10.3.2010
Germanwings ready for CPH Swift

The successful German low-cost carrier Germanwings is moving into the Danish market with a new route from Copenhagen to Cologne. The airline looks forward to the opening of the low-cost concept CPH Swift at Copenhagen Airport later in the year.

German low-cost carrier Germanwings is going to open a new Copenhagen-Cologne service with six weekly frequencies on 28 March. Copenhagen Airport thereby welcomes not only a new interesting customer but also one of the airlines prepared to use CPH Swift when the airport’s new low-cost pier is ready for use in late 2010.

“The new CPH Swift facility is one of the main reasons for our decision to open a new route out of Copenhagen. We will save a lot of money by using the CPH Swift facility, and that is good for our passengers,” said Angelika Schwaff, head of press relations at Germanwings, which is one of the largest low-cost carriers in northern Europe.

Efficient facilities
CPH Swift is being built to strengthen the position of Copenhagen Airport on the European low-cost market, which has grown by 20-30% in recent years. In order to do well in the intensifying competition for customers, it is necessary to offer, to an even greater extent, facilities which meet the demands of the low-cost carriers for quick and efficient handling of passengers and aircraft.

Users of CPH Swift must comply with requirements such as a maximum turnaround time of 30 minutes, and 90% of passengers must check in by self-service. All airlines able to meet these requirements can use the new facility.

“CPH Swift will be a simple, inexpensive and efficient product adapted to the demands of the low-cost carriers. This will attract more passengers to Copenhagen, which is crucial to the entire region’s trade and industry as well as tourism and cultural life,” said Carsten Nørland, VP for Sales at Copenhagen Airports.

Both leisure and business travellers
Germanwings will enter the Danish market with fares starting at DKK 150 for a one-way ticket to Cologne. From Cologne, there are connections on Germanwings to 74 destinations in Europe. The airline will operate six weekly frequencies using Airbus A319 on the service with capacity for 150 passengers.

“The Danish and southern Swedish market is interesting to us because we already have an extensive route network to all of Europe. We have a modern and well-managed fleet, a high level of service and low fares, which will attract many travellers. We expect 80% of seats on the route to be booked,” said Angelika Schwaff.

Germanwings caters to both leisure and business travellers since, as opposed to some low-cost carriers, Germanwings flies to main airports and offer services such as transfers with baggage checked through to the final destination, flexible tickets and special corporate agreements.

“We are seeing a growing number of business customers. Today, 42% of our passengers are business travellers, and we expect that level on our Copenhagen Cologne service as well as Cologne is an important business destination,” said Schwaff.

Germanwings has existed since 2002 and carried almost eight million passengers in 2009, which was the airline’s best year to date.