The Hindu Business Line : Lufthansa studying new destinations

FLYING HIGH: Mr Uwe Muller (right), Vice-President, Asia-Pacific, Lufthansa Airlines, and Mr Werner Heesen, General Manager (Passenger Sales - India and Director - South Asia), at a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , March 30

Lufthansa is contemplating enhancing the capacity to Bangalore by inducting larger aircraft.

The IT capital, which has emerged as its third largest market, was providing 30 per cent growth to its capacity.

Mr Uwe Miller, Vice-President (Asia-Pacific), and Mr Deepak Biswas, General Manager (Passenger Sales), Karnataka Region, told mediapersons here today that the airline's phenomenal growth could prompt it to induct bigger aircraft like Boeing 747 series or Airbus 346-600 (both with a capacity of more than 300 seats). However, there were no immediate plans to do so. Lufthansa currently operates daily service from Bangalore with the 235-seater Airbus 340-100 series.

Lufthansa could also look at flying to Munich, its second hub in Germany, if it was given permission. However, this would happen only from a fresh round of bilateral negotiation in 2007. It now had a daily flight from Delhi to Munich, which was fast emerging as an alternative hub for transit passengers to international destinations.

Mr Werner Heesen, General Manager (Passenger Sales - India and Director - South Asia), said Lufthansa was evaluating new destinations from India to grow its business in line with market demand. Kolkata as a possible destination in the eastern market was not served by it, while with a lot of developments in the western region, it could select a destination either in Gujarat or in Maharashtra.

He said, however, the decision would be made only after assessing the markets, profitability and the infrastructure. Lufthansa had approval for operating 50 weekly flights from India. It was currently flying 42 services. India generated 21 per cent of the total passenger revenue out of Asia-Pacific operation, while China with 17 per cent was behind India