Lufthansa to introduce direct flights from the UAE to Munich

The airline will operate three times a week with LH flight 630/1 departing Dubai on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 09:30 and arriving in Munich at 13:00. Return flights depart from Munich on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 20:45 to arrive in Dubai at 05:45. The flights have been timed to provide optimum connections via Lufthansa's hub in Munich to and from numerous destinations in Europe and around the world.

Flights will be operated by an Airbus A340 providing a maximum of 235 seats, with all three classes, First, Business and Economy Class on offer.

"We are pleased to introduce our upcoming service to Munich which will not only provide our customers direct access to a major German city and more flight options, but also connectivity to over 327 world-wide destinations in 89 countries," said Uwe Wriedt, General Manager, Passenger Sales for UAE and Director for Gulf, Iran and Pakistan. "The additional service to Munich, which will be effective from October 2002, will also see us ensure that the demands of UAE customers, on the routes they prefer, is met."

The new flight will also play an important role in developing the tourist and business potential of UAE for travellers from European countries and in providing the people of the UAE with access to the most comprehensive international airline network.

"We are committed to investment in this region and are well aware of the need for high quality services between the UAE and Europe," added Wriedt. "We tasked a dedicated team of researchers into looking at whether flights to and from Munich are in demand and found viability to be very high."

The announcment of the new flight to Munich, coincides with the airline's launch of its revised summer flight schedules for 2002. The new timetable offers passengers from the UAE greater convenience, with flight timings that allow visitors to Germany a full day in Frankfurt upon arrival and excellent connections for ongoing passengers to European and North American destinations.

"With the new timings, passengers continuing to other destinations, such as North America, spend the least time possible on the ground in Frankfurt. For those who are disembarking in Frankfurt, the flight arrival times from the UAE afford a full day of business or leisure,"he said.

Lufthansa flights from Dubai leave daily at 2:15, and from Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 00:35 to arrive in Frankfurt at 07:00. Return flights depart daily from Frankfurt at 13:20 to arrive in the Dubai at 21:30 and in Abu Dhabi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 22:45.

Due to increased passenger demand, Lufthansa has also introduced 370 extra flights a week for summer, with three new routes from Munich to Boston, Shanghai and Tokyo, increasing its route network to 727 destinations in 127 countries with its Star Alliance partnership. Ten of the 43 aircraft taken out of service last year, following 11 September, will be reactivated and two new Airbus A340-300s will go into operation to cater for these additional flights.

"A 40 percent increase in flights from Germany to the USA, thanks to the restoration of nearly all flights to North America, coupled with the introduction of additional services, will ensure that existing and potential customers recognize that Lufthansa provides passengers from the UAE a high quality and reliable service to not just Germany, but the entire world," added Wriedt.

Lufthansa is also beginning the new season with uniforms that reflect the cabin and the cockpit crews' emphasis on competence and style designed by the prestigious ladies couturier, Strenesse and men's collection from Etzkorn. The new uniforms come in the classical dark blue with Lufthansa's yellow, silver grey and white colours. And for the first time in Lufthansa's history, the cabin crew will be wearing their insignia of rank on their jacket arm, denoted by diagonal stripes.

The airline was granted a Five Star Diamond Award this year from the renowned American Academy of Hospitality Sciences in recognition of outstanding quality and services. Lufthansa was also voted the safest airline last year by the readers of the prestigious Business Traveller Deutschland magazine.

Added to the covenient summer timings and excellent service from the Lufthansa crew, customers flying Lufthansa also experience greater comfort and convenience when flying from the UAE with the Airbus A340 aircraft, widely regarded as the longest range airliner in the world.