for decades and, thanks to the practical formats, are an important companion when traveling. We are pleased to make our contribution to a safe return in air travel through our partnership with Eurowings," says Xenia Barth, Regional Director DACH Nordics of Reckitt's Hygiene Business Unit. 

¹ Nr. 1 based on sales market share for surface disinfection according to Nielsen since 2006.
² Following extensive laboratory testing by an independent specialist laboratory, efficacy (>99.9% inactivation) against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) SARS-CoV-2 was demonstrated for the Sagrotan products "Sagrotan 2in1 Disinfectant Wipes Lemon Blossom Scent", "Sagrotan Disinfectant Hand Gel Chamomile & Lotus" and "Sagrotan Disinfectant Hand Gel Aloe Vera" when used according to the instructions.

About Reckitt:

Reckitt's* drive is to protect, heal and care for a cleaner, healthier world for everyone. That's why we work tirelessly to ensure that access to hygiene, wellness and healthy nutrition is not a privilege, but a fundamental right for everyone.

Reckitt is proud of its globally recognized and trusted product portfolio in hygiene, health and nutrition with brands such as AirWick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Sagrotan, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and many more. Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are purchased worldwide. We always put consumers and people first, seek new opportunities, strive for excellence in everything we do, and build for shared success with all our partners. Our goal is always to do the right thing.

We are a diverse global team of more than 43,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to fulfill our ambitions for brands with real value, a healthier planet and a more just society. Learn more or contact us at www.reckitt.de.

* Reckitt is the short name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies.

On the occasion of this year's International Day against Homophobia, Bisexuality, Inter- and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), Diversifly - the Lufthansa Group's LGBTIQ* network - is making a clear statement against exclusion and discrimination together with supportive and interested employees of Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group. In a joint social media campaign with the LGBTIQ* networks of other German companies, including Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Post DHL, Vodafone and others, employees post selfies under the hashtags #QUEERatWORK #IDAHOBIT #Diversifly on their private social media channels. To increase the campaign's reach and attract more attention to the common cause, everyone is invited to also link to the Instagram channel diversifly.lhg or the social media channels of the Lufthansa Group companies.

The digital solution "myHealth Docs" was already successfully tested by many passengers on an Eurowings flight from Cologne/Bonn to Palma de Mallorca over the Easter weekend. In a further step, the airline has now extended the new service to all flights from Germany to Spain – additional flight connections as well as functions, such as uploading negative test results, are being planned.

Usage of the newly integrated "myHealth Docs" health data solution

To use the new service, Eurowings passengers check in for their flight as usual via the Eurowings customer app. In a next step, they can use the newly integrated solution "myHealth Docs" to fill out a digital health self-disclosure, which is required for entry in times of pandemic. This includes, for example, answering a couple of health questions, confirming the existence of the online registration for Spain as well as the existence of a negative Corona test. Based on this data, the digital boarding pass is automatically generated – with the additional note that all mandatory entry documents are complete.

Considerable time saving and reduction of physical contacts

By using "myHealth Docs", passengers benefit from considerable time savings as they can easily see at a glance which documents are required: Thus, all passengers are well prepared for their flight, which in turn saves time at the check-in. Moreover, within the framework of the Lufthansa Group's leading hygiene concept, this ensures that physical contacts at the airport are reduced to a minimum.

With the integration of "myHealth Docs" into the Eurowings customer app, Eurowings takes a further step in the digitalization of required entry documents, thus facilitating travel in times of pandemic.

Eurowings hygiene concept

The obligation to wear a protective medical mask continues to apply on Lufthansa Group flights to and from Germany. Passengers are obliged to wear either a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask or mask with the KN95/N95 standard during boarding, the flight and when leaving the aircraft. An exemption from this obligation to wear a mouth-nose mask during the flight is only possible for medical reasons if the medical certificate is issued on a form provided by the Lufthansa Group and a negative Covid19 test is available that is not older than 48 hours at the scheduled start of the journey.

In principle, infection on board is very unlikely. All aircraft of the Lufthansa Group are equipped with the highest-quality air filters, which ensure an air quality similar to that in an operating room. In addition, the air circulates vertically – instead of being distributed throughout the cabin – and is thus completely exchanged every two to three minutes. Furthermore, all Eurowings customers benefit from automatically included Corona travel protection when they choose a travel insurance policy of their choice with the airline.

