LTU Boeing 707
LTU International was formed in May 1955, the initials standing for Lufttransport Union. The purpose of the new airline, the first formed in postwar West Germany besides Lufthansa, was to provide charter services around Europe with a fleet of Vickers Vikings. LTU was able to get in on the “ground floor” of European charter operations, and began to expand its fleet, adding jets in 1964 with Sud-Aviation Caravelle 10s. Initially based in Frankfurt, competition from Lufthansa forced LTU to move to Dusseldorf in 1961.
The Caravelles and later Boeing 707s could not compete with Lufthansa’s newer equipment, and LTU wanted to expand beyond just Europe to the United States, where Lufthansa enjoyed a monopoly of charter and scheduled services. In 1973, LTU purchased Lockheed L-1011 Tristars to replace its Caravelles; L-1011s then became LTU’s sole aircraft type for many years afterwards. Though LTU was able to challenge Lufthansa’s monopoly on transatlantic routes, the airline concentrated on charter operations to North America and Asia.
The 1990s were not a good time for European charter airlines, and despite LTU’s good reputation, it too ran into trouble. Two subsidiary airlines were begun in the 1980s—LTE and LTS—but these proved unprofitable in the long run and hurt the parent airline; both were either sold off or absorbed back into LTU. LTU replaced its aging L-1011s with Airbus types to save money, and the airline kept its head above water. The post 9/11 downturn once more hurt LTU, and in 2007, it was acquired by Air Berlin, mainly because half of LTU’s fleet were long-range Airbus A330s. Air Berlin wanted to expand beyond central Europe. By 2008, LTU disappeared from airline registries, absorbed completely into Air Berlin.
LTU Boeing 707
LTU International was formed in May 1955, the initials standing for Lufttransport Union. The purpose of the new airline, the first formed in postwar West Germany besides Lufthansa, was to provide charter services around Europe with a fleet of Vickers Vikings. LTU was able to get in on the “ground floor” of European charter operations, and began to expand its fleet, adding jets in 1964 with Sud-Aviation Caravelle 10s. Initially based in Frankfurt, competition from Lufthansa forced LTU to move to Dusseldorf in 1961.
The Caravelles and later Boeing 707s could not compete with Lufthansa’s newer equipment, and LTU wanted to expand beyond just Europe to the United States, where Lufthansa enjoyed a monopoly of charter and scheduled services. In 1973, LTU purchased Lockheed L-1011 Tristars to replace its Caravelles; L-1011s then became LTU’s sole aircraft type for many years afterwards. Though LTU was able to challenge Lufthansa’s monopoly on transatlantic routes, the airline concentrated on charter operations to North America and Asia.
The 1990s were not a good time for European charter airlines, and despite LTU’s good reputation, it too ran into trouble. Two subsidiary airlines were begun in the 1980s—LTE and LTS—but these proved unprofitable in the long run and hurt the parent airline; both were either sold off or absorbed back into LTU. LTU replaced its aging L-1011s with Airbus types to save money, and the airline kept its head above water. The post 9/11 downturn once more hurt LTU, and in 2007, it was acquired by Air Berlin, mainly because half of LTU’s fleet were long-range Airbus A330s. Air Berlin wanted to expand beyond central Europe. By 2008, LTU disappeared from airline registries, absorbed completely into Air Berlin.