Lufthansa has announced that its flagship Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft will service the airline’s Frankfurt (FRA) – New York (JFK) route July 15 through October 25, 2014, during the airline’s summer schedule. The daily service from Frankfurt, LH404, will depart at 5:10 pm (local time) and arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 7:50pm. Return flight LH405 is scheduled to leave New York at 9:45 pm, arriving in Frankfurt at 11:20 am the following day.
“Although we've flown the new ‘Queen of the Skies’ to our JFK gateway on occasion, this marks the first time Lufthansa has dedicated 747-8 service to the New York market,” said Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President The Americas.
Lufthansa has 14 747-8s currently in service. In addition to the Frankfurt – New York (JFK) route, during the 2014 summer schedule, the aircraft will fly to the following destinations in North and South America: Los Angeles, Mexico City, Chicago, Sao Paulo, and Washington DC.
The Boeing 747-8 features: new state-of-the-art wings with improved aerodynamics and raked wing tips, new fuel-efficient U.S.-manufactured GEnx-2B engines that contribute to a reduction in fuel burn, emissions, and noise, thus giving customers the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger airplane, and fly-by-wire technology.
The aircraft generates a noise footprint that is 30 percent smaller than the 747-400 and achieves fuel consumption of around 70 miles per gallon per passenger (based on the standard configuration), which is about 12 percent less than current wide-body jets and lower than international emission standards. The 747-8 is one of the industry’s most fuel-efficient aircraft, and is integral to Lufthansa’s commitment to the sustainable reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The 747-8 fuselage is 250 feet 2 inches long, which is 18 feet 4 inches longer than the 747-400. The stretch provides the airline with 26 percent more cargo volume, and allows Lufthansa to operate the 747-8 with a configuration of 362 seats (8 First Class, 92 Business Class and 262 Economy Class).
New Business Class product with innovative “V” seating concept
Lufthansa’s 747-8 interior includes a new curved, upswept design that gives passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort, while adding more room for personal belongings. In addition, passengers of the Lufthansa 747-8 Intercontinental will enjoy the carrier’s most up-to-date cabins in all three classes, and will be among the first to experience the airline’s new Business Class product, including a completely redesigned seat that meets the comfort and privacy desires expressed by customers during an extensive research process. At the push of a button, the seat converts to a full-flat, horizontal sleeping surface measuring 6 feet 6 inches in length (1.98 meters). Ergonomically improved cushioning ensures a high degree of comfort in a sitting or horizontal position, and adjustable armrests provide more space in the shoulder area when lying down.
Another unique attribute of the new Business Class cabin is the innovative seating arrangement in the form of a “V” such that two neighboring seats are angled towards one another along a central axis. The new alignment allows Lufthansa to fulfill one of the main wishes expressed by customers – to sit or lie facing the direction of travel, while at the same time enjoying virtually double the distance between neighboring seats at shoulder level. This solution also gives Business Class passengers greater privacy and more personal living space.
Customers can track the progression of the 747-8 into Lufthansa’s service via a dedicated 747-8 micro site that showcases product features along with 3-D models of the aircraft and interactive games.
About Lufthansa
One of the world's largest and most prestigious airlines, Lufthansa currently flies to 253 destinations in 103 countries, with hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, and with the Lufthansa Group acquisition of Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS – Vienna, Brussels and Zurich. From its 20 North American gateways, Lufthansa and its partners serve over 450 destinations in more than 120 countries. An industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating the most technologically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleet in the world. Its long-haul fleet to and from North America includes the Boeing 747-400 and the 747-8, as well as the Airbus A330, A340 and A380. Currently, Lufthansa has nearly 300 new aircraft worth about $48 billion on order. Lufthansa is the largest European operator of the A380 and was the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8, the industries’ two most fuel-efficient passenger aircraft. Known for its premium services, Lufthansa continues its $150 million program earmarked for building new or upgrading existing lounge facilities across its worldwide network and will spend more than $3.6 billion in new onboard products and services by 2015. In 2010, Lufthansa re-launched its broadband wireless Internet service onboard, FlyNet. For more information or reservations, visit www.LH.com.
