LUFTHANSA aims to significantly increase its leisure sales and share of the global leisure market following the launch last month of its new Global Leisure and Online Sales business unit.
Speaking at the German Travel Mart in Cologne, Lufthansa’s vp global leisure & online sales, Christian Tillmann, said the new business unit was responsible for the airline’s leisure strategy and leisure product development. Its task is to increase its sales from all leisure-related sales channels (online, travel agencies, tour operators and consolidators) as well as all leisure target groups (economy, business and first class, and Private Jet). It also focuses on special segments such as medical travel and seamen. Christian said the recently relaunched Lufthansa.com website was also proving to be a growing distribution channel.
Meanwhile the airline continues to invest in its fleet, receiving 146 aircraft between 2010 and 2016 with a list price of more than €13bn (R126bn). It has already received the first six from its order of 15 A380s, with two more to follow this year. Lufthansa’s A380s already operate to New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Johannesburg. The Johannesburg service enjoys 80% to 90% load factors. The A380 service to San Francisco started on May 10 and Miami will be added on June 10. Christian said use of new-generation aircraft had virtually halved the fleet’s fuel consumption from 6,2 litres/100km/passenger in 1991 to 3,4 litres last year.
This European summer, Lufthansa will serve 17 airports in Germany with 1 672 weekly frequencies; 111 airports in the European Union with 4 182 weekly frequencies; and 83 airports worldwide with 661 weekly frequencies. A Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro service will be added to the existing São Paulo service in the next European winter.
