Flights will further strengthen Lufthansa's strong presence in China

Shanghai, China (December 14, 2007) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Lufthansa German Airlines today announced the expansion of flight services to and from China, the world's fastest growing region. The airline will be introducing five* weekly non-stop flights between Nanjing and Frankfurt, effective 31st March 2008 as well as thrice* weekly direct flights between Shenyang and Munich via Seoul, effective 8th June 2008.

Lufthansa is the first and only European airline connecting Europe to these two Chinese cities, which are both important gateways for millions of Chinese passengers across the country. The commencement of these flights will make the cities of Nanjing and Shenyang the newest destinations in Lufthansa's global network, expanding Lufthansa's Asia-Pacific gateways to a total of 23.

"We are very proud to enhance our presence in mainland China by adding both Nanjing and Shenyang as new destinations to our global network. Both cities are important economic and industrial centres, offering Lufthansa the prospect of capturing significant business opportunities. The area has seen a dramatic boost of business and air traffic demand in China in recent years and the new flight offerings will see the economic ties and cultural exchange further strengthen between these two important regions and Europe," said Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Lufthansa.

"This decision is evidence of our strong presence in the strategic market of China, enhancing Lufthansa’s industry leadership. By continuously adding new destinations and increasing flight capacity, Lufthansa ensures its active engagement in the number one growth market in the world," added Mayrhuber.

Together with SWISS, Lufthansa offers an extended network between China and Europe with a multi-hub concept via Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, as well as Zurich in Switzerland.

* Subject to the government approval

Nanjing, the capital of the Jiangsu province, is located on the Yangtze River along China's eastern coastline and a well-known tourist area in China. A city of historical importance, it is now a political, economic, and cultural centre, and home to the five 'pillar' industries of electronics, automotive, petrochemicals, metal, and power. At one time the largest city in the world, Lufthansa's new service will provide Nanjing's current population of 8.2 million and inhabitants of surrounding cities convenient access to Europe.

Shenyang, the capital of the Liaoning province, has a population in excess of 7 million, making it China's fifth largest city. The economic, cultural, financial and commercial centre of northeast China, Shenyang is focused on heavy industry, with many major industrial companies having their headquarters in the city. Shenyang is also regarded as the transportation and commercial centre of the North East region, making it an ideal destination in Lufthansa’s growing network of Chinese gateways.

The German flag carrier is offering a total of 221 seats in First, Business and Economy Class on the Airbus A340-300 aircraft on both routes. The departure and arrival times of flights have been coordinated so as to give passengers arriving in Germany from China the best possible choice of connecting flights across Europe and beyond.

Lufthansa passengers flying from Shenyang to Munich will arrive at an airport highly regarded for it modern facilities and a minimum connection time of 30 minutes for those travellers with connecting flights. Munich Airport was voted this year as the 'Best Airport in Europe' at the Skytrax World Airport Awards for the third consecutive year. Terminal 2, which was opened in 2003 with a Lufthansa investment of 325 million Euros, is used exclusively by Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners.

Lufthansa has a long history in China, dating back to 1926, with more than 80 years of experience. As a good corporate citizen with strong ties in China, the German flag carrier employs more than 8,000 people in Lufthansa-related business and over 220 native Chinese flight attendants. Lufthansa has investments in airline-related businesses including air cargo, flight catering, MRO and IT services.

As one of the world's largest airlines, Lufthansa currently flies to more than 188 destinations in 79 countries. Together with its Star Alliance and bilateral partners, Lufthansa serves 416 destinations in 100 countries worldwide, including codeshare flights.

INTERNET LINKS

http://www.lufthansa.com

About Lufthansa German Airlines
Lufthansa is a fully privatized group of companies offering air transport services including passenger airlines, logistics, flight catering, aircraft maintenance and information technology. Lufthansa is a founding member of the world’s largest aviation network, Star Alliance, which has 17 international airline partners connecting six continents.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

 

  • Judy Yu
    Tel: 010 6568 2243
    Fax: 010 6566 3774
    Email: yuj@abjcom.com

[smpr_tags]Lufthansa, China Services, New Flight Route[/smpr_tags]