Lufthansa puts bigger plane on Nairobi-Frankfurt route

Lufthansa Group had in June announced its plans to expand in the East African region. PHOTO | AFP 

By STELLAR MURUMBA

German airline Lufthansa Group will from tonight introduce a larger aircraft as it increases capacity and frequency of flights on the Nairobi-Frankfurt route.

Dubbed Airbus A340-300, with Star Alliance livery, the aircraft will fly four times a week, up from the previous three weekly flights on the narrow-bodied Boeing 737-700, which it replaces.

The wide-bodied plane gives the airline a competitive edge as it will offer more space for the eight hour plus long haul flights.

“We are thrilled to expand our operations this week and offer our customers in Nairobi as well as those travelling to Kenya an upgraded product in which we have invested €1 million (Sh114 million) daily over the last three years,” said Lufthansa’s regional manager in East Africa, Tobias Ernst.

The airline had in June announced its plans to expand in the East African region. It will initially operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in a three class configuration. It will also have Friday flights instead of Saturdays starting October 30.

READ: Lufthansa returns to Nairobi after 18-year absence

The carrier will provide 18 business class seats, 19 new premium economy cabin seating and 261 economy class seats, raising the capacity to 298 from the previous 89.

Mr Ernst said they will maintain the late night departure from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with an early morning arrival in Frankfurt that is popular with their customers.

Lufthansa’s flights to and from Nairobi will carry its Star Alliance partner United Airline’s code, offering more seamless connections to its US network.