Lufthansa may introduce more flights to India connecting new destinations. The airline may also resume flights to Hyderabad and Kolkata if the demand on the route increases. These flights were dropped earlier due to low profit on the route.
Germany based Lufthansa has intentions to start more flights to India connecting different parts of the country after making it the Asian launch pad for its new B747-8 aircraft, revealed online sources. The airline also plans to resume flights to Kolkata and Hyderabad in case there is a demand on the route.
Lufthansa that presently offers flights to India connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Pune, was forced to drop its flights to Kolkata and Hyderabad from its operational network in India owing to the low profit from the routes.
Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa’s Director South Asia, believes India to be one of the most important and largest intercontinental markets internationally. The country is the first in the Asian market to have received Lufthansa’s new business class product and the all new ‘Queen Of the skies” aircraft, after the USA, which is the second largest market globally.
Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa’s Director South Asia, said, “However, India is also important for us as we provide mobility for the German industry and European travellers who are coming to India to invest and spend their holidays there.”
Hilgers, while responding to a query, made it clear that the German carrier is ready to offer flights to new Indian cities and resume old ones like flights to Hyderabad and Kolkata if there is demand on the route.
Hilgers said, “Revenue increase in the current economic environment would be very ambitious. After all, the market is characterised by huge overcapacities. Our investment is important to maintain our customer base and increase our profitability by reducing operational costs with the help of very fuel-efficient new engines. This is good for our customers, our cash box and for the environment as well.”
He was answering a question pertaining to the airline’s expected revenue from the Indian sector by introducing new facilities like upgraded first and business class on flights to India connecting Delhi and other future flights to the country.
