DOHA: Europe’s leading carrier Lufthansa has strengthened its position in Qatar during 2012. The number of arriving passengers to Doha on business or leisure purposes was an all time high last year and strengthened the Lufthansa service which operates on a daily basis, Carsten Schaeffer, Lufthansa Vice President Sales & Service South East Europe, Middle East and Africa said here yesterday.
“Qatar has developed as one of the fastest growing markets for premium travel in the GCC. Our growth numbers in First Class are especially impressive — the volume has nearly doubled within one year. This is a clear sign that our strategy to invest into brand new First and Business Class products as well as the world’s only dedicated First Class Terminal is paying off. Lufthansa’s ratings for the premium travel classes have developed more than positively, he said.
“Since we added Doha to our global network in January 2006, we have continuously grown this service with additional flights and larger aircraft. Over this period of seven years, the capital of Qatar has become a strong pillar in our Middle Eastern network and Frankfurt a preferred hub for customers,” commented Peter Pollak, Lufthansa’s General Manager UAE and Director Gulf.
“The fourth runway in Frankfurt and the new A pier with easy connections and five premium lounges have increased our overall punctuality and will push Frankfurt fast forward on its way to become the most efficient and reliable hub in Europe.” Lufthansa has set industry standards as well in other areas. The airline has successfully concluded the trial use of biofuel in regular flight operations for just under six months. In all, a total of 1,187 biofuel flights were operated between Hamburg and Frankfurt from 15 July to 27 December 2011. An Airbus A321 completed eight flights a day between Hamburg and Frankfurt. One of the aircraft’s two engines was operated with fuel containing up to 50 percent of biosynthetic kerosene — the maximum mix permitted — produced by the Finnish petroleum company Neste Oil.
Lufthansa operates more than 100 weekly flights to 13 destinations in the Middle East. In the GCC Lufthansa serves Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Muscat, Kuwait, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam from Frankfurt. In addition there are flights from Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh to Munich, Lufthansa’s second hub.
The Peninsula
