Lufthansa Italia to offer Heathrow flights
[November 28th 2008]
Flights from Heathrow to Milan will be offered by the new Italian airline, Lufthansa Italia.
German airline Lufthansa is launching its new brand Lufthansa Italia to operate flights from Milan Malpensa airport to eight destinations in Europe. It says the new airline will blend “traditional Lufthansa values, notably reliability and high quality, with Italian flair”.
Lufthansa is applying for an Italian Air Operator Certificate and plans to set up the new Italian airline early next year.
"Lufthansa Italia will position us in an important market characterised by strong demand, which also holds out opportunities for buoyant growth in the future. We will be offering our Italian customers an extensive route network from northern Italy to attractive destinations in Europe," explains Lufthansa CEO and chairman, Wolfgang Mayrhuber.
"Milan and Lombardy rank among Europe’s economically most important and strongest regions. A good route network connecting them with Europe’s principal cities is essential. Lufthansa Italia is making this a reality and at the same time is demonstrating a clear commitment to the region," Mayrhuber adds.
Flights to the first two destinations, Barcelona and Paris Charles de Gaulle are scheduled to operate from February 2nd next year. Then four weeks later Lufthansa Italia plans to start flights to Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest and Madrid from Milan Malpensa.
Flights to Heathrow and Lisbon are due to start when the airline’s summer 2009 flight schedules are introduced at the end of March. All flights can be booked now with fares from 99 euros.
Lufthansa Italia will have a fleet of six Airbus A319 aircraft when it begins operations. The Airbus A319s will seat 138 passengers in business and economy class. “The discreet cabin design betrays its Italian origins. The passengers will be served by Italian flight attendants with Italian delicacies adding a note of originality to the in-flight menu,” says Lufthansa in a press statement.
Lufthansa Italia passengers will be able to enjoy an enhanced airport lounge and fast-track through airport security at Milan Malpensa airport from spring 2009.
Written by: Nick Purdom