Following an almost 3-year-long pause enforced by the pandemic, U.S. carrier Delta Airlines is returning to Dusseldorf. Further to this, the airport revealed that Qatar Airways is
planning to add DUS to its intercontinental network, with flights beginning in NOV22. Long-term customer, Emirates, too, will be doubling its DUS-DXB services that same month.
In addition to these traffic developments, the airport has announced personnel changes in its top-level management.
It sounds like a sigh of relief: “The long-haul business is returning step by step,” Lutz Honerla, Head of DUS Cargo exclaims. “This, once again, makes us very attractive for the
local and regional cargo industry in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond, following the long-lasting draught caused by the pandemic.”
Delta offers thrice-weekly flights
Delta will connect Dusseldorf with Atlanta three times a week starting in MAY23. It will operate a Boeing B767-200ER, which can accommodate roughly 15 tons of freight in its lower decks,
depending on the amount of passenger luggage. Thomas Brandt, Country Sales Manager Germany, Delta Airlines, stated: “Dusseldorf Airport has been an important location in our global route
network since 2006, and we are delighted to be flying from North Rhine-Westphalia again from MAY23. With our thrice-weekly Atlanta flights from Düsseldorf, we offer leisure and business
travelers, as well as passengers visiting friends or relatives, an important connection to the U.S., as well as seamless connectivity to all major destinations in North and South America. With
our cargo capacity on every flight between North Rhine-Westphalia and the U.S., we also support German businesses of all types and sizes.”
Tentative return of intercontinental traffic
A statement that sounds like music to the ears of airport management. The flight connection to one of the largest international as well as North America’s leading hubs is equally important for
business travelers, tourists, but also from an air freight perspective. Atlanta is an excellent hub offering many commuting services to destinations in the USA, Central and South America, as well
as to the Caribbean region. Conversely, vacationers, business travelers from the USA, and U.S. cargo consignments flying eastbound will reach the center of one of the strongest economic regions
in Europe on a direct route. Delta’s return “is an important signal for the development of intercontinental traffic at Dusseldorf Airport,” the management says. “We are very pleased
to be able to continue our long-standing, highly successful cooperation with Delta after the pandemic-related interruption,” cargo chief Lutz Honerla states.
Management reshuffle
At the same time, the airport's Supervisory Board has announced important personnel changes. Lars Redeligx has been appointed the new Managing Director of operator Flughafen Dusseldorf GmbH. As
of 01DEC22, he will succeed Thomas Schnalke, who will retire at the end of 2022, having headed DUS Airport for more than 20 years.
As of 01JAN23, Pradeep Pinakatt will become the new Managing Director Finance and Labor. He succeeds Lars Mosdorf, who will leave the company at his own request. Mr. Pinakatt has been Managing
Director of Flughafen Dusseldorf Ground Handling GmbH (FDGHG) since 2017. He will be succeeded by Stephanie Jelinek, beginning NOV22. She started her career at the airport operator back in 2016,
where her responsibilities included controlling, IT, purchasing, and human resources.
Finally, DUS welcomes Dr. Henning Pfisterer to its management team. He will assume the role of Senior Vice President Aviation und Accountable Manager as of 01JAN23. Currently, he is Chief
Operational Officer at the Bulgarian Airport of Sofia.
Heiner Siegmund
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