In her response to a parliamentary question, Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes largely gave the floor to the head of the national company, while reaffirming her support and understanding for the difficulties faced by Luxair.
Gilles Feith pointed out that an airline, by its very nature, regularly faces unforeseen technical issues or adverse weather conditions. He promised that “constant efforts are being made to improve the passenger experience, particularly through the optimisation of the fleet and infrastructure at Findel Airport”.
According to the figures released, the cancellation rate has increased slightly, rising from 1.26% to 1.77%. However, the total number of flights also increased. This rise can be explained by several factors. Some foreign airports do not always have the necessary technical resources to intervene quickly in the event of a problem, particularly with aircraft in the Q400 fleet. In these situations, it may be more sensible to return the aircraft to Findel when an incident occurs during the flight.
Other factors are completely beyond the company’s control, Feith explained, with disruptions caused by weather conditions, strikes, and the suspension of the Dubai route due to the conflict in the Middle East. Luxair stated that it is continuously working to improve its schedules, technical procedures, and fleet management in order to reduce delays and cancellations in the future.
Despite these challenges, both Backes and Feith said the company remains “an essential ambassador” for Luxembourg and its financial centre, in spite of an often complex international and operational context.
