[EN] Impasse entre a Lufthansa e governo belga na ajuda à Brussels Airlines

[A345_Leadership]

Difficult negotiations between Belgian Government and Lufthansa on Brussels Airlines blocked by sanctions issue
ByAndré Orban -12 June 20201933

The negotiations between Lufthansa Group and the Belgian federal government on state aid for Brussels Airlines continue to be difficult, financial newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo report.

According to the Belgian newspapers, the biggest issue is the sanction mechanism that comes into effect if Lufthansa does not comply with agreed decisions. In that case, there are two options: either Lufthansa pays a fine, or the government’s loan is converted into shares.

The latter point is very sensitive because Lufthansa wants to avoid any government interference in the management of the airline, while Belgian Finance Minister De Croo demands a watertight guarantee for the future of Brussels Airlines in exchange for financial support.

According to the newspapers, the Belgian government has bad memories of the period when Lufthansa took over Brussels Airlines completely. The German group made several promises at the end of 2016, but did not fulfil them.

The discussions are still ongoing, although Belgium is the only home market in which the Lufthansa Group has not yet reached an agreement with the governments on state aid. Agreements were reached in Switzerland (1.2 billion euros for SWISS and Edelweiss), Germany (9 billion euros for Lufthansa / Eurowings, an agreement that must still be validated by the shareholders on 25 June) and Austria (450 million euros for Austrian Airlines, plus 150 million from Lufthansa).

According to Austrian media, Lufthansa Group guarantees that Vienna will remain a hub for another ten years, under penalty of a fine of up to 150 million euros. The Belgian Minister of Mobility François Bellot estimated a few days ago that the Austrian deal could inspire the Belgian government.

Brussels Airlines will restart flights on 15 June.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/lufthansa-group/difficult-negotiations-between-the-belgian-government-and-lufthansa-on-state-aid-to-brussels-airlines-blocked-by-sensitive-issue/

[A345_Leadership]

Lufthansa may sell Brussels Airlines or let it go bankrupt: report
Marine Strauss

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) could let its Belgian subsidiary Brussels Airlines go bankrupt or sell it, La Libre newspaper reported on Friday, citing anonymous sources at the airline.

Brussels Airlines, which employs 4,200 people, said last month it would cut its fleet of aircraft by 30% and its workforce by a quarter to ensure its survival during and after the coronavirus crisis. [L8N2CU3JU]

Talks to save the Belgian airline been have stalled for weeks but directors of Lufthansa, which has itself been bailed out by the German government, and Brussels Airlines would meet on Monday to discuss a plan for its future.

A spokesperson for Lufthansa declined to comment.

Belgium’s government said last month it was committed to reaching a 300 million euro ($336 million) deal with Lufthansa to save Brussels Airlines if its future was guaranteed.

Reporting by Marine Strauss and Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Alexander Smith

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-belgium-lufthansa/lufthansa-may-sell-brussels-airlines-or-let-it-go-bankrupt-report-idUSKBN23Q1PA

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Brussels Airlines-Lufthansa Relationship Nearing End
June 22

by Airways
Article Written by Giacomo Robortaccio & James Field

MIAMI – According to La Libre Belgian newspaper, the partnership between Brussels Airlines (SN) and the Lufthansa Group is reaching the end.

The partnership could end shortly where Lufthansa Group would put 55% of its shareholding up for sale or in the worst case scenario SN would go bankrupt.

TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR LUFTHANSA

The Lufthansa Group, following the worst era for aviation, is already dealing with main company issues and it does not want to deal with the Belgian subsidiary for social agreement.

Brussel Airlines is currently resuming its flights after three months of hibernation due to the Covid-19 crisis, but after the news, the future appears unclear for the carrier.

Things could, however, accelerate for the worst in the coming days.

According to an internal source, the management of Brussels Airlines should meet with the management of its parent company, the Lufthansa Group, this Monday, with a plan that will determine its future.

BREXIT TO ENDANGER THE PARTNERSHIP

Reuters reported the takeover of Brussels from Lufthansa back in 2016, with the carrier aiming to double the size of its low-cost wing Eurowings with aircraft from the Belgian carrier.  

