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Thrice-weekly Bangalore-Frankfurt service from Sept -- Lufthansa introductory fare soon

Ashwini Phadnis

NEW DELHI, July 11

THE German airlines, Lufthansa, which is to launch a thrice-weekly Bangalore-Frankfurt service from September this year, will announce an introductory fare for the sector by August 1.

``Lufthansa will have an introductory fare for the flight. We are working on it right now and hope to announce it by August 1,'' Lufthansa's General Manager, South Asia, Mr Harald Hahn, told Business Line. The airlines thrice-a-week service on the Bangal ore-Frankfurt sector which is to be operated with an Airbus A-340, is to be launched on September 2.

The airlines hopes to operate more flights to either Chennai or Mumbai during 2002 and 2003. The recently concluded bilateral air services agreement between India and Germany allows Lufthansa to operate two additional Boeing 747 frequencies between India and Germany in 2002 and two more Boeing 747 frequencies in 2003.

``Which destination Lufthansa operates to, will depend on the demand of the two markets. We will take a decision after reviewing all aspects of the market,'' Mr Hahn said.

With the launch of its flight in September, Lufthansa hopes that it will be in a position to offer the best weekly non-stop connections between South India and Europe, and thereby come up with a winning combination for the market.

``The launch of the Bangalore flight means that now the traveller from South India has the option of travelling non-stop between Bangalore and Chennai to Frankfurt six days a week,'' Mr Hahn said.

Despite international air fares from India being low, Mr Hahn did not feel that the timing of launch for the flight was wrong. ``The airlines has studied the market carefully and we feel that there is enough demand. In fact, since April-May this year, wh en the Bangalore flight details were fed into the system, the passenger loads have been in the range which the airlines was expecting,'' he said.

Meanwhile, in an effort to provide more convenience to Indian passengers, Lufthansa is looking at the possibility of opening a `Welcome desk' for them at Frankfurt airport. ``The setting up of the welcome desk is on our wish list. However, we will have t o look into several issues, including whether funds are available,'' Mr Hahn said.

Ticket auction on Net

IN an effort to popularise its introductory Bangalore-Frankfurt flight, Lufthansa plans to hold two e-auctions offering not only air tickets but also to offer a car to the winner.

Mr Harald Hahn said the two e-auctions would be held on August 22 and August 29 at www.lufthansa-india.com. ``The auctions will offer seats not only in economy class but also in business and first class. The tickets on offer will be very attractive, with some going for as low as 50 per cent less than what a passenger will pay if they purchase them outside the net,'' Mr Hahn said.

The airlines has held three e-auctions offering tickets at heavily discounted prices. According to Lufthansa officials, the idea of holding auctions on the Internet was to attract customers to visit the airlines Web site.

Globally, Lufthansa hopes to sell more than half-a-million tickets through the net during 2001 and achieve a target of around 25 per cent of its turnover.

Besides, the airlines will also offer additional air miles for the passengers who travel by the introductory activities and is to do several more campaigns to promote the Bangalore flight. Officials said the idea of having e-auctions had been taken as Ba ngalore was the information technology capital of the country.

Picture: Mr Harald Hahn, General Manager, South Asia, Lufthansa Star Airlines.