Lufthansa expects 1.5m passenger annually on new premium economy

Lufthansa German airline says it expects about 1.5 million passengers annually on its new Premium economy, which it also just launched on Nigerian routes.

Lufthansa Premium Economy Class is located within the cabin as a clearly identifiable separate compartment between Business and Economy Class.

It has a high-quality design and contains between 21 and 52 seats, depending on the aircraft type. The state-of-the-art A330 in use on Nigerian routes will be fitted with 21 Premium Economy seats.

“We are delighted that we can now offer our passengers on our Nigerian routes the Premium Economy Class“,  Claus Becker, Lagos based Managing Director, Sub-Sahara Africa, Lufthansa German Airlines, said.

Also speaking, Jens Bischof, chief operating officer and member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board in charge of sales, product and marketing, said, ‘our Premium Economy Class creates a completely new travel experience that combines affordability with greater comfort. The seats offer up to 50 per cent more room than Economy Class and position us in a premium segment within the international competitive environment’.

Customers are greeted with a welcome drink on board and will find their own water bottle as well as a high-quality amenity kit with practical travel accessories at their seat.

Meals are presented on menus and served on porcelain tableware.

The new seats are up to 3 centimetres wider and provide greater privacy as well as approximately 10 centimetres more room at the side thanks to each seat. The back rest can be reclined further and the seat pitch is a significantly more spacious 97 centimetres.

“The design and features of the new seat in particular are based on extensive passenger surveys and workshops with sales partners – a process that has been successfully used at Lufthansa. Following the upgrade of our First and Business Class, the installation of 3,600 seats on all 106 of our long-haul aircraft in just one year will mean another step towards becoming a five-star airline, we expect to see more than 1.5 million passengers per year in our new Premium Economy Class”, Bischof said.

And to commemorate the launch of the Premium Economy Class on Nigeria routes effective October 1,  2015, Lufthansa is offering its agents and the public a special offer on the new product.

The premium economy class for travel in October and beyond is offered for $1348 to Europe; $1882 to North America, $1777 to Canada while sales are valid till September 2015.

With a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 23 kilogrammes each, passengers can take twice as much free luggage with them compared with Economy Class.

Passengers will have the option to also enjoy the comfort of our Business Lounges before their departure. Lounges were previously only open to status customers and are otherwise unavailable on a paying basis.

Also, check-in and boarding procedures as well as hand luggage regulations are the same as in Economy Class.

“We are striking a chord with customers with the Premium Economy Class. As well as cost-conscious business travellers, we’re furthermore attracting the also in Nigería rapidly growing target group of leisure travellers who don’t want to skimp on on-board comforts during their holidays”, Becker added.

The new product will enable Lufthansa to meet the requirements of many business and private passengers who travel with other airlines in a similar travel class or who fly Economy Class due to travel specifications.

Following the introduction of its new full-flat Business Class, Lufthansa created a much wider gap between Economy and Business Class. As a result, there is now room for its new Premium Economy Class, which offers considerably more space and comfort as well as many additional product features, but is closer to Economy Class than Business Class in terms of its average prices.

The introduction of Premium Economy Class will complement the many improvements that Lufthansa plans to make in all classes on board and on the ground by 2015. By this point in time, the entire long-haul fleet will have the new First and Business Class – which will involve the installation of 7,000 new seats on the Company’s aircraft. Apart from the interior of the cabins, services on board and on the ground are also being enhanced.

The goal is to demonstrate to an even greater degree the qualities of being a dedicated host with a keen understanding of service and hospitality.

Sade Williams