The German airline purchased the last 55% of the Belgian carrier for US$2.7m as per an exercised option, meaning that up to 51 aircraft would tie in with the Lufthansa Group overall.  

However, such a partnership would be in danger because of BREXIT and falling ticket prices, not to mention the ongoing pandemic, too.  

THE END IN NIGH

If the partnership was to end, then it would conclude what has been an 11-year relationship that Lufthansa has had with Brussels Airlines. The Group initially purchased a 45% stake in the airline back in 2009.  

It will ultimately be interesting to see what will happen to Brussels Airlines, especially in the wake of a pandemic that is causing its parent company to restructure, and then some.

The question is, will Brussels survive, and if so, could it do so on its own if the worst-case scenario ever occurred?

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/brussels-airlines-lufthansa-relationship-nearing-end/

[A345_Leadership]

Enfim, chegaram a um acordo.

Belgium, Lufthansa Agree to Rescue Brussels Airlines
July 21

by Helwing Villamizar

MIAMI – Belgian authorities have reached an agreement with Brussels Airlines (SN) and its parent company Lufthansa (LH) regarding the rescue of the Belgian flag carrier.

The agreement for the airline to obtain a €290m loan in exchange for sufficient guarantees is still pending the approval of both the Belgian government and the European Commission.

According to Collin Clapson from vrt.be, though the Belgian government’s strict conditions include keeping the company in the country, the stricken airline is now entirely German-owned.

While discussions were making little headway between the Belgian government and LH, an agreement has materialized. Now, it is up to the board at LH to see it through.

5 YEARS TO LIFT THE COMPANY

Last month, The partnership between SN and LH was dangerously close to ending, as the Lufthansa Group was considering putting 55% of its shareholding up for sale, or in the worst-case scenario, SN would go bankrupt.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, all SN aircraft were grounded for 3 months and most of the 4,000 SN workers had to remain idle. Financial woes also meant that in August 2020 the company had to postpone the resumption of some operations.

Now, Brussels Airlines has to repay the loan by 2026. In addition, LH is committed to injecting €170m. €70m will be spent on restructuring the company and the balance on consolidating its finances.

The agreement guarantees that the SN brand survives. The deal also states that the airline must stay in Brussels and carry on flying under a Belgian license.

LUFTHANSA INVESTMENT IN BRUSSELS

Brussels Airlines had planned to ax 1,000 jobs, but after talks with the unions, it reduced the redundancies to a third of that.

The new deal includes commitments by Lufthansa to invest in airport, staff and fleet expansion in Brussels and the company’s wider network. Additionally, any new aircraft will have to be more eco-friendly, lowering ts environmental footprint.

Finally, to keep LH from failing said commitments, the Belgian government will appoint two members of the Brussels Airlines board to ensure compliance.

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/belgium-lh-team-rescue-brussels-airlines/

 

[Jorge 747]

On 21/07/2020 at 11:46, A345_Leadership said:

Enfim, chegaram a um acordo.

Belgium, Lufthansa Agree to Rescue Brussels Airlines
July 21

by Helwing Villamizar

MIAMI – Belgian authorities have reached an agreement with Brussels Airlines (SN) and its parent company Lufthansa (LH) regarding the rescue of the Belgian flag carrier.

The agreement for the airline to obtain a €290m loan in exchange for sufficient guarantees is still pending the approval of both the Belgian government and the European Commission.

According to Collin Clapson from vrt.be, though the Belgian government’s strict conditions include keeping the company in the country, the stricken airline is now entirely German-owned.

While discussions were making little headway between the Belgian government and LH, an agreement has materialized. Now, it is up to the board at LH to see it through.

5 YEARS TO LIFT THE COMPANY

Last month, The partnership between SN and LH was dangerously close to ending, as the Lufthansa Group was considering putting 55% of its shareholding up for sale, or in the worst-case scenario, SN would go bankrupt.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, all SN aircraft were grounded for 3 months and most of the 4,000 SN workers had to remain idle. Financial woes also meant that in August 2020 the company had to postpone the resumption of some operations.

