After bankrupt German airline Germania suspended all flights on February 5, 2019, operators Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) (through Eurowings), Condor and TUI Group are now halving their ticket prices in a fight over stranded passengers.
Germania’s bankruptcy, announced on February 5, 2019, will affect 60,000 passengers within the next two weeks, according to the airline’s insolvency administrator Rüdiger Wienberg as reported by local media. Customers who are using travel agencies are encouraged to contact their tour operators, but the ones who booked tickets directly with Germania are now in much trickier situation.
“For passengers who have booked directly with Germania, there is unfortunately no entitlement to substitute carriage,” Germania website indicates. Similarly, the country’s Transport ministry also informs that Germania’s directly sold tickets are going to be cancelled: “In this case, the passenger himself has to take care of his return or further transport”.
The fight over Germania passengers
But what seems like stress and financial loss for passengers, looks like a window of opportunity for other airlines, which quickly jumped in. The Transport Ministry indicates that “Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) , Eurowings and Condor will offer so-called “Rescue Fares” (reduced one-way tariffs) with which Germania customers can book their return flights”. In fact, even more operators are now joining the fight over Germania’s customers, offering 50% fares to those affected.
Lufthansa’s (LHAB) (LHA) low cost arm Eurowings, leisure carrier Condor (Thomas Cook Group) and British-German travel company TUI Group are now offering tickets half-price for Germania’s passengers.
For passengers whose return flights were affected by the termination of Germania operations – in the period from 05/02/2019 to 28/02/2019 – we are offering special fares. Find out more here: https://t.co/dtmUzTaaAE pic.twitter.com/6CylAKn9UZ
— Eurowings (@eurowings) February 5, 2019
“Due to the bankruptcy of the airline Germania, another exceptional situation has occurred for the aviation industry in Germany and the passengers concerned,” Eurowings announced on February 5. Until February 28, the airline is offering 50% discount on return flights to Germany for the stranded passengers.
Identical deal is also offered by Condor. In addition, it is adding capacity and already launching a special Fuerteventura flight “to bring guests on vacation and back home” the upcoming weekend. “With Germania, a traditional airline disappears from the market, which has shaped the German holiday flight,” Ralf Teckentrup, CEO of Condor is quoted in a statement.
TUI Group, in addition to organizing replacement flights for its clients, also offers 50% discount for return flights to Germany, but for a shorter period – until February 15, 2019 (including that day).