JEDDAH, 25 March 2004 — Lufthansa has announced its new plans for Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East.
Among many offerings to passengers in the Kingdom, the German national airline is reintroducing first class and introducing new Airbus 330 with a new business class with fully stretched two-meter long beds from April 1.
“We’re investing in new technology, including ‘Flynet’ that will provide the wireless Internet facility on board the flight,” Joachim Steinbach, vice president sales and services Middle East, Pakistan, Africa and southeast Europe, told a press conference at Sheraton Hotel here yesterday.
Lufthansa’s increase in capacity is augmented by the global introduction of the new business class product, though Steinbach went on to ensure that the first class product will remain on the Frankfurt-Jeddah route due to passenger demand.
Several international airlines were in the red, following the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the United States. They continued to incur losses due to other factors like SARS and Iraq war. Last year alone, the aviation industry incurred losses of about $10 billion.
The year 2003 saw the airline industry face one of its most severe crises, though recovery has been steady and the increasing demand in the market has already meant Lufthansa has added about 20 percent capacity to its destinations in the Kingdom, compared to the previous year.
“We did well, ending with about 30 million euro plus during the financial year, because we believe that the flexibility to react to market developments is one of our key strengths,” he said.
The airline has been reducing capacity when needed and quickly responding when the situation demands. “Essentially, we’re back on the track,” he said.
The airline is part of the Star Alliance and so the question of merger or acquisition is not at all under its consideration. Seventeen airlines are members of the alliance that serves 700 international destinations and offer code-share, common ticketing and other facilities to passengers
“The Kingdom is a market with great potential for us and this is but a small step in our further expansion here, offering passengers even more premium products and services,” the Lufthansa official said.
Uwe Wilck, the airline’s general manager for the Kingdom, said the airline did face a trying year in 2003 along with the rest of the industry.
“We’re, however, very optimistic for 2004 as the development in the first two months of the year are very promising. If this trend continues, the airline expects a growth of 10-15 percent in passenger numbers from the Kingdom during the current year.
Lufthansa is the only international airline serving the Kingdom to and from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. “That’s how we’re a most complete airline,” he said.
Lufthansa has offered a special fare of SR2,800 from here to all European destinations up to August-end.
Thomas Preini, head of the corporate communications based in the airline’s headquarters in Frankfurt, said the airline had a fleet of 240 aircraft serving 120 destinations in 85 countries.