Lufthansa is starting to reduce the number of flights it operates with a first-class cabin on two transatlantic routes, and is considering moving to a two-class service in other markets in Africa and the Middle East.
The carrier has brought forward its plans to axe first-class service by a year as it introduces nine leased two-class aircraft - a mix of seven Airbus A330-200s and A340-300s and two Boeing 767-300s - before taking delivery of new A330-300s and A340-600s. From 6 January it began operating the first A330-200 on its daily Frankfurt-Boston route, with the second two-class aircraft going on to Frankfurt-Philadelphia in February.
The move is "due to the economic situation on these routes", says the carrier, where demand does not support a first-class service. However, the decision will not be fleet-wide, says Lufthansa, and it will not remove first-class seats from existing aircraft. "On most long-haul routes first-class is one of the most important parts of our product," says the carrier.
As more leased aircraft are delivered, other routes, including further transatlantic services, will lose first class. The first of its 10 two-class A340-600s will be delivered from the end of this year, with the first of 10 two-class A330-300s arriving in early 2004. The leased A330/A340s and 767s will be returned to Airbus and Thomas Cook respectively.
As Lufthansa amends its first-class offer, it is also preparing to add more all-business class services similar to that it operates between Düsseldorf and New York Newark with Swiss corporate charter firm Privatair. This route, which Privatair flies with a 48-seat Boeing Business Jet on behalf of Lufthansa, has been performing up to expectations.
This has led the carrier to consider other routes to the USA and the Middle East, possibly from other secondary German airports. One strong possibility is a Düsseldorf-Washington service, as formerly operated by United Airlines.
Source: Airline Business
