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Lufthansa cancels controversial short-haul routes: flights to Nuremberg stopped!
Find out how the once short Lufthansa connection between Munich and Nuremberg was discontinued due to ecological reasons and the impact on air traffic in Germany.
Lufthansa cancels controversial short-haul routes: flights to Nuremberg stopped!
Aviation has changed a lot over the years, and one particularly curious story is Lufthansa's former connection between Munich and Nuremberg. Until the pandemic, this route was flown four times a day and had a flight time of just 35 to 40 minutes. In an interview, Eike Hallitzky, the then Bavarian Green Party state chairman, was extremely critical of the route and described it as both ecologically and economically absurd. The main benefit of this connection was to carry transit passengers connecting in Munich, but the COVID-19 pandemic turned the air transport network upside down.
How Mercury reported, the connection was suspended during the pandemic. As air travel around the world came to a near standstill, airlines looked for ways to protect the environment and use their fleets more efficiently. The decision to cancel this ultra-short route was not easy, but ultimately brought with it positive changes. Lufthansa responded to the needs of travelers and has since offered an express bus from Franconia to Munich Airport.
Rapid changes in aviation
The outbreak of the pandemic brought the entire industry to a standstill. In the worst phase of the COVID-19 crisis, as it is on Statista recorded, there were over 74 percent fewer airline passengers in Germany compared to the previous year. Airlines struggled with enormous revenue losses - the Lufthansa Group alone suffered a decline of over $21 billion in 2020. In order to save the airline from bankruptcy, it was supported with state aid worth up to nine billion euros.
Despite these challenges, air travel has now recovered, although not to the same extent as before the pandemic. The loud Statista The forecast passenger numbers in Germany will not reach the 2019 values until 2029. In particular, high taxes, fees and the increase in online meetings continue to have a negative impact on demand. In addition, long-distance rail is attracting more and more passengers, which could slow the recovery in aviation.
A look into the future
In recent years, many people's travel habits have changed. This is how travelers describe how important practical aspects such as hand luggage regulations have become. For example, Lufthansa allows smaller carry-on luggage compared to competitors such as Delta, which causes stress for many travelers. Air travel is often overtaken by other means of transport such as trains, which are becoming increasingly popular given how quickly and conveniently it is possible to get to your destination. Munich in particular is considered a preferred connecting airport among travelers, as its manageable size makes it seem less stressful than larger hubs such as Frankfurt.
More and more people are honestly looking for good value for money. It remains to be seen how Lufthansa and other airlines will react to the constantly changing conditions. But one thing is certain: the travel industry will continue to be in focus, and demand for flights and vacations will certainly remain high - even if the return to normality is still a long way off.
Overall, it is clear that the aviation industry is looking back on a difficult time, but is adapting to the new circumstances. Whether Lufthansa will have to cancel further domestic German connections in the future is still unclear. However, one thing remains clear: the connection between Munich and Nuremberg will go down in history as one of the shortest routes.