Lufthansa German Airlines in Abu Dhabi: 35 years on

On November 2, 1976, the first Lufthansa flight touched down at Abu Dhabi International Airport, then called Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport. Lufthansa linked the capital of the United Arab Emirates to its impressive global route network 35 years ago and today still holds a strong market presence. Lufthansa added flights to Dubai in May of the same year. Today, Lufthansa flies 21 times a week between the U.A.E. and Germany, with daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt and daily services from Dubai to Frankfurt and Munich.

“Abu Dhabi is an important industrial and cultural center in the Gulf region, and for 35 years it has been on Lufthansa’s destination map,” said Peter Pollak, Lufthansa General Manager UAE and Director Gulf, Afghanistan & Iraq, expressing his congratulations to the jubilee. “This is proof of our long-term commitment to the whole region and to the U.A.E. in specific. The U.A.E. is a significant trade partner for Germany and a popular destination for holiday makers. There is also a steadily growing demand from UAE residents traveling to Europe and to over 20 Lufthansa destinations in the USA and Canada,” he added.

In Frankfurt or Munich Lufthansa passengers have access to the carrier’s global route network with 100 destinations in Europe and 198 globally, in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Across the Middle East Lufthansa serves 13 destinations in 10 countries.

In its winter timetable which started October 30, Lufthansa added three new destinations to its route network: Rio de Janeiro, Aberdeen and London Gatwick. The airline now serves 198 destinations in 82 countries. Lufthansa passengers aiming for a trip to Rio de Janeiro will have a choice of five non-stop flights per week between Frankfurt and Rio de Janeiro. Beginning this winter timetable, passengers travelling to London can also opt to fly to London Gatwick served twice a day from Frankfurt. Lufthansa also serves Aberdeen three times daily from Frankfurt.

Choosing to fly Lufthansa means being able to enjoy the many benefits of Miles & More. Founded by Lufthansa in 1993, Miles & More today counts 20 million members, making it Europe’s largest and most successful frequent flyer program. PartnerPlusBenefit is a complete online, customized loyalty program that offers corporates and their staff employees great benefits and attractive incentives. With Lufthansa’s PartnerPlusBenefit it pays to fly, for every Lufthansa flight taken in Economy and Business class, the company will benefit by collecting valuable BenefitPoints which can be redeemed for attractive awards. The participation in the PartnerPlusBenefit is free of charge.

On May 2, 2011, and for the second straight year, Lufthansa was named “best European airline serving the Middle East” in the Business Traveller Middle East Awards. Recently, readers of the Business Traveller Deutschland magazine ranked Lufthansa in top place in two categories in 2010. In a magazine poll of around 2,000 readers, Lufthansa clinched the best marks for superb service from a majority of the respondents, placing the airline twice at the top of the scorecard. Besides winning in the “Best Business Class on German and European Routes“, the biggest German carrier left the competition trailing in the voting for the “Best Airline Website for Business Travellers” category.