Ockie
Resident Lead Bender
Cape Town - While some international airlines have cited issues with SA’s new visa rules, Lufthansa says demand for Cape Town as a top leisure destination will see it implementing two additional seasonal flight to the city for its Winter Season commencing in October.
Speaking at a press briefing held in Cape Town on Thursday, Dr Andre Schulz, Lufthansa’s new General Manager for South Africa said, "While initially the roll-out of the visa requirements were confusing, and from my experience there has been very few incidents and I don't know of a single person who has been sent back, our flights are full."
Lufthansa announced at the briefing that the airline would be increasing its capacity between Munich and Cape Town from five weekly flights to a daily non-stop schedule as well as adding new African destinations to through its group network.
“The demand for Cape Town as a top leisure destination is the reason for adding two additional flights during South Africa’s summer season effectively increasing the seat offer by almost 20%,” said Schulz.
Furthermore, Lufthansa is upgrading its service on the Johannesburg – Frankfurt route. Commencing in October, the carrier will operate the Boeing 747-8, the next generation of the iconic Jumbo Jet.
"Known as the 'Queen of the skies', Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental (passenger version) will be the first of this type of' new Jumbo' to serve the African Continent," said Tamur Goudarzi-Pour, Vice President, Sales and Services for the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Europe for Lufthansa German Airlines.
“South Africa continues to play a significant role in our African as well as inter-continental network. The four-class Boeing 747-8 is our most advanced long-haul aircraft, bringing unparalleled comfort and premium service to our customers with the most advanced, fuel- efficient long-haul aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet,” said Schulz.
"Beyond its technical superiority, the aircraft’s seat configuration fits in with the South Africa’s most discerning travellers and market demands," said Goudarzi-Pour.
While the seating capacity was slightly less than on the A380 used on the route, Goudarzi-Pour said there was a "high demand for the Premium Economy market from South Africa, with the new plane configuration suiting this as well as avoiding any reckless pricing wars around seats not sold".
Added to this, the increased seasonal flights would add to the load, said Goudarzi-Pour.
New Premium Economy Class compliments retrofitted First & Business Class cabins
“We are investing 1 million euros daily in our on board products, retrofitting over 100 long haul aircraft including those serving South Africa, with Lufthansa’s award –winning First Class, Business Class as well as new Premium Economy cabin,” said Goudarzi-Pour.
Lufthansa, which ordered 19 of the stretched Boeing 747, will operate the aircraft on the Johannesburg route in a four-class cabin configuration (8 First Class, 80 Business Class, 32 Premium Economy Class and 244 Economy Class).
Retrofitting of Lufthansa’s long haul fleet with the new First and Business Class cabins will be completed by July, with Premium Economy available on many routes including Johannesburg. This new class of service for Lufthansa creates a fresh travel experience that combines affordability with greater comfort. The seats offer up to 50 percent more room than Economy Class and positions Lufthansa as a leader in offering premium service in all four classes of service.
Munich Terminal 2 boosting capacity
The expanded operations will also offer local business and leisure travelers a growing network of European and Trans-Atlantic flights from Lufthansa’s Bavarian Hub. Munich Terminal 2 is celebrating over a decade of operations and is a joint venture between Lufthansa and Munich Airport’s operators. At the start of 2015, the airport received its 5-Star award from Skytrax, the first non-Asian airport to be bestowed the honor. The airport will open a satellite to Terminal 2 in April 2016, boosting capacity by 11 million passengers annually.
http://traveller24.news24.com/News/...y-confusing-but-our-flights-are-full-20150702
