Germany offers cheap airport hub

Cologne Bonn Airport can be used as a hub for low-cost operations to Europe & US.

Cologne Bonn Airport is planning to enter into negotiations with Indian carriers like Air-India and Jet Airways to launch low-cost intercontinental flights to the German hub, said Michael Garvens, chairman of the airport's management board.

According to Garvens, Cologne Bonn can be used as a hub for low-cost operations to any of the European cities or to the US.

The airlines operating out of the airport offer connections to other European cities starting from 19 euros and to the US for as little as 99 euros.

This will help reduce airfares from India to European and American destinations. Currently, airfares in the Delhi-Frankfurt-New York sector cost around 850 euros.

"Cologne Bonn Airport is the most important low-cost hub in continental Europe. As a phase 2 step, Cologne Bonn now plans to attract intercontinental flights. The main objective is now to connect low-cost hubs on different continents.

For instance, Cologne Bonn with New York or with Delhi or Mumbai," he said. The only Indian carrier which currently operates to Germany is Air-India, which flies to Frankfurt from Delhi and Mumbai.

Air-India is also likely to start a service to Munich. With the government considering allowing private carriers to fly to any international destination, domestic private airlines Jet and Sahara will be able to fly to these overseas destinations.

Air traffic between India and Germany has been growing considerably. In the year 2002-03, airlines carried about 658,239 passengers compared to 586,423 in 2001-02, a growth of 12.2 per cent.

Cologne Bonn is the fifth largest commercial airport in Germany in terms of traffic and sixth in terms of the number of passengers.

After the addition of a new terminal at Cologne Bonn, up to 12 million passengers can be handled annually. At present, there are about 450 takeoffs and landings in a day.

Around 40 airlines operate from Cologne Bonn, serving destinations primarily in Germany and other parts of Europe. Now with German wings and Hapag-Lloyd Express making the airport their home base, the airport has become the German hub for low-cost carriers.

Cologne Bonn Voyage

• Germans say Cologne Bonn Airport can be used as a hub for low-cost operations to Europe and the US
• The airlines operating out of the airport offer connections to the US for as little as 99 euros
• Currently, the Delhi-Frankfurt-NY leg costs 850 euros
• Private domestic airlines like Jet and Sahara will be able to fly to these overseas destinations