A beginning of the year marked by an increase in bookings

Due to the high vaccination rate of the population and thanks to the gradual relaxation of certain countries’ entry regulations (Spain and Portugal, for example, who do not require a test for fully vaccinated people), LuxairTours has a large amount of departures up to April and is recording its first bookings for the summer season.
This winter again, Spain stands out as the most popular destination for LuxairTours customers, followed by Portugal, Egypt (notably thanks to the Luxor cruise, in collaboration with ACL), Tunisia, Dubai and Lapland as "winter sun" destinations.

Due to a flexible booking policy proposed by Luxair since the Covid-19 situation, travellers, always in search of escape, are less and less reluctant to travel and no longer hesitate, for many, to book first minute summer 2022 offers. In this respect, and in order to satisfy the travel desires of young and old, sportsmen or those in love with idle life, LuxairTours is offering its customers more and more novelties, offers and new destinations (Active Holidays, Excellence hotels, flights to Dakar, etc.).

Despite the beginning of the year still marked by Covid-19, Luxair and LuxairTours are multiplying the novelties for their customers and ensuring optimised flight operations with the aim of maintaining mobility needs and connectivity with the countries.

On the business and connecting flights side, Luxair Airlines, which had hoped for a gradual recovery of its activities, recorded a significant drop of -58% in the number of passengers compared to the same period in 2019. However, it still sees its bookings doubled compared to 2021.
Encouraging booking statistics for Luxair which demonstrate the deep desire of customers to escape and travel the world...

The tour operator LuxairTours hopes to fly more in 2022 than in 2019, although bookings started later this year, especially for non-Schengen destinations. For example, a +1.65% increase in passengers, compared to 2019 at the same period, was recorded in January 2022. This gives LuxairTours hope for an encouraging summer season due to a strong demand for leisure flights in the coming months.
LuxairCARGO, which in 2021 reached its historical record of 1,000,000 tons of cargo handled (compared to 298,000 tons per year when the new Cargocenter opened its doors in 1996), is also looking forward to a promising
2022. A very high volume of freight that already seems to be continuing in January 2022 with 1% more than in 2021.

Easter holidays under the Dakar sun

From Wednesday, 13 April, LuxairTours customers will be invited to discover Dakar, the capital of Senegal, with one of the 4 flights offered in spring 2022. During the Easter holidays, travellers will be able to enjoy this new "exotic" destination from Luxembourg on Wednesdays.
Customers will be able to choose from four hotels (including two Wellness hotels) in the Senegalese capital, which is characterised by its strong cultural mix and architectural diversity.

One-way flights
Wednesday   LG405   Luxembourg – Dakar   08:30 – 12:30

Return flights
Wednesday   LG406   Dakar – Luxembourg   13:50 – 21:55

Covid-19 restrictions still in place

Although travel bookings are currently facing a promising increase, the restrictions linked to the Covid-19 situation are still being felt and are therefore impacting Luxair's operations.
From 28 March 2022, for example, the slot utilisation rules for European airlines will be reduced from 50% to 64% (compared to 80% before the Covid period) due to the launch of the summer period. Luxair considers this rate to be high and contrary to the social and environmental conduct of an airline. For these reasons, Luxair joins all airlines in Europe in urgently appealing to the European Commission to ask for an immediate and retroactive reduction of the airport slot policy for the 2021-2022 winter season and for the entire duration of the Covid situation. Furthermore, it is clear that many European and non-European countries still maintain health restrictions that are mainly applied against aviation.

Luxair therefore calls on all countries not to restrict the free movement of fully vaccinated people and wholeheartedly supports vaccination, which it believes should be the only proof for free travel (as opposed to testing). The airline deplores the burdensome travel rules imposed on aviation, which it considers disproportionate and increasingly disparate, unlike those for land transport. Finally, the collection of the often tedious and complex PLF "Passenger Locator Form" should either be applied and controlled for all means of transport, or be abolished quickly.

On Friday 4 February 2022 in Toulouse, Luxair and the ERA (European Regions Airline Association) as a trade association, reaffirm their support for the promise of “Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050” and for the request for the easing of restrictions linked to Covid-19, submitted by IATA in October 2021.
While recognising the essential role of aviation in ensuring and improving regional and global multimodal connectivity for Europe and the rest of the world, ERA defends the interests of intra-European airlines and, as such, promotes greener and environmentally friendly air connectivity. As such, ERA, including Luxair as a member, endorsed the “Toulouse Declaration” on the future sustainability and decarbonisation of aviation.

Following the vote of the new Covid-19 law by the government on 11 February 2022 and in agreement with the Staff Delegation, Luxair also wished to maintain the CovidCheck 3G regime for Crews and other buildings of the airline. This agreement, made possible very quickly thanks to the good collaboration between the Delegation and Luxair’s Management, should thus ensure the protection of Luxair employees and reassure customers.

Despite the Covid-19 restrictions still in place, Luxair is not discouraged and is expanding its network of destinations. In 2022, the airline will add 3 more destinations than in 2021, bringing the number of destinations to 88 for the first time in its history.