Lufthansa lifts its game in GCC market

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STEINBACH: Lufthansa’s seat load factors out of the UAE average 80%.

Lufthansa has signaled its confidence in the GCC market by boosting its winter schedule to the region.

The German flag carrier has introduced non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt six times weekly; a secondly daily service from Dubai to Frankfurt; and a daily flight from Doha to Frankfurt, a vast improvement on three times weekly.

The decision to boost coverage is based on a solid performance in the region with seat factors for UAE flights averaging 80% according to Joachim Steinbach, vice president sales and services Southeast Europe, Africa and Middle East. He noted that bookings for the next six months showed solid growth, despite the current global economic downturn.

However, Steinbach did concede that the impact of the current global economic crisis was "unclear" and revealed that demand for business class flights from the banking sector had decreased noticeably.

He said Lufthansa would make substantial changes to its business plan and strategy as a result, but kept tight-lipped as to the specifics.

Lufthansa has labeled 2009 as the year of product innovation, with electronic services such as home-print boarding passes and mobile phone boarding for intra-European destinations on the way.

The airline also plans future investment in ground services, including improved lounges. Lufthansa operates the Airbus A340-300 on its Abu Dhabi route and a mix of A340-300 and A330-300 aircraft on the Doha flights.

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