The collective bargaining agreement provides for new flight attendants joining the company from other Group flight operations to receive financial recognition for their previous professional experience in the Lufthansa Group. Accordingly, an applicant with, for example, 8 years of professional experience in the Group will in future be remunerated as if the career path had taken place in Eurowings. In addition, the probationary period will be eliminated and further hurdles in the hiring process will be removed. New hires will be hired on a full-time or part-time basis at the request of the applicants. The collective bargaining agreement concluded runs until June 30, 2022, and will therefore also govern subsequent hires.

“Despite the tough crisis environment, we are the first union in the Lufthansa Group to have succeeded in creating career prospects for threatened cabin employees across the Group and at the same time to have their professional experience fully recognized financially. This gives hope again to the employees from Germanwings, SunExpress Deutschland and other flight operations of the Group,” emphasizes ver.di negotiator Marvin Reschinsky.

“Tourist air traffic, which Eurowings specializes in as Germany’s largest vacation airline, will recover faster than other segments. With the first hires, we are preparing for a revival of private travel traffic starting in the summer. I am pleased that we can thus offer flight attendants from the Lufthansa Group a new and fair perspective,” said Frank Bauer, Eurowings Managing Director Finance and Human Resources.

The airlines of the Lufthansa Group had already introduced a requirement to wear a mouth-nose mask on board their flights in May of last year, making them one of the pioneers worldwide. By adapting the regulation, the Lufthansa Group is now taking up the resolution passed by the federal and state governments in Germany on January 19. This means that uniform rules apply along the entire travel chain.

To enable passengers to adapt to the new rules in good time, they will be informed by e-mail and on the airlines' websites and social media channels.

As before, an exemption from the obligation to wear a mouth-nose covering during the flight for medical reasons is only possible if the medical certificate is issued on a form provided by Lufthansa and a negative Covid 19 test is available that is not older than 48 hours at the scheduled start of the journey.

In principle, infection on board is very unlikely. All Lufthansa Group aircraft are equipped with the highest quality air filters, which ensure air quality similar to that in an operating theater. In addition, the air circulates vertically instead of being dispersed throughout the cabin.

Hospice director Rüdiger Barth thanked the employees from the bottom of his heart during a virtual donation handover with Eurowings Chief Operations Officer Michael Knitter. Many fundraising events such as benefit concerts, sponsored runs and many more for the Balthasar Children's Hospice were cancelled this year due to the pandemic. Therefore, the donation is highly welcome.

According to Barth, the restrictions caused by the Corona pandemic have far-reaching consequences for the children's and youth hospice. For example, he said, not all hospice spaces can be occupied at the moment due to spacing regulations. Regular antigen tests for staff and residents are now standard, and many of the services offered at the hospice are restricted. This is because the young and old guests at Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice often have a weakened immune system due to their illnesses and therefore need special protection.

"Most families spend these times at home in complete isolation and loneliness, especially to protect their child. This is debilitating; each of us has realized how important social contacts are for all of us," Barth summarizes. He is especially grateful that despite difficult circumstances, operations at the children's hospice can continue and that he has so far been able to avoid layoffs and short-time work: "We are glad that we could and can continue to be there for our families at the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice - even if under unusual circumstances. Due to the necessary distance and wearing of masks, everyday life is of course different at the moment, offers for the families are cancelled or only take place in individual contact. But the main thing is: we can be a support and a second home for the families in this special situation."

The donations were already collected in December 2019 during the Eurowings Christmas party as well as the carnival party in spring 2020. Due to the Corona pandemic, the disbursement was delayed until the end of this year.

About the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice

As Germany's first children's hospice, the Balthasar Children's and Youth Hospice has been committed to caring for terminally ill children and their families since 1998. The hospice has set itself the goal of making the children's short lives as fulfilling and positive as possible and providing dignified and pain-free support until death. Eurowings has been supporting the children's hospice for three years now by organizing employee fundraising campaigns. https://www.kinderhospiz.de/

For the eulogy, Eurowings lets the Airbus A320 with the registration D-AIZS speak for itself: "Fuelled by?" is written in huge letters on the fuselage of the aircraft - and underneath: "The world’s greatest team." The German airline is thus sending a widely visible signal for team play in time of crisis in two languages - German on one side and English on the other.

Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof: "Hardly any other industry has been hit as hard by the pandemic as aviation and tourism. Whether flight attendants, pilots or staff on the ground - they have all been unable to do their jobs as usual for months. The fact that Eurowings guests were able to take off at all this year is owed to the passionate commitment and high flexibility of all our employees. A remarkable team spirit drives us at Eurowings repeatedly and makes us stand up for each other in difficult times. That is why we are saying thank you in an extraordinary way in a likewise extraordinary year: with a team airplane for the entire staff."

