Lufthansa plans to significantly change the group structure in a move that analysts hope will make it more attractive for investors. The company confirmed Dec. 11 that it will legally separate the main airline brand from the holding structure. As a first step, the airline named Patrick Staudacher as CFO, effective May 1, 2020. Staudacher joins from Boston Consulting where he was senior partner with responsibility for airlines, aerospace and post-merger integration. The process is expected to take many months, if not years, but could be highly rewarding according to Bernstein Research analyst Daniel Roeska. “Following last week’s supervisory board meeting and the appointment of Michael Niggemann, formerly chief council for the Lufthansa arm, to the group board, it would appear that the group is willing to embark on this challenging process,” Roeska wrote in a note to clients. “A holdco structure will focus union negotiations on the performance of the airline vs. being obscured by the amalgamation of the group [and the] airline, will more clearly enable capital allocation decisions, and will enable more portfolio decisions as the contour of individual businesses sharpens like the relationship between Lufthansa airline and Lufthansa Technik."<br/>
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Cathay Pacific will take over Air NZ flights on the Hong Kong-Auckland route over much of summer to allow more flexibility for the Kiwi carrier as it deals with Dreamliner engine problems. Cathay Pacific will introduce an additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the route from January 6 to January 19 and will also operate a Boeing 777-300ER on the same route from February 1 until March 28, 2020. These services are additional to Cathay's summer schedule. The airlines are commercial partners and the timing works well for both - Air NZ is looking for back-up aircraft and Cathay faces a sharp drop in demand. The Hong Kong carrier has just announced it will cut seat capacity by 1.4 per cent across its global network in 2020 as Hong Kong's political troubles and trade tensions hurt the airline. Air NZ says customers booked to travel with it on this route during these two periods will be automatically transferred to these services for both periods. The move allows Air NZ capacity flexibility in its international operations as it deals with the impact of issues with the Rolls-Royce engines on its Boeing 787-9 aircraft.<br/>
Lufthansa Group subsidiary Brussels Airlines has appointed Dieter Vranckx as CEO and CCO, succeeding Christina Foerster, from Jan. 1, 2020, as the company continues to significantly change the group structure. He will also lead the commercial departments of the company. Since May 2018, Vranckx, 46, has been CFO and deputy CEO. Foerster joined the company in 2016 as CCO and has been leading the airline since April 2018. As of Jan. 1, 2020, Foerster will join the Lufthansa Group executive board, heading the “Customer & Corporate Responsibility” of the Group. SN Airholding board of directors co-chairman Etienne Davignon said, “Dieter Vranckx is well-known to the aviation industry. Since more than one year he is successfully fulfilling his role as CFO of Brussels Airlines. He is also heading the company’s turnaround plan REBOOT aimed at reaching structural profitability as of 2022 … he is the right person to bring Brussels Airlines to the next level, together with his teams.” The airline will designate a new CFO at a future date.<br/>