First European airline to offer non-stop flights to continental Europe / New route increases Lufthansa’s presence on the West Coast
Lufthansa begins its new, non-stop service between Frankfurt, Germany and San Jose, California. Flight LH 488 departed from Frankfurt (FRA) at 10:53 a.m. local time, and is scheduled to arrive at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose (SJC) at 1:40 p.m. local time this afternoon. Eastbound flight LH 489 will leave San Jose at 3:20 p.m. local time, and is due to land in Frankfurt at 11:15 a.m. local time tomorrow (July 2, 2016). Lufthansa will be operating a five-times-weekly service on the new route all year round.
“San Jose is an emerging aviation market in the United States. Adding another California gateway to our already popular San Francisco route made complete sense due to the growing business environment in the region and the innovative spirit that is deeply entrenched in Silicon Valley, and which aligns with the Lufthansa Group’s brand values,” said Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President, The Americas, Lufthansa Group. “Passengers traveling from this new gateway will now be able to experience the quality service and premium products that Lufthansa offers, including our brand new Premium Economy Class that has 50 percent more legroom, a wider seat for comfort and relaxation, as well as an elevated experience overall.”
“We are proud to celebrate the launch of nonstop service between San Jose and Frankfurt, two technological and economic powerhouses that generate incredible demand from both business and leisure travelers,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. “This flight will help promote trade, investment and economic growth in both of our high-tech regions, and I’d like to thank Lufthansa for creating this direct connection from Silicon Valley to continental Europe.”
Onboard
The Airbus A340-300, which is used on the SJC-FRA route, offers a three-class configuration that includes 18 Business Class seats, 19 Premium Economy seats and 261 Economy Class seats, for a total of 298 seats. Furthermore, all long-haul passengers will experience the latest cabins and newest seats in every travel class. This is a result of the most comprehensive product and service upgrade in Lufthansa’s history. The aircraft is also equipped with FlyNet, Lufthansa’s broadband internet access product.
Onboard, Lufthansa’s Business Class offers a unique seating arrangement in the form of a “V” that angles two neighboring seats toward one another along a central axis. This novel solution enables Lufthansa to fulfill one of the main wishes expressed by customers during an extensive research process – to sit or lie facing the direction of travel, while at the same time virtually doubling the distance between two neighboring seats at shoulder level so Business Class passengers have greater privacy and more space. At the push of a button, the seat converts to a full-flat, horizontal sleeping surface, measuring 6’6” in length. Ergonomically improved cushioning ensures a high degree of comfort in a seated or horizontal position, and adjustable armrests provide more space in the shoulder area when lying down.
Debuting in November 2014, the Premium Economy Class is a new travel class for Lufthansa passengers to enjoy. The class touts affordability with greater comfort, offering up to 50 percent more room, a seat pitch of 38 inches, height-adjustable head and foot rests and individual armrests. Other features of the Premium Economy seats include a bottle holder, electrical outlet and ample storage space. Premium Economy passengers are also allowed to bring two pieces of baggage weighing up to 50 pounds each, and are able to access Lufthansa Business Class Lounges for 25 EUR.
The 261 Economy Class cabin seats feature an in-seat video screen and an optimized seat design with a slimmer seat back that adds more personal space per passenger.
Connections and destinations
Frankfurt – Germany’s most international city – has a rich culture and history. With a population of about 5.6 million, the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan area is one of Europe’s leading economic centers and a popular travel destination. The city offers a wide range of tourist attractions and sights, including world-class ballet, opera, theatres and art exhibitions. Although only fifth in size among German cities, Frankfurt is Germany's financial powerhouse. The German Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, as is the European Central Bank, which manages the Euro.
Working through its home base at Frankfurt Airport and together with its Lufthansa Group carriers and Star Alliance partners, Lufthansa provides passengers connecting in Frankfurt with convenient access to the world’s largest airline network and more than 159 destinations worldwide. Upon arrival in Frankfurt, passengers have access to 93 one-stop connections in Europe, 10 destinations in Africa and 19 cities in Asia.
With regards to San Jose, those that travel via this gateway to Northern California have several advantages. The new Lufthansa flight route reduces additional transportation costs for passengers, since they no longer have to drive the often traffic-filled route to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in order to fly, non-stop, to continental Europe. San Jose International Airport’s (SJC) ultra-modern and efficient facilities and high-tech services offer convenience, faster security checks and expedited Customs entry into the US. Lufthansa’s business class customers receive complimentary access to The Club at SJC, the airport’s award-winning passenger lounge, which is open to all other travelers for a minimal-cost day pass. The Club is located directly opposite Lufthansa’s gate, and allows passengers to unwind in a relaxing atmosphere while enjoying complimentary snacks and beverages. San Jose’s predictably sunny, fog-free skies contribute to the best on-time record among California airports served by Lufthansa.
The new service in brief
Currently, a round-trip Lufthansa flight between San Jose, California and Frankfurt, Germany starts at $1,073. For further information and reservations visit LH.com.
About Lufthansa
One of the world's largest and most prestigious airlines, Lufthansa, serving 21 North American gateways, currently flies to 198 destinations in 77 countries. The air carrier offers hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. With the Lufthansa Group acquisition of Austrian Airlines, SWISS and a stake in Brussels Airlines, additional hubs include Vienna, Brussels, and Zurich. The entire Group flew a total of 108 million passengers in 2015 and currently serves 261 destinations in 101 countries worldwide. Lufthansa, along with its Group members and Star Alliance partners, serves over 1,300 destinations worldwide. An industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating one of the most technologically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleets in the world. Its long-haul fleet to and from North America includes the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380—the industries’ two most environmentally-friendly passenger aircraft. Lufthansa is the largest European operator of the A380 and was also the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8. The Lufthansa Group currently has 259 new aircraft on order worth €35 billion in list prices, to be delivered by 2025. Known for its premium services, Lufthansa continues to build new or upgrade existing lounge facilities across its worldwide network. In 2014, Lufthansa introduced its new Premium Economy Class which offers further comfort and more personal space. Lufthansa’s entire long-haul fleet now features all new onboard products in each class– bringing Lufthansa one step closer to becoming the first five-star airline in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, the entire Lufthansa long-haul fleet is equipped with its onboard broadband wireless Internet service, FlyNet. For more information or reservations, visit LH.com.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
About Mineta San José International Airport
Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is Silicon Valley’s airport, a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. SJC serves more than 10 million passengers annually, with 166 peak daily departures on 14 domestic and international carriers to 38 nonstop destinations.
SJC’s five-star customer service experience sets it apart from other Bay Area and U.S. airports. Airlines and passengers respond positively to SJC’s customer amenities, including modern terminal buildings, free and fast WiFi, comfortable seating with built-in power outlets, a luxurious, award-winning lounge open to all travelers, a duty free store offering an enhanced shopping experience, a rental car center conveniently located across from the terminals, and the Mobile Passport app and Global Entry kiosks to expedite arriving international passengers. Silicon Valley’s airport is located in San José, California’s third largest city and the nation’s tenth largest city. SJC facts can be found here. For more airport information, visitwww.flysanjose.com.
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