Lufthansa Introduces Non-stop Service Between Pune-Frankfurt

Logistics Insight Asia - Top Story, 28/4/2008

Seventh Lufthansa destination in India / Six flights per week.

From 1 July 2008, Lufthansa will introduce new non-stop flights between Pune and Frankfurt. The new six weekly flights are operated by an Airbus A319, offering a total of 48 seats in an all-business class configuration. This new Lufthansa Business Jet service will be the first to link Pune non-stop to Europe, and will offer significant convenience for passengers. Previously, the majority of passengers would take more than three hours to travel to Mumbai, the nearest international air hub, for departure to Europe. The new service complements the current daily Mumbai-Frankfurt flights, as well as the thrice-weekly Mumbai-Munich flights to commence on 5 May 2008.

“We are pleased that India is the first country in Asia-Pacific to be served by Lufthansa Business Jet service, strengthening Lufthansa’s leading position in the region. By being the first airline connecting the city of Pune to Europe, Lufthansa is providing a link to facilitate business ties and further exchange between the two regions,” said Uwe Mueller, Vice President Asia & Pacific, Lufthansa.
“We are delighted to announce Pune as the newest destination in the Lufthansa India network and enhance our engagement across the country. We hope that this move will fulfill the increasing demand in one of the fastest-growing destinations in India. This service will offer even faster and more convenient access between Pune and Europe for business travelers in India,” said Werner Heesen, Director South Asia, Lufthansa.

Pune, the eighth largest city in India, is home to many large international firms in the IT, biotechnology and biochemistry sectors. The region is also regarded as the centre of the automotive industry and a key manufacturing base for numerous international car manufacturing companies in India. European carmakers as well as leading Indian carmakers, manufacture cars in their plants mainly for the Asian market. The city is also an up and coming medical tourism destination, targeting overseas patients, including those from Europe.
Operated in cooperation with PrivatAir, a VIP and business aviation specialist, Lufthansa’s Business Jet service provides passengers with Lufthansa’s full onboard service. Lufthansa Business Jet currently operates between Frankfurt-New York (Newark), and will fly between Munich-Dubai as of 1 May 2008.

The business jets are equipped with special in-flight innovations such as, modern lie-flat seats providing an almost horizontal sleeping surface measuring two meters in length, with generous legroom and spacious storage areas. Each seat is also equipped with a high-quality DVD player with large display and excellent picture quality, on which the passenger can select his personal video program. Power plugs for notebooks and reading lamps integrated into the seats provide an enhanced working environment. Flight attendants look after the comfort and safety of customers and serve culinary delicacies from Lufthansa’s Star Chefs program.

Lufthansa, www.lufthansa.com