Hapag-Lloyd Express

Infobox_Airline
airline=Hapag-Lloyd Express
logo=Hlexpress.pnglogo_size=150
fleet_size=see TUIfly
destinations=see TUIfly
IATA=X3
ICAO=HLX
callsign=YELLOW CAB
parent=TUI AG
founded=2002
headquarters=
key_people=Roland Keppler
hubs=Cologne/Bonn, Hannover, Stuttgart, Leipzig/Halle
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
website=

Hapag-Lloyd Express (previously also marketed as "HLX.com") was a no-frills, high-frequency, express airline based in Hanover, Germany. It operated services within Germany and to destinations in Europe. In January 2007 in a restructuring, it combined its operations with Hapag-Lloyd Flug to become TUIfly [Flight International 3 April 2007] . While Hapag-Lloyd Flug operates all TUIfly flights, Hapag-Lloyd Express markets them.

History

Hapag-Lloyd Express was established in 2002 and began operations in December 2002. Its main competitors were more established no-frills carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet, as well as other coeval low-cost startups such as Germanwings or transavia.com, consequently being constantly engaged in a price war with these carriers. In an attempt to win this price war, it expanded rapidly in the first half of 2004, announcing many new routes that it viewed as underserved by other airlines. Examples of such routes include Dublin to Hamburg and Stuttgart, both of which are no longer in operation. In January 2007, Hapag-Lloyd Express and Hapag-Lloyd Flug were merged into the cooperation TUIfly in an attempt to reorganize TUI's airline portfolio.

Services

Hapag-Lloyd Express offered no-frills services to destinations in Germany and Europe. Most of them are now operated by TUIfly.

Fleet

All Hapag-Lloyd Express aircraft were wetleased from Hapag-Lloyd Flug or Germania. The majority of the fleet consisted of Boeing 737 aircraft, the last Fokker 100 left Hapag-Lloyd Express in 2006.

Livery

Hapag-Lloyd Express aircraft were highly recognisable due to their distinctive "New York taxi" style: a checkered black and white line wrapped around a yellow body, aiming to convey the image of quick and cheap point-to-point service.

External links

* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=X3&al_op=1 HLX.com Fleet]
* [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Hapag%20Lloyd%20Express.htm HLX Fleet Age]

References