Frankfurt Flights Back As London City Airport Recovery Momentum Builds

Key business route returning to the central London airport from 6th September

– Twice-daily flights between the two global financial centres

– Lufthansa latest major airline to resume London City flights as demand from passengers continues

London City Airport and Lufthansa have announced that flights between central London and Frankfurt will resume at the start of September.

The German airline, one of Europe’s largest and most established carriers, will commence two flights a day between the two global financial centres from Monday 7^th September.

London City Airport’s Head of Aviation, Anne Doyere, said:

“The resumption of our Frankfurt route is a significant milestone for London City Airport and a positive sign for the UK’s and Europe’s economic recovery, restoring a very popular connection between two of the world’s most important financial centres.

“We have already seen demand from passengers to travel, especially for a summer holiday after months of lockdown. As restrictions continue to ease, with businesses increasing activity and more people getting back to work, we anticipate demand for business travel on routes such as this will grow as we head into the autumn. Lufthansa’s decision to resume this route with twice-daily flights demonstrates their confidence in that too.

“We are working with all of our airline partners to re-establish other important and popular routes as soon as possible, to provide the fast and convenient connectivity needed to recover from the impact of the Coronavirus.”

Lufthansa will initially operate two flights a day between London City Airport and Frankfurt, offering passengers the opportunity to connecting into the airline’s wider international route network from its Frankfurt hub. When combined with its subsidiaries, Lufthansa is the second largest airline in Europe in terms of passengers carried.

Safe, Careful, Speedy Journeys

London City Airport temporarily suspended flights for nearly three months between 25th March and 21st June, in response to the escalating public health crisis and government lockdown measures. During that period, the airport worked behind the scenes to create a safe environment.

On this, Anne Doyere added:

“Keeping passengers and our staff safe is our priority. To ensure this, we have carefully put in place measures that often exceed the official guidance, so passengers can book and travel in confidence. Speed and convenience have been a key consideration too. We still offer the fastest airport experience in London, meaning this uniquely important aspect of the customer experience at London City has not changed.”

Measures include rapid contact-free temperature checking technology, digital crowd monitoring technology, an enhanced cleaning regime using an anti-microbial surface treatment, and social distancing procedures such as one-way systems and Perspex screens. Passengers also need to wear face coverings in the airport.

Similarly, Frankfurt Airport has implemented a wide range of hygiene measures to keep passengers safe, under the banner #SafeAtFRA. Passengers must wear face coverings, social distancing rules are upheld, screens have been installed, card payments are encouraged, hand sanitiser stations are available and cleaning around the airport has been increased.

Ends.

Notes to Editors

Demand: a survey conducted in June of over 4,700 London City Airport passengers found demand to get back to flying quickly:

79% were either very likely or quite likely to travel when they are told it is safe to do so by the Government and airports or airlines
42% plan to travel for leisure within the next three months
41% anticipate they will take a flight for business within the next three months – contradicting claims that business travel is over

More here.

Routes currently operating:

Amsterdam (AMS)
Ibiza (IBZ)
Palma de Mallorca (PMI)
Málaga (AGP)
Florence (FLR)
Luxembourgh (LUX)
Dublin (DUB)
Edinburgh (EDI)
Glasgow (GLA)
Dundee (DND)
Teesside (MME)
Isle of Man (IOM)

From 1^st August: Nice (NCE), Menorca-Mahon (MAH), Faro (FAO) and Bergerac (EGC)

From 31^st August: Vilnius (VNO)

Concessions currently open are Costa Coffee, Café Nero, WHSmith and Boots. Retail, food and beverage concessions are reopening in line with passenger numbers.

Coronavirus Measures: a range of measures have been put in place at the airport to create a safe and convenient environment for passengers and staff, including:

An enhanced cleaning regime, including a long-life anti-microbial surface treatment used throughout the airport
Touch-free hand sanitiser stations
One-way systems
Perspex screens at key points of interaction, such as check-in desks
Clear signage and floor markings to help maintain social distancing and guide you through the airport
Advance crowd monitoring technology to identify and manage busy areas, using CrowdVision
Non-contact, automatic temperature checking technology for rapid preliminary screening
Staff using face masks or visors and gloves

More here.

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Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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