To increase its market share in the India air passenger outbound travelsegment, German airline major Lufthansa Tuesday launched its services on a newBoeing 747-8 intercontinental jet from Frankfurt to Delhi.
The Indian national capital is the first Asian destination to receive serviceson Boeing 747-8. The new aircraft has replaced the old B747-400 which werebeing operated on the airlines' daily direct flight between Delhi-Frankfurt.
The new aircraft offers 362 seats in all including eight first class, 92business class and 262 economy class seats.
According to Axel Hilgers, director (South Asia) for Lufthansa, the growingimportance of the Indian market was the reason for the launch of the services.
"Choosing India as launch-pad in Asia for our latest two products, the newBoeing 747-8 aircraft and new business class, underlines India's importance inour global network as well as our commitment to continue our success storyhere," Hilgers told IANS.
Hilgers added that the introduction of Boeing 747-8 marks the beginning of awider overhaul of Lufthansa's fleet to India.
The airline also plans to introduce the new aircraft between Bangalore andFrankfurt in the coming months.
Currently, the airline offers 46 weekly flights from five Indian destinationsin the ongoing summer schedule.