Now, Brussels Airlines has to repay the loan by 2026. In addition, LH is committed to injecting €170m. €70m will be spent on restructuring the company and the balance on consolidating its finances.

The agreement guarantees that the SN brand survives. The deal also states that the airline must stay in Brussels and carry on flying under a Belgian license.

LUFTHANSA INVESTMENT IN BRUSSELS

Brussels Airlines had planned to ax 1,000 jobs, but after talks with the unions, it reduced the redundancies to a third of that.

The new deal includes commitments by Lufthansa to invest in airport, staff and fleet expansion in Brussels and the company’s wider network. Additionally, any new aircraft will have to be more eco-friendly, lowering ts environmental footprint.

Finally, to keep LH from failing said commitments, the Belgian government will appoint two members of the Brussels Airlines board to ensure compliance.

https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/belgium-lh-team-rescue-brussels-airlines/

 

 Eles ganharão fôlego até 2026, mas precisarão mostrar resultado nos próximos anos, caso contrario, acho que a LH continuará com a ideia de juntá-la com a Eurowings no final do prazo. E não será tão simples aumentar a conectividade da empresa (a menor do grupo) nesta retomada pós pandemia.

 

 Oxigênio para Brussels Airlines: pacote de resgate de 460 milhões de euros

 

Uma bóia salva-vidas de quase meio bilhão de euros garante a existência da Brussels Airlines. A sede permanecerá em Bruxelas e a marca Brussels Airlines não desaparecerá tão cedo. O governo belga e a controladora Lufthansa concordaram com isso

 

 

A Brussels Airlines também tinha motivos para comemorar no feriado nacional. Porque o governo belga e a controladora Lufthansa concordaram com um pacote de resgate. Isso impediu o possível desaparecimento da companhia aérea em tempo útil.

Agora é quase certo que a Brussels Airlines sobreviverá à crise da coroa, graças a um pacote de ajuda de quase meio bilhão de euros. A Bélgica concede um empréstimo de 290 milhões de euros, que a companhia aérea deverá reembolsar no verão de 2026. A controladora alemã Lufthansa investirá mais 170 milhões de euros.

A Brussels Airlines foi duramente atingida pela crise de Corona. Além de um punhado de vôos de repatriação, não foram feitos mais vôos entre o final de março e meados de junho. Uma pequena companhia aérea rapidamente atinge seus limites.

Garantias da Lufthansa

Os círculos governamentais estão convencidos de que nenhum subsídio é distribuído. Ao mesmo tempo, a Lufthansa poderia ser garantida até 2026. Por exemplo, o dinheiro emprestado é usado apenas na Bélgica. O estado também pode nomear dois diretores que ficarão de olho na Brussels Airlines até 2026.

Mesmo que a Brussels Airlines pretenda crescer novamente apenas em alguns anos, é melhor do que a falência dos fornecedores e do aeroporto nacional. A Brussels Airlines representou 40% do tráfego aéreo total no aeroporto de Bruxelas no ano passado. É preciso dizer que metade desses voos é garantida pela Lufthansa. No entanto, supõe-se que cerca de 40.000 empregos belgas dependam indiretamente da Brussels Airlines e da Lufthansa.

A marca permanece intacta

A Lufthansa também prometeu que o Aeroporto de Bruxelas continuará sendo o centro importante para a África na rede do Grupo. A sede também permanecerá em Bruxelas e a marca Brussels Airlines não deve desaparecer. Isso significa que o plano original da Lufthansa de permitir a fusão da Brussels Airlines com a companhia aérea alemã de baixo custo Eurowings não é mais possível.

O plano ainda não foi aprovado pela Comissão Europeia. No entanto, não são esperados problemas significativos. O governo alemão também deve aprovar o acordo. E o Conselho de Administração da Lufthansa ainda precisa concordar.

Se tudo funcionar, então são boas notícias para a equipe da Brussels Airlines. A companhia aérea planejava cortar um quarto de sua força de trabalho - cerca de 1.000 empregos -, mas as negociações com os sindicatos reduziram as demissões para menos de 351.

https://brf.be/national/1398283/