RIYADH: Lufthansa German Airlines has announced plans to launch a new service to the German city of Munich with the inaugural flight taking off from Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport on April 26.
The new flight will increase the total number of Lufthansa flights operated from the Kingdom to different German destinations to 23.
Addressing a press conference here, Stefan Loecherbach, Lufthansa director for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen, said that Munich was the third largest city in Germany not currently served by the carrier.
"This new link will provide additional travel options and opportunities for our customers as Munich is a major business and tourist destination," said Loecherbach.
Christoph Meier, Lufthansa chief of corporate communications for Southeast Europe, Middle East and Africa, was also present during the press briefing.
Loecherbach said that the new service to Munich, which is the capital of the German Bavaria region, will be operated using a Boeing 737-800 Intercontinental. "The service from Riyadh to Munich three times a week will further enhance Lufthansa's excellent offering to customers in Saudi Arabia," said the Lufthansa director.
Flight LH609 will leave Riyadh on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 12.45 a.m. The new offer complements the daily flight from Riyadh to Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub, he added. With the new flight, Lufthansa will be offering travelers to and from Saudi Arabia unparalleled choice and travel flexibility.
"Lufthansa is probably the only airline, which can boast of its presence in Saudi Arabia for the last 40 years, currently enhancing its presence in the Kingdom," said Meier.
Asked about the benefits of the new service, Meier said that businessmen or tourists opting for the new service will reach Munich early morning with option to finish their day's work the same day. He said that the aircraft will be equipped with Lufthansa's latest long haul cabin product, while the 24 Lufthansa business class seats feature a massage function and can be turned into a two-meter lie-flat bed. The 84 seats in economy class feature personal in-seat screens, providing a wide range of entertainment options, he added.
The airline currently operates some 85 flights to various destinations across the Middle East including Saudi Arabia. Lufthansa was recently named "Best Airline Worldwide" in the "Business Travel Awards 2010." With its ongoing expenditure in fleet renewal, Lufthansa is consistently making the fleet more cost-efficient and its operations more environment-friendly. In the 2009 business year, it returned revenues totaling 22.3 billion euros.
Arab News
