Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Less than a month after filing a formal complaint with Switzerland’s competition authority alleging “abusive and anticompetitive” behavior by Lufthansa and its Swiss International subsidiary, Etihad Regional partner Darwin Airline revealed Tuesday that it would cease scheduled flights from Zurich to Lugano and Linz, and from Geneva to Toulouse and Nice in early February. The moves come as the airline prepares to release airplanes for new contract services with other European carriers under a restructuring exercise undertaken in response to both the predatory competition and economic uncertainty. It said it would file a detailed business plan with Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) by the end of this month.

 


Darwin CEO Maurizio Merlo confirmed that the decision to restructure stemmed from both “aggressive behavior” on the part of Lufthansa Group subsidiary Swiss International Airlines and economic malaise in Europe. Meanwhile, Darwin awaits regulatory approval on applications submitted in early 2014 for a series of code shares with Etihad, which last year agreed to take a 33-percent stake in the Swiss regional.

 


“Europe’s airlines are under continuing pressure as a result of the Eurozone economic crisis and high operating costs,” said Merlo. “Our company faces the added challenges of intense competition from Swiss, supported by its parent, the German airline Lufthansa, and an inability to introduce code-share services pending the overdue approval by FOCA, which would strengthen our operations.

 


“Although this approval is yet to be granted, Swiss and Lufthansa have engaged in a series of abusive actions aimed at forcing us out of the Swiss market,” he continued.

 


In a statement released Tuesday, Darwin detailed the alleged predatory behavior, including the termination of a wet lease of aircraft operated by Darwin for Swiss International on the Zurich-Lugano route for almost 10 years. Lufthansa then replaced the Darwin airplanes with larger aircraft flown by Tyrolean Airways, a unit of Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines.

 


Other actions Darwin claims Lufthansa took to undermine its position in the Swiss market included launching Swiss International services on Darwin Airline routes, more than doubling capacity on routes where traffic remains static or has declined, “dumping” fares on Darwin routes, terminating all of Darwin’s insurance policies under the Lufthansa Aviation Insurance Group, ending the interline agreement between Darwin and Swiss and cancelling an agreement to assist Darwin passengers in the event of flight disruptions.

 


Now serving 20 destinations in Europe with eight 50-seat Saab 2000s and four 68-seat ATR 72s, Darwin had planned to unveil an expansion plan by the start of the year centering on a commitment to what Merlo called an “official” aircraft type for the next 10 or 15 years.

 


Now, it appears the airline has decided to retrench, calling any loss-making campaign to directly compete with Lufthansa Group airlines and Swiss International “imprudent and risky.”

 


“We have done what any sensible and responsible company would do, and opted to change course instead of persisting in a fight we cannot win,” concluded Merlo.

 


&nbsp;

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Etihad Regional Partner To Retrench Amid Lufthansa Incursion

Swiss airline calls German group's actions "abusive"

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Archer plans demo flight at 2025 World Expo in Osaka

JAL/Sumitomo Subsidiary Soracle To Operate Archer’s eVTOL in Japan

Charles Alcock

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Britain's new government is under pressure to invest in public infrastructure

How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Danish charter and scheduled operator could buy up to 15 of the electric seaplanes

Nordic Seaplanes Signs for Elfly's Noemi Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Odys' blown-wing design is being developed for both uncrewed freighter and piloted airliner roles

Fiji Airways Plans To Connect Pacific Islands with Laila VTOL

Scotland-based regional airline aims to achieve zero carbon emissions

Loganair and Heart Team To Decarbonize UK Domestic Flights

UK green start-up airline wants to operate domestic services with zero carbon emissions

Ecojet Plans To Operate Arc Aerosystems' Linx P9 Hybrid Helicopter

Cathy Buyck

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The Boeing electronic flight bag solution will support the low-cost carrier’s 737NG and Max fleet

Ryanair to Use Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro 5.0 EFB 

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Airlines