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Tough times ahead: Mr Axel Hilgers, Director, South Asia.

M. Somasekhar

Hyderabad, Oct. 13 Lufthansa, the German carrier, will not undertake any excessive expansion in the next couple of months, in view of the current ‘tough times’ in the aviation market in the country.

However, it will fulfil its committed growth in the country. The airliner would also introduce two more frequencies between Mumbai and Munich from October end (taking the total flights to five per week), said Mr Axel Hilgers, Director, South Asia.

“We see a few tough months coming up, especially the period of winter and perhaps summer. We have put in place plans to meet the challenges”, Mr Hilgers, who recently took over the new responsibility told Business Line here on Monday.

For the German airliner, India is a strategic market with 55 flights a week to various destinations. “We see a long-term growth and would like to consolidate. Plans are on for a daily Mumbai-Munich flight in the future”, he said.

Lufthansa has been operating services to India since the past 49 years and it has never reduced flights, but on the contrary continues to grow, said Mr Werner Heesen, who handed over the reins to Mr Hilgers after a long innings of 13 years in India.

He said the aviation industry has cycles of growth and dip and the airlines have their own strategy. “During difficult times, we have steps such as flying smaller aircraft, looking at different segments, destinations etc. that can be taken”, Mr Heesen explained.

Asked about the plans for MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), Mr Heesen said Lufthansa Technik has for economic reasons ‘temporarily shelved’, plans.

“We continue to be among the biggest players in the business and as and when opportunities crop up we will take up the initiatives”, he said.

“Our parting with the GMR Group for the proposed joint venture for the MRO at the international airport was also based on demand/supply situation. We enjoy cordial relationships with the company even now,” he said.

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