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Weekly Digest – February 24, 2025

This week's aviation trends saw Lufthansa and KLM expanding while Turkish Airlines faced a steep 17.9% decline, largely due to weather-related cancellations. British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways maintained stability, with key routes driving minor gains.
Weekly Digest – February 24, 2025
Photo by Julian Hochgesang / Unsplash

Reporting Period: February 16 - February 23, 2025

Weekly Observation

This week saw significant shifts in flight volumes among major airlines. Turkish Airlines (TK) experienced a notable 17.9% decline in flights, marking a significant drop in operations. Meanwhile, Lufthansa (LH) continued its upward trend with a 2.5% increase, solidifying its 17.01% market share. KLM (KL) also showed strong momentum, growing by 3.3%. British Airways (BA) and Emirates (EK) maintained their steady operational levels with 0.4% growth, while Qatar Airways (QR) also saw a slight 0.3% increase.

Headlines

  • Turkish Airlines Faces a Sharp Decline
    • Total Flights: 5,219 (-17.9%)
    • Market Share: 15.21%
    • Major declines observed on IST-CDG, IST-JED, and IST-MED routes.
  • Lufthansa Expands, Securing Market Lead
    • Total Flights: 5,839 (+2.5%)
    • Market Share: 17.01%
    • Strong growth in FRA-MUC and BER-FRA routes.
  • KLM Grows by 3.3%
    • Total Flights: 3,742
    • Market Share: 10.9%
    • Key growth on AMS-CPH and AMS-BER routes.
  • British Airways Maintains Stability
    • Total Flights: 4,826 (+0.4%)
    • Market Share: 14.06%
    • GVA-LHR and EDI-LHR remain its busiest routes.
  • Emirates and Qatar Airways Show Minor Gains
    • EK Total Flights: 2,878 (+0.4%)
    • QR Total Flights: 3,678 (+0.3%)
    • Continued demand for DXB-LHR and DOH-LHR routes.

Market Leaders

1. Lufthansa (LH)

  • Total Flights: 5,839 (+2.5%)
  • Market Share: 17.01%
  • Top Routes: FRA-MUC, BER-FRA, FRA-LHR
  • Fleet Highlights: A320 (3,145 flights), A319 (2,501 flights), A321 (2,450 flights)

2. Turkish Airlines (TK)

  • Total Flights: 5,219 (-17.9%)
  • Market Share: 15.21%
  • Top Routes: ESB-IST, AYT-IST, ADB-IST
  • Fleet Highlights: A321 (3,100 flights), A21N (2,451 flights), B738 (1,753 flights)

3. British Airways (BA)

  • Total Flights: 4,826 (+0.4%)
  • Market Share: 14.06%
  • Top Routes: GVA-LHR, EDI-LHR, AMS-LHR
  • Fleet Highlights: A320 (3,500 flights), A20N (1,614 flights), B772 (1,158 flights)

4. Air France (AF)

  • Total Flights: 4,466 (-1.5%)
  • Market Share: 13.01%
  • Top Routes: ORY-TLS, AMS-CDG, NCE-ORY
  • Fleet Highlights: A320 (2,066 flights), BCS3 (1,824 flights), E190 (1,540 flights)

5. Qatar Airways (QR)

  • Total Flights: 3,678 (+0.3%)
  • Market Share: 10.72%
  • Top Routes: DOH-LHR, DOH-HKG, BKK-DOH
  • Fleet Highlights: B77W (2,083 flights), A320 (1,829 flights), A359 (1,371 flights)

6. KLM (KL)

  • Total Flights: 3,742 (+3.3%)
  • Market Share: 10.9%
  • Top Routes: AMS-LHR, AMS-CPH, AMS-BER
  • Fleet Highlights: B738 (2,079 flights), E190 (1,742 flights), E295 (1,247 flights)

7. Emirates (EK)

  • Total Flights: 2,878 (+0.4%)
  • Market Share: 8.39%
  • Top Routes: DXB-LHR, BOM-DXB, BKK-DXB
  • Fleet Highlights: B77W (4,802 flights), A388 (3,058 flights), B77L (519 flights)

8. Etihad Airways (EY)

  • Total Flights: 1,646 (+1.5%)
  • Market Share: 4.8%
  • Top Routes: AUH-JED, AUH-LHR, AUH-BOM
  • Fleet Highlights: B789 (1,196 flights), A320 (1,075 flights), A321 (571 flights)
  • Turkish Airlines' significant decline (-17.9%) is notable, impacting key international routes.
  • Lufthansa and KLM emerge as growth leaders, with KLM seeing the highest percentage growth at 3.3%.
  • British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways remained stable with minor increases.
  • Air France (-1.5%) and Singapore Airlines (-0.8%) experienced slight reductions in flights.

Destination Insights (Excluding Major Hubs: IST, LHR, DXB, CDG, FRA, AMS)

  • Geneva (GVA) - Strong presence from British Airways and Air France.
  • Manchester (MAN) - British Airways showing consistent growth.
  • Bangalore (BLR) - Increasing demand for Lufthansa and Qatar Airways.
  • Cape Town (CPT) - High interest from Emirates and Qatar Airways.
  • Toronto (YYZ) - Expanded operations by British Airways and Lufthansa.

Fleet Performance Highlights

  • Lufthansa (LH): A320 remains dominant with 3,145 flights.
  • Turkish Airlines (TK): A321 leads with 3,100 flights.
  • British Airways (BA): A320 continues as the backbone with 3,500 flights.
  • Qatar Airways (QR): B77W maintains key role with 2,083 flights.
  • Emirates (EK): B77W leads with 4,802 flights, followed by A388 at 3,058 flights.

Closing Remarks

This week’s aviation trends highlight Lufthansa’s continued expansion, while Turkish Airlines faces a steep decline. British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways maintained operational stability, while KLM experienced notable growth. Looking ahead, the focus will be on how Turkish Airlines rebounds and whether Lufthansa and KLM can sustain their growth trajectory.

Stay tuned for next week’s insights from Efabrika Aviation Insights.