Hapag-Lloyd Express
Hapag-Lloyd Express GmbH, often marketed as HLX.com, was a German no-frills, high-frequency express airline based in Langenhagen near Hanover. It was founded on 3 December 2002 and began operations in December 2002, flying within Germany and to European destinations. The airline had about 16 aircraft, mostly wet-leased from Hapag-Lloyd Flug, and operated from bases in Cologne/Bonn, Hannover, Leipzig/Halle, and Stuttgart.
HLX used the IATA code X3, the ICAO code HLX, and the call sign YELLOW CAB. It was part of the TUI Group, with Roland Keppler as a key figure, and its website was HLX.com.
The airline was known for its marketing campaign “Fly for the price of a taxi,” which helped it gain strong brand recognition and won efficiency awards. Its main competitors included Ryanair, EasyJet, Germanwings, and Transavia, leading to intense price competition.
On 15 January 2007, HLX merged with Hapag-Lloyd Flug to form TUIfly Deutschland (later TUIfly). HLX marketed TUIfly flights until the new airline obtained its own license, and most routes are now operated by TUIfly.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:52 (CET).