LUFTHANSA COUNTS DOWN TO THE LAUNCH OF NEW NON-STOP SERVICE FROM HONG KONG TO MUNICH

Bonus miles will be offered for travel on the new route

Lufthansa is to become the first airline to offer direct flights from Hong Kong to Munich, the biggest city in southern Germany and a new gateway to Europe.

The Hong Kong to Munich service will be launched on March 25. The airline will continue to run 10 non-stop flights a week to Europe. Three weekly Hong Kong night flights will now go to Munich, where Lufthansa provides fast and smooth connections to major European cities and the rest of Germany. Seven daily flights will continue to serve its Frankfurt hub.

To commemorate the new service, Lufthansa is offering bonus miles for travel between the two cities from March 25 through June 15, 2001. In addition to the normal miles, 5,000 bonus miles will be added to a round-trip flight on Economy Class, 12,000 and 20,000 bonus miles for two round-trip and three round-trip flights respectively. For paid travel on First and Business Class, a passenger can even earn up to 10,000 bonus miles for his first round-trip, 24,000 miles for the second round-trip and 40,000 for the third round-trip flights.

To enjoy the bonus miles, travellers should register prior to their journey at Lufthansa’s website www.lufthansa-greaterchina.com from March 19.

The Hong Kong to Munich service, using Airbus 340 long-haul aircraft, will operate from Hong Kong on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, returning on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will leave Hong Kong at 2305, arriving next day at 0525 local time. Flights from Munich will depart at 2045, landing in Hong Kong at 1400 the next day.

"This new route adds a new dimension to our service from Hong Kong," said Juergen Thomsen, Lufthansa’s General Manager for Southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.

"Munich is a wonderful city. Not only is it a new gateway to Europe, but it is a major business centre, especially for high tech industries. There is also plenty of attractions for tourists ranging from famous Oktoberfest beer festival to fairy tale castles."

Mr Thomsen added: "We are also pleased to reward our customers who take the new non-stop service with bonus miles, they can earn up to a free trip within Asia."

First Class and Business Class passengers arriving from Hong Kong will be able to rest in a comfortable dayroom at the five-star Kempinski Hotel in Munich with access to a pool, sauna, fitness room and business centre. The service is free of charge for First Class passengers and at a special rate for Business Class.

Lufthansa German Airlines celebrated its 40th anniversary of continuous passenger service to Hong Kong on January 24, 2001. The anniversary coincides with the launch of the new route to Munich and the introduction of Chinese flight attendants on flights connecting Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai with Frankfurt.

Lufthansa was named “Airline of the Year 2000” by Air Transport World, the internationally famous aviation magazine. It was placed fourth in the airline section of Fortune magazine's list of the world's most admired companies and corporations.

Lufthansa has been placed first in four categories in a poll conducted last autumn by the 'Business Traveller' magazine, a travel trade publication in Germany.

As a founding member of the Star Alliance, Lufthansa has developed one of the most comprehensive alliance networks in the industry, with partnerships serving all six continents.