One of German Airways’ Embraer190 will complete Luxair’s fleet to help the company bridge the gap following growing demands.  Photo: Luxair

One of German Airways’ Embraer190 will complete Luxair’s fleet to help the company bridge the gap following growing demands.  Photo: Luxair

With the demand for leisure travel growing as sanitary restrictions are eased around the world, Luxembourg airline Luxair has announced it will enter into a wet lease partnership with German Airways.

Starting in mid-May, Luxair will have access to an Embraer190 plane of German Airways’ fleet to add to its own fleet. Currently, the national company has 8 Boeing 737 and 11 De Havilland DHC-8-400, which are not enough to answer the demand of customers.

“With booking trends having been at high levels for a few weeks already, the desire of customers to escape is proven to be constant and present,” Luxair stated in a joint press release with German Airways, adding that the “Embraer will allow Luxair to free capacity on the Boeing 737 and deploy further offers to largely demanded holidays destinations.”

According to Luxair CEO Gilles Feith, the E190 will be used on “an increasing number of flights on business routes,” so as to free up the company’s own planes for long distance vacation destinations this summer. For Feith, the lease is a sign of the company’s growth. German Airways--who have entered such partnerships with other airlines too--will help bridge the needs of Luxair until it has acquired further planes for its fleet.

, Feith revealed that he wanted to renew part of the company's fleet for 2024 or 2025. The Luxembourg airline is currently preparing to gradually replace the Bombardier Dash 8. Feith said he was interested in using Boeing 737s, without ruling out the possibility of opting for the Airbus A220. This came shortly after the news that Luxair was increasing the number of flights it would service to and from London City, on the future of the travel sector.