Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), which have successfully entered into the second year of integrated operation as a single airline entity, have announced a major bonanza for travelers from Saudi Arabia in the form of new services and facilities. The announcement was made by Rolf Koller, general manager for Lufthansa-Swiss operations in Saudi Arabia here yesterday.
Koller said: “Travelers from Saudi Arabia to Zurich can now benefit from the coveted Boeing Business Jet Service (BBJ) with business class seats from June 16 to Sept. 9 this year.”
“Swiss will introduce seven extra sessions to Riyadh in BBJ style to cater to the summer peak demand,” said the general manager, adding that the BBJ with 56 seats will be operated under Swiss (LX) flight numbers by PrivateAir of Switzerland.
Spelling out the salient features of the BBJ, he said, “The airline has tailored its Boeing Business Jet 737-800 for the leisure and business traveler with convenient flight schedules, comfortable lie-flat seats offering a 60-inch seat pitch and personal onboard service.”
The BBJ, he said, will fly from Riyadh to the Swiss city of Zurich on June 17, July 1, July 15, July 29, Aug. 12, Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, while the flights from Zurich will arrive the same day on this section.
“This is in addition to our 21 flights from Saudi Arabia and Lufthansa’s private jet facility, which was announced earlier for businessmen and tourists traveling from Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries to various destinations in Europe,” said Koller. “With the Lufthansa Private Jet Service, customers can also travel in a private jet with greater exclusivity and flexibility,” said the Lufthansa-Swiss chief.
Asked about the successful partnership between Lufthansa and Swiss International Airlines, he said, “The two airlines, which work as a single entity now after the merger, have offered a host of benefits to passengers in the Kingdom.” Passenger benefits include more flight options to choose from, outbound via Frankfurt and inbound via Zurich or vice-versa, joint ground services in Riyadh and Jeddah, better connections to more destinations worldwide, a shared frequent flier program and enhanced international lounge access.
“Passengers traveling on either airline from the Kingdom have also been able to benefit from a harmonized price structure, which allows travelers to journey one way on Swiss and return on Lufthansa or vice-versa,” Koller said. Together, Lufthansa and Swiss have been able to wholly service Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Bahrain, with daily flights to more than 181 destinations worldwide via Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich.
“Both carriers took the alliance a step further by merging both sales and marketing functions in the Kingdom, with a move to a centralized office in Riyadh and Jeddah, improving operations considerably,” said the general manager. He said, “We are pleased with the success of integration. Between offering a single airfare policy to joint check-in facilities, the opportunities for our discerning frequent travelers are endless.”
He pointed out that Lufthansa recently announced its fourth frequency out of Bahrain effective March 31 this year. Together with Bahrain and Dammam, the airline will have daily flights to Europe and beyond. Also, with the refurbishment of Swiss’ entire European Airbus fleet now complete, its passengers can look forward to maximum seating comfort.
He said that Lufthansa is also showcasing a new Senator and new Business Lounge at Berlin-Tegel Airport. “And on top of the seven flights from Jeddah/Riyadh and seven out of Eastern Province, every customer has additional benefits like fare combinability, common frequent flyer and much more if you fly with Lufthansa-Swiss,” said the general manager. In fact, the merger of Saudi-based operations of Swiss and Lufthansa German, has led to the offer of uniform price for tickets and choice of flights besides destination option.
Globally, Lufthansa has also announced to expand and modernize its fleet and hence it has approved an order for 35 new aircraft. Beginning this year, Lufthansa will take delivery of a total of 30 new short and medium-range aircraft. Lufthansa has also taken options on a further 30 aircraft of the A320 family. At present, Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet consists of 83 aircraft, including ten Airbus A330s.
