FRANKFURT- The German flag carrier, Lufthansa Airlines (LH), is set to boost its flight frequency to and from India, increasing it to 64 flights per week starting January 16, according to George Ettiyil, the group’s senior director for South Asia.
Presently, the weekly frequency stands at 56 flights. Ettiyil mentioned that the airline will deploy Boeing 787–9 Dreamliner aircraft on the Frankfurt (FRA)-Hyderabad (HYD) route from January 16, offering five weekly frequencies. Additionally, the airline has recently introduced a new flight service between Bangalore (BLR) and Munich (MUC).
Lufthansa Increases India Flights
“We are reintroducing the Airbus A380 on our Delhi-Munich route, marking a 25% capacity increase and representing the Lufthansa Group’s most significant expansion in any major market worldwide since the onset of the pandemic,” he stated.
According to Ettiyil, the airline achieved a return to its pre-pandemic frequency levels in India by transitioning the Frankfurt-Chennai flight services to daily operations in June of this year.
“With the introduction of these new routes, India is poised to surpass pre-pandemic capacity levels, making it the first major market globally to exhibit growth beyond pre-pandemic figures. This underscores the Lufthansa Group’s strong confidence in the Indian market,” he added.
By mid-2024, the airline’s weekly frequency will increase to 68, as indicated by Ettiyil. The cities of Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi hold significance for connecting the airline’s three hubs—Munich, Zürich, and Frankfurt—to India.
Ettiyil affirmed that the airline plans to sustain this growth level for the next couple of years. Additionally, he mentioned that Lufthansa Technik, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul services division of the group, is actively exploring opportunities to expand its MRO footprint in India.
New Orders
Recently, the Lufthansa Group (LH) has acquired a total of 80 state-of-the-art short and medium-haul aircraft. The Executive Board of the company has made the following decisions:
- The procurement of 40 Airbus A220-300s with an additional 20 purchasing options.
- The procurement of 40 Boeing 737-8 MAX with an additional 60 purchasing options.
- Purchasing options for an additional 40 aircraft from the A320 family.
The Supervisory Board has granted approval for the acquisition today (December 19, 2023).
Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board, Fleet and Technology, stated,
“With the current aircraft order, we are expediting the most extensive fleet modernization in our company’s history. This increases our existing order of approximately 200 aircraft to 280, with an additional 120 purchasing options for additional state-of-the-art short- and medium-haul aircraft. We are delighted that both Airbus and Boeing have successfully addressed all commercial and technological considerations. Furthermore, acquiring the Boeing 737-8 MAX will enhance our flexibility for future short- and medium-haul aircraft procurement. The new ultra-modern aircraft not only provide our passengers with added comfort but are also quieter, more cost-effective, and more efficient, and they emit up to 30 percent less CO2 than their predecessors. This order underscores our airlines’ future resilience and investment capability, demonstrating our commitment to reducing carbon emissions.”
The acquisition of new aircraft is the most impactful measure for reducing CO2 emissions.
Currently operating a fleet of over 700 commercial aircraft, the Lufthansa Group is committed to a comprehensive fleet strategy that prioritizes cost efficiency and emission reduction.
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