Lufthansa starts operating to Rio next winter - 5 weekly flights from Frankfurt

by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.com

Business - Company Briefs -- 04 March 2011 -- 13:30CEST

Lufthansa is continuing to expand its presence in South America and next winter is adding a world-famous dream destination to its route network: Rio de Janeiro.

The new non-stop service from Frankfurt to Brazil’s second-largest city after Sao Paolo will be launched on October 30, 2011. Flights on this new route (LH 500 and LH 501) will be operated 5 times weekly with an Airbus A340 configured with 221 seats in a 3-class layout (First, Business and Economy).

Rio de Janeiro, renowned for its Carnival and such world-famous landmarks as Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach, is one of the venues for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and will also host the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Lufthansa is no newcomer to Rio de Janeiro. Germany’s largest airline has serviced the metropolis already since 1956 until 2005. Thanks to the strong economic growth in the region in recent years, a comeback is now planned for the end of October, at the start of the 2011/2012 winter timetable.

The new route will complement Lufthansa’s existing services from Frankfurt and Munich to Sao Paolo. From Rio de Janeiro, Star Alliance partner TAM offers numerous connecting flights. Brazil, and in particular the Greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 12 million, is now one of the most dynamic growth markets in South America.

Thanks to the expansion of Brazil’s oil and gas extraction industry, many German and international firms have set up offices in the port city, making it an increasingly popular destination also for business travellers. In the run-up to the World Cup and the Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro remains a strong tourist magnet.

Lufthansa is offering an attractive introductory fare for flights to Rio de Janeiro. A round-trip ticket from Frankfurt to Rio starts at €749 and can be booked now. The quoted fare applies to a return flight in Economy Class, inclusive of all taxes, fees and the Lufthansa Ticket Service Charge of €15 if the booking is made online at www.lufthansa.com.

Miles & More members can earn miles on these flights. Reservations can be made via the Lufthansa Call Centre.

Further information can be obtained at Lufthansa German Airlines in Malta on tel: 2125 2020, or online at www.malta.lufthansa.com.

Customers can also book their flights through Lufthansa-designated travel agencies or at Lufthansa sales counters at airports.

Average flight duration: 12 hours 30 minutes (Frankfurt-Rio) / 12 hours 05 minutes (Rio-Frankfurt)

Distance: 9,565km (5,165 nautical miles)

Aircraft type: Airbus 340-300 (221 seats (8 First Class, 48 Business Class, 165 Economy Class)