Lufthansa eyeing on Berlin as a base for long-haul, airlines offering low- cost flight fares

Deutsche Lufthansa AG may be offering long-haul flights from Berlin for the very first time in a decade as Europe's second largest carrier expands its low-cost arm. In addition, the airline company is allegedly offering cheap flight fares for frequent travelers.

According to Reuters UK, Lufthansa wants to operate low-cost long-haul flights from Berlin under its Eurowings brand. The group's chief executive even claimed on Monday that it seeks to win a bigger share of the budget travel market. "Berlin could also be an interesting market ... At the moment we are negotiating opportunities," Carsten Spohr stated at an event to mark 25 years since Lufthansa was allowed to take flight again to Berlin with Germany's reunification in 1990.

The chief executive also mentioned that as the market in Berlin was particularly price-sensitive, the capital could be a good base for Eurowings to operate out of in the future. Eurowings aspire to win back market share lost by Lufthansa to European low-cost rivals Ryanair and easyJet.

However, it will also be running its two long-haul planes this winter with the frequent travelers in mind, flying direct flights to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Dubai, Bangkok and Phuket. And with Berlin's new international airport's delay flights and its two existing smaller airports operating at full capacity, starting off new routes won't be easy but it is not allegedly impossible. "If you have an interesting project, you'll always find a space in Berlin," Spohr told reporters via Yahoo! News.

With regards to the short-haul market, a Berlin base would aid Lufthansa to take on Ryanair Holdings Plc, which re-introduced domestic German flights this year, as well as local rival Air Berlin Plc. As mentioned by Bloomberg, the executive directed previously split the company's airlines into premium and low-cost groups last month. He also stated details about the completion of the new Berlin Brandenburg airport.

To date, Eurowings are set to take over all of Lufthansa's European flights away from Frankfurt and Munich as Spohr seeks to sharpen competition with both low-cost carriers. Other than the German carrier seeking to ensure it provided a premium service for its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, they promise to still operate short-haul flights under the Lufthansa brand. The airlines is also purportedly planning to compete rivals from beyond Europe led by the big three Gulf airlines.