Lufthansa regional partner Eurowings is to slash its fleet, phasing out 19 Bombardier CRJ aircraft and axing hundreds of jobs.

The carrier is withdrawing 17 CRJ200s - part of a broader plan to reduce the complement of 50-seat jets - and is also removing a pair of CRJ700s.

Eurowings will restructure its organisation around a fleet of 15 CRJ900s over a 12-month period from the beginning of the summer schedule.

But a spokesman for the airline says that this rebuilding will require shedding "several hundred" positions.

These are to be drawn from the entire organisation, including cockpit and cabin crew, the technical division, and personnel at Eurowings' headquarters.

The airline employs some 1,260 staff.

Eurowings operates part of the broader Lufthansa Regional partnership, and the spokesman says the potential effect on the airline's route structure is unclear.

It lists about 50 destinations on its network, second only to Lufthansa CityLine.

CRJ900s are being introduced to Eurowings under a renewal programme to replace older regional jets.

Lufthansa Group has been overhauling its operations under a cost-saving programme designated 'Climb 2011'.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news