Lufthansa

German airline Lufthansa said Sunday that it was negotiating with Swiss International Air Lines about a possible takeover of the money-losing carrier. Lufthansa issued a statement saying the companies had agreed on a plan to integrate Swiss into its operations. The German carrier said it would maintain Swiss' brand name as well as its "infrastructure" in Switzerland.

In a blow to Airbus, German airline Lufthansa said Wednesday that it would order 20 Boeing 747-8s, becoming the first airline to order the new long-haul jet for passenger service. The Cologne-based airline said it would start taking delivery of the jumbo jets in 2010 as it expands into North America and Asia. The airline also approved an order for seven Airbus A340-600 long-haul jets, due for delivery by 2008.

After fuel prices sent airfares skyrocketing last summer, you may have sworn off travel to Europe. We can't predict whether summer 2013 fares will shoot up; looking at a sample now tells us they're not cheap - at least, not in comparison with winter fares. The rule of thumb holds true: If you want to stuff a few extra dollars in your stocking, go in the off-season. Because the weather isn't optimal and there are few school holidays, winter is typically the cheapest time to head to Europe, excluding the holidays.

West Germany's government-owned airline said the planes are scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 1986. Lufthansa said the deal also includes options for 10 more short- and medium-range aircraft. The total value of the agreement, if the options are exercised, is more than $500 million, Lufthansa said.

Lufthansa Technik AG has acquired a controlling interest in Hawker Pacific Aerospace in Sun Valley, the companies announced. LHT, a wholly owned subsidiary of the German airline Lufthansa, bought 40% of Hawker Pacific's common stock from the shareholders of Unique Investment Corp. LHT said it could increase its interest to 60% by exchanging convertible stock it has purchased from another private investor group for a $9.

Air France and West Germany's Lufthansa agreed today to cooperate on everything from catering to aircraft purchases in a move designed to better prepare the world's two biggest airlines for the year 2000. "Both companies know that to face up to the competition, we have to adapt," said Air France Chairman Bernard Attali. State-owned Lufthansa and Air France rank second and third in the world respectively in terms of passengers carried on international flights. British Airways is the largest.

Lufthansa of Germany and Scandinavian Airlines System are expected to announce a strategic alliance today that would make them the largest network in Europe and a powerful contender for lucrative long-haul traffic. SAS, half-owned by the governments of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and half by private investors, said its president, Jan Stenberg, and Lufthansa Chairman Jurgen Weber would hold a joint news conference in Copenhagen on the progress of cooperation talks started several months ago.

Lufthansa airline briefly grounded 26 Boeing 747-400 long-haul aircraft for safety inspections and repairs Tuesday after discovering cracks in lines that carry firefighting agents to the turbine engines. The discovery prompted the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington to announce plans for similar inspections on Boeing 747s in the United States. Spokesman Eliot Brenner said the order would probably allow the airlines time to do the work rather than requiring immediate action.

Fear of in-flight clashes between militant smokers and nonsmokers has prompted Lufthansa to drop plans to ban smoking on domestic flights, the airline said today. The national German carrier had planned to ban smoking on its flights with the start of its winter schedule Oct. 28. But Lufthansa said passenger reaction to its plans had been "extremely divided," although a majority of smokers had indicated their willingness to accept the ban.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said today that it has applied to resume regular flights to Berlin for the first time since World War II. A spokesman said the airline is seeking eight daily flights between the Bonn-Cologne airport and the Tegel airport in West Berlin. In addition, Lufthansa has applied to offer four flights daily from Tegel to each of five cities: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg.