The Lufthansa Group announced plans to further develop regional, low-cost and "private" but "price-sensitive" long-haul operations as part of a "Wings"-branded family.

Düsseldorf-based regional Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings from next spring will be positioned for "continental travel" using a fleet of as many as 23 Airbus A320 aircraft replacing the current Bombardier CRJ fleet. Its first base outside Germany will be in Basel, Switzerland. Meanwhile, low-cost subsidiary Germanwings starting next spring will handle more routes than it currently does and see its fleet grow to as many as 60 aircraft. The Lufthansa Group's plans for a new long-haul product for "the price-sensitive segment of private travel" may be developed unilaterally or with a partner. "For the latter option, talks are already at an advanced stage with Turkish Airlines," a fellow Star Alliance member, according to a Lufthansa statement. "In an initial phase, the new intercontinental platform is expected to operate with a fleet that will gradually be built up to seven Boeing 767 or Airbus A330 aircraft, with operations likely to commence in winter 2015."