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Lufthansa Plans Expansion in Gulf, ME

DUBAI - Lufthansa, the German airlines, plans to expand its network in the Gulf and Middle East region, despite a globally challenging market environment.

Lufthansa will increase its capacity with the beginning of the summer schedule on routes between the Gulf/Middle East and Germany by 40 per cent and between the UAE and Germany by 110 per cent compared to 
the previous year.

“The Middle East and the Gulf markets are viewed as an excellent opportunity to further develop our route network,” said Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice-President Sales and 
Marketing, Lufthansa.

Air passenger revenue declined 23 per cent since January to the middle of March this year in the UAE, compared to the same period of 2008, but Lufthansa recorded 3 per cent rise in revenue, said Antinori. “Despite the current economic situation, the region provides a stable and positive economic climate with many multinational companies and governmental institutions present.” The upcoming 2009 summer schedule will see Lufthansa adjusting its capacities globally by 0.5 per cent due to the decline in demand. The carrier will fly daily from Muscat, Jeddah, Riyadh and Beirut to Frankfurt, and increase its capacity for Iran as well as on the Dubai-Munich route with using bigger aircraft. Sana’a will be served four times a week and Dammam with three additional flights with the Lufthansa Business Jet in the months of June and July to connect to Frankfurt.

Currently, Lufthansa connects all the major gateways in the Gulf region and Middle East with 96 flight connections per week to 14 destinations in 11 countries. The airline is expanding route network with enhanced flight schedule and greater flexibility for passengers. The carrier will focus on customer demands to offer true added value and greater comfort. In the last four years, Lufthansa launched new routes in the Gulf and Middle East with new destinations on its map. “We have done a lot to expand our reach. Now it is the time to optimise our route network as part of our strategy to further enhance our strong market presence,” reiterated Antinori. “Our financial and operational flexibility will allow us to benefit from the opportunities that come our way. We intend to maintain our lead in the far more challenging environment of 2009,” said Antinori.

· abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com