"Team Airplane" to be launched in the first quarter of 2021

The "Eurowings Team Airplane" will receive its special bilingual varnish during a regular maintenance stay in the first quarter of 2021 and will then be stationed on a rolling basis at the Eurowings bases in Düsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Mallorca, Vienna, Salzburg and Pristina.

Eurowings is thus the first German airline to dedicate an aircraft from its fleet with an exclusive design to its own employees. Special lacquering such as the black and yellow "Team Airbus" of the cooperation partner Borussia Dortmund or the "Europa-Park Plane" have been among the most popular photo motifs at Europe's airports for years.

More than 50 destinations from Düsseldorf

With the end of the worldwide travel warning and the lifting of travel restrictions for Spain, customer interest in sunshine destinations is growing by leaps and bounds. Destinations in Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia are in demand. In response to this, Eurowings is gradually expanding its flight program. In July, the airline will triple its offer with around 6,000 flights compared to June. Düsseldorf, the largest Eurowings location, will account for 1,200 of these flights. While Eurowings only provided basic services with nine aircraft during the months of April and May, around 35 Airbus A320 aircraft will take off again for the Lufthansa subsidiary in July. Instead of 35 destinations in June, Eurowings will offer more than 50 destinations from Düsseldorf in July. The declared objective is to offer 80 percent of the original route portfolio again in the course of the summer. However, the 2020 summer program will comprise a maximum of 40 percent of a "normal" summer.

"We are delighted that people want to fly again - and we are ready", says Jens Bischof, CEO Eurowings. "Because we know that travelling in times of Corona is fraught with uncertainty. That's why we have implemented extensive protection and hygiene measures along the entire travel chain to provide our guests with the best possible support and give them a feeling of security from the planning of their trip to their arrival at their destination".

Eurowings is Germany's leading holiday airline

The hit list of the currently most popular Eurowings destinations is headed by Mallorca - followed by Sylt, Zurich and Ibiza. Barcelona and Lisbon as well as the Greek holiday destinations Rhodes and Heraklion are also enjoying a strong increase in demand. With its wide range of holiday offers, Eurowings is positioning itself as Germany's leading short- and medium-haul holiday airline at the start of summer 2020: With the start of the major summer holidays in some German federal states, Eurowings will already offer more than 50 Mallorca flights per week. During the peak holiday season from the end of July, the number of flights will then rise to 168 weekly Mallorca flights. A total of 16 airports in Germany and Austria will then be connected to Mallorca with Eurowings again.

With Varna, the "Mallorca of the East", and Burgas, Eurowings also serves the strongly growing demand for Bulgaria. Eurowings is thus expanding its route portfolio in the direction of South-East Europe and will be flying to Bulgaria's Black Sea coast on a large scale for the first time in summer 2020. Among the European sunshine destinations, Bulgaria is becoming the new holiday favorite for inexpensive summer holidays, both for families and the younger public. This is also because Bulgaria was much less affected by the Corona pandemic than other countries.

The "Eurowings Flight Guide" informs about entry regulations and protection measures

Whether entry regulations, flight offers or health protection rules: Passengers are looking for clarity, especially regarding the question: where can I already fly to - and where is it not yet possible? Eurowings has developed a digital travel assistant that provides a clear answer to this question. Customers simply enter their desired destination on eurowings.com and immediately receive comprehensive information about current entry regulations and local protection measures. The Eurowings Flight Guide provides this information for each of the more than 100 Eurowings destinations.

Protective measures along the entire travel chain

Safety and health are top priorities at Eurowings. For this reason, the airline has taken extensive measures to increase health protection along the entire travel chain - on the ground and in the air.

