Lufthansa is planning to start new flights to woo Indian travellers flying to the US and Europe.
Gulf carriers such as the Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are diverting traffic from India and Southeast Asian countries to hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. German airline Lufthansa fears that this would adversely impact its hubs in Munich and Frankfurt.
Lufthansa carries passengers to the North Atlantic and European region through the Munich and Frankfurt airports.
“Yes for sure, wherever Etihad, Qatar, Emirates enter, they do tend to take away the traffic to its hubs,” said Steffen Harbarth, vice-president (Asia Pacific) of Lufthansa.
“But Lufthansa has been smart and if we are losing share in one region, we are gaining in the others,” he said.
According to Harbarth, Lufthansa has a far greater reach into Europe than any Gulf carrier. He said Munich was an important hub for Asian travellers to the US and Europe.
“Munich is very important and has a strong European business. It connects to 130 destinations, which are not covered by the gulf carriers. We might lose a little business for the North Atlantic region but we will gain in Europe,” Harbarth added.
“Lufthansa’s investment in lounge facilities at its Munich and Frankfurt hubs makes it a strong alternative to Gulf carriers for Indian passengers. Lufthansa is spending 1 million euros a day to improve the customer facilities which they will appreciate and prefer,”
Gulf carriers such as the Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are diverting traffic from India and Southeast Asian countries to hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. German airline Lufthansa fears that this would adversely impact its hubs in Munich and Frankfurt.
Lufthansa carries passengers to the North Atlantic and European region through the Munich and Frankfurt airports.
“Yes for sure, wherever Etihad, Qatar, Emirates enter, they do tend to take away the traffic to its hubs,” said Steffen Harbarth, vice-president (Asia Pacific) of Lufthansa.
“But Lufthansa has been smart and if we are losing share in one region, we are gaining in the others,” he said.
According to Harbarth, Lufthansa has a far greater reach into Europe than any Gulf carrier. He said Munich was an important hub for Asian travellers to the US and Europe.
“Munich is very important and has a strong European business. It connects to 130 destinations, which are not covered by the gulf carriers. We might lose a little business for the North Atlantic region but we will gain in Europe,” Harbarth added.
“Lufthansa’s investment in lounge facilities at its Munich and Frankfurt hubs makes it a strong alternative to Gulf carriers for Indian passengers. Lufthansa is spending 1 million euros a day to improve the customer facilities which they will appreciate and prefer,”
