Lufthansa Redirects Flight Capacity to Meet Surging Demand in India

According to Lufthansa's Chief Commercial Officer Heiko Reitz, the airline is reallocating flight capacity from other countries to cater to the burgeoning travel demand in India. Reitz announced this decision at the "Wings India" event in Hyderabad, emphasizing that India has become Lufthansa's fastest-growing major market. The airline's flight capacity to India now surpasses pre-COVID levels by 14%, contrasting with the slower recovery in some of its other markets. Currently, the Lufthansa Group, inclusive of Swiss Air, is operating 64 weekly flights to India, marking an increase from the pre-pandemic 56 flights. India's aviation market is experiencing significant growth, with domestic passenger traffic projected to double to 350 million travelers by 2030. The government's substantial investment in airport infrastructure is expected to propel this growth further. In response to this opportunity, Lufthansa intends to reintroduce its Airbus A380 aircraft to the Indian market, positioning itself against a resurgent Air India. Reitz expressed optimism about the potential for multiple airlines to thrive in this expanding market.