• At the airport
  Eurowings asks its passengers to bring a mouth and nose protector to all flights and to wear it both at the airport and on board. Eurowings flight attendants also wear such protection in direct contact with customers. This is a joint effort to ensure that safe travel remains possible even in times of Corona. Eurowings is thus following the official regulations of numerous European countries in which the wearing of a mouth and nose protector in public is now mandatory. The previous rule of keeping the neighboring seat free is therefore no longer applicable. Nevertheless, seats will be allocated as far as possible, distributed over a large area of the cabin.
• When boarding
  With the help of notices in the airport and at the gates, as well as by means of monitor feeds and appropriate announcements, airports and service providers implement the applicable distance rules of at least 1.5 meters from one person to the next. Boarding is carried out in groups and by the passenger placing the boarding pass on the boarding pass himself/herself.
• Rules of conduct for our crews
  Before and during the flight as well as on the ground during transit times, contact between   crew members and between crew members and ground staff is minimized in order to maintain a safe distance as far as possible. The entire crew ensures that hands are disinfected regularly. In addition, both on-board sales and on-board service are reduced. Hand contact is thus avoided as far as possible. Payment on board is cashless.
• Hygiene measures on board
  Eurowings implements extensive measures for cleaning the aircraft: Each aircraft is disinfected when it stops at the home base. In the cabin, this includes the luggage compartments, armrests, seat belts and buckles as well as tables. In the washrooms, the toilet bowl and seat, washbasin, fittings, mirror and door handle are cleaned. All work surfaces and sinks in the aircraft galley are also disinfected.
  In principle, an infection on board remains very unlikely. The air in all aircraft is cleaner than that on earth. It consists of 60 percent fresh air from outside. The air circulating in the cabin is filtered and cleaned of impurities such as dust, bacteria and viruses. Filter performance and airflow comply with the standards for clinical operating rooms.
• On arrival
  From now on, all Eurowings flights at domestic airports will only be positioned directly at the building wherever this is possible due to the existing airport infrastructure and official regulations. In this way, bus trips by passengers can be avoided as far as possible.
  In addition, Eurowings will regularly inform its passengers about current developments and topics concerning travelling in times of corona on eurowings.com/corona as well as through all other channels.

Flexible rebooking

To enable customers to plan their travel plans without worries, the airline offers its guests a flexibility guarantee with extensive rebooking options - even after the worldwide travel warning has been lifted: Up to 14 days before the departure date, flights can be rebooked as often as desired and free of charge - even to a different destination. This applies to all Eurowings flight offers within Europe. Customers can book additional services such as the Flex option at any time. The current summer flight schedule is published on eurowings.com.

Since the start of this "airlift for farmers" on 9 April 2020, Eurowings has flown more than 3,000 harvest helpers from Romania to Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Frankfurt-Hahn on about 30 flights within one week. Further special flights are planned in the coming days and weeks, more than 100 in total, to provide the best possible help to farmers in a very difficult situation and to secure the supply of fruit and vegetables in Germany. The German government assumes that, as a result of strict entry bans in the wake of the corona crisis, there will be a shortage of around 100,000 harvest workers in Germany by May 2020. For this reason, the government recently granted permission for 40,000 harvest workers to enter Germany by air in April and May. 

Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied is delighted with this joint action by farmers' associations and the Lufthansa Group: "The seasonal workers are still arriving on time, we are relieved. Thanks to this arrangement, our farms will remain able to work. We are glad that the Federal Government has opened this way," Rukwied said on the German local radio station “Bayerischer Rundfunk”. 

On the Eurowings harvest helper website eurowings.com/erntehelfer, which has been set up especially for these special flights, farmers can enter their specific seating requirements, the desired departure point of their respective harvest helpers and the desired arrival point in Germany. Eurowings and the entire Lufthansa Group make special flights available to agricultural associations and farmers on this basis, such as the special flights arriving today in Berlin and Düsseldorf.

Eurowings Chief Operations Officer Michael Knitter on the arrival of the first harvest helpers: "I am delighted that we can make a valuable social contribution to the corona crisis with this campaign. In the coming weeks, Eurowings will fly tens of thousands of seasonal workers from the European Union to Germany. In this way, we will secure the supply of fruit and vegetables in Germany and support our farmers in this extremely difficult situation for everyone".

In the coming days and weeks, more Eurowings special flights with harvest helpers on board will take place. In addition to Düsseldorf and Berlin, the airports of Hamburg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Frankfurt-Hahn will then also be targeted.

Via the address eurowings.com/erntehelfer, farmers can indicate their specific seating requirements, the desired departure point of their respective harvest workers and the desired arrival point in Germany. Eurowings and the Lufthansa Group will schedule special flights for agricultural associations and farmers on the basis of these requirements. The aim is to provide the best possible help to German farmers in a very difficult situation as well as to counteract supply bottlenecks for fruit and vegetables.

Many farms are currently unable to harvest or sow their fruit and vegetables because tens of thousands of harvest workers are missing in the country as a result of the entry bans imposed in the wake of the Corona crisis. Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner and Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer agreed last week that urgently needed harvest helpers may enter the country by plane from other EU countries under strict hygienic conditions, as more and more farmers are in need because of the upcoming harvest. An entry permit for 40,000 seasonal workers was issued for this purpose.

Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied is already warning of a shortage of fruit and vegetables. Farmers are currently acutely confronted with the decision whether they should cancel planting material. "The harvest will not wait, nor can sowing be postponed", said Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner. "In order to supply consumers with sufficient and high-quality domestic food even during the Corona pandemic, farmers are dependent on the cooperation of foreign seasonal workers".

