Lufthansa Is Back Where It Belongs

Lufthansa is poised to significantly enhance its passengers’ travel experience in 2015 with a range of new initiatives.

During the ITB Berlin, Jens Bischof, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board Product, Marketing & Sales and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “In 2015, our customers will experience the best Lufthansa there has ever been. Over the past few years, we have invested billions in completions, quality and services on behalf of our passengers, who will now benefit from this investment.”

Bischof continued: “As an airline, we are once again where Lufthansa belongs – namely in the leading group of international premium airlines. Our guests can be sure that Made in Germany as a seal of quality applies to all Lufthansa flights. We are on the right track to becoming the first, Western 5-star airline, and day for day we offer the quality that other airlines can only speak of.”

From the third quarter of 2015, all Lufthansa long-haul aircraft will feature the latest cabins and state-of-the-art seats in every travel class. In addition, the FlyNet broadband internet service will be available on board all long-haul flights. This will bring the largest and most comprehensive retrofit program in the company’s history to a successful close.

Since 2011, Lufthansa has invested an average of around EUR 1 million per day in refitting its cabins. The total amount invested comes to approximately EUR 1.5 billion. Around 39,000 seats have been either replaced, modified, or in the case of new aircraft, fitted on Lufthansa’s long-haul aircraft: 600 seats in First Class, 7,000 seats in Business Class and more than 27,600 seats in Economy Class. Approximately 3,600 seats are being newly fitted on Lufthansa’s 106 long-haul aircraft for the new The new Premium Economy Class, already a top seller, is currently available on 30 long-haul aircraft. From the end of this year at the latest, passengers will be able to travel in Premium Economy on all intercontinental flights. FlyNet is also being installed as part of the cabin conversion, and will be available on all long-haul flights in future.

Bischof observed: “We are very close to completing our retrofit program. Our guests are already enjoying the modern cabin interiors with our latest seats in every travel class on most of our long-haul flights, and the feedback is extremely positive. As far as customers are concerned, Lufthansa is back at the top.”

In business class, Lufthansa will be providing more personalized care, tailoring its service to the individual needs and expectations of its guests. This will include the introduction of an innovative Business Class Restaurant Service on long-haul flights this summer, which will see the in-flight service being modeled on the culinary experience provided by a high-class restaurant: Tables will be set individually, and meals and drinks will no longer be served from the trolley, but will instead be brought directly from the galley to passengers individually. Each flight attendant will have a set number of passengers for whom they will act as a personal host and point of contact. There will be additional cabin crew in Business Class on long-haul flights to enable this.

Said Bischof: “The service provided will have a more personal touch as a result of this new concept, and will be even more in tune with the individual rhythm of each passenger. In doing so, we’re not just ahead of the rest again when it comes to cabin interiors, but are also setting new standards in in-flight service.”

On its German and European routes, Lufthansa will be introducing 3 new fare options in economy class – Light, Classic and Flex. The new pricing concept for German and European routes is also more closely tailored to the individual needs of passengers. It will still be possible for customers to book a flight in Business Class, but in the future, they will have more options.

The three new fare options – Light, Classic and Flex – will be introduced in Economy Class for flights within Europe in fall 2015. Tickets will become available for purchase in the summer.

Also in 2015, Lufthansa will be adding 5 new, long-haul destinations – Tampa, Cancun, Panama, Male and Mauritius.

Said Bischof: “The addition of attractive new destinations to our route network combined with our quality and service offerings will not just impress our passengers, but also excite them. For our customers, 2015 marks the beginning of a new calendar – the best Lufthansa of all time.”

Go to http://www.LH.com for more.