As market leader, the Lufthansa Group can offer numerous special flights to German destinations quickly and flexibly. Eurowings is the largest airline at the airports of Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Cologne/Bonn, while Lufthansa offers the largest range of flights at its two hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Special flights are also being planned for Berlin, Karlsruhe and Nuremberg, depending on the needs of farmers and their respective associations.

These rescue flights can be booked independently by individual travelers via the Eurowings website. Another part of the flights is carried out as charter flights. In this case, tourism companies or the German Foreign Office, when holidaymakers officially register there, commission the flights. Rescue flights can be well represented by Eurowings. In times of crisis, however, when a large number of such flights have to be organized, they represent a significantly higher effort that can only be mastered by cross-functional teams.

Depending on where, when and how many passengers need to be picked up, coordination within Eurowings is just as important as close cooperation with various ministries and governments. Special conditions or special permissions are often required for the execution of flights:

“For example, it may be that a flight connection can only be scheduled to take passengers from abroad back to Germany. The outbound flight from Germany must remain empty in several cases. If so, it is a ferry flight,” explains René Rybka, Head of Network at Eurowings. “Traffic rights sometimes even have to be negotiated at the highest levels of government.”

In various departments of Eurowings, colleagues work closely together under unfamiliar conditions to be able to carry out these repatriation flights. At Eurowings, colleagues from Network Planning, Sales, Revenue Management, Operations Control Center, Crew Control, Passenger Control Center, Flight Operations (cockpit and cabin), Ground Operations and Operations Support work together, sometimes around the clock, to plan, control and execute the rescue flights accordingly – and to be able to implement even challenging flights promptly thanks to the close cooperation.

Thomas Kleckler, who in his role as Deputy Head of the Operation Control Center at Eurowings is responsible for planning and controlling the rescue flights, praises the close, cross-departmental cooperation:

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to you all!  Thank you very much for proving once again that Eurowings can rely on your professionalism, flexibility and resilience in crises! Nobody knows how long this crisis will last and how long we will have to reduce our flight offerings in this way. I am sure: We are well prepared!”

As soon as such a rescue flight is requested by a tour operator, a cruise line or the Foreign Office, it must first be examined whether the flight can take place in principle. This decision depends largely on the conditions at the requested destinations, such as traffic rights and slots, entry and exit conditions, fuel availability or catering for passengers and crew. Depending on the number of passengers who want to fly back to Germany, the number of flight attendants whose deployment is handled by crew planning varies. The flight duty times of the crews must also be taken into account in the planning, as well as the legally prescribed rest periods at the destination. Flights are only carried out after consultation with the Security department of Eurowings.

Olessia Engelhardt, Senior Manager Network Development & Airport Relations at Eurowings, takes a look behind the scenes of her area of responsibility with regard to the rescue flights:

“Yesterday at 2.10 pm we received a call from the German Foreign Office asking if we could organize a flight from Agadir to Germany. Only two minutes later this request was passed on to the IOCC, which returned to the Foreign Office at 2.24 pm with a positive response including flight data – less than 15 minutes after the request was received! Shortly before 3 pm we received the confirmation of the flight order via the German Foreign Office and directly arranged for the crew and station colleagues in Agadir to be activated. The flight was immediately scheduled in the system and already at 15.32 pm the traffic rights were confirmed. Through this unprecedented collaboration, a flight was put in place in less than an hour and a half and we were able to allow 180 passengers to get home in time before Morocco closes its borders. The plane set off from Cologne/Bonn at 6.00 pm for Agadir, picked up the returnees on the spot, and landed safely again in Cologne/Bonn at 03.15 am.”

In times of the corona crisis, it goes without saying that the protection of the crew against infection, who demonstrate their extraordinary commitment to our guests day after day in these difficult times, is a priority and Eurowings implements a wide range of measures to protect the safety of crews and passengers. For example, the middle seat on flights from Germany is left free where possible to increase the physical distance on board. In addition, all Eurowings flights at domestic airports will only be positioned at building positions wherever this is possible due to the existing airport infrastructure and official regulations. This is intended to avoid bus trips by passengers. Where this is not possible at short notice, twice as many buses as usual have already been used for a few days. Eurowings had already taken numerous measures to increase the distance between passengers along the entire travel chain, for example at check-in or when boarding and disembarking. The service on board has also been adapted to take account of the “physical distance”. All aircraft are equipped with disinfectants and gloves for the crews.