German airline Lufthansa began its A380 services to India with the first A380 flight arriving in the early hours of November 8, 2014 from Frankfurt. The all new A380 was welcomed with the traditional water canon ceremony at the airport and the in-flight crew was received with a traditional lamp lighting and felicitation ceremony.
Delhi becomes the first city in India to welcome Lufthansa’s flagship carrier and the world’s largest commercial passenger jet.
Wolfgang Will, Director South Asia, Lufthansa, said, “It’s a milestone event for us and we are very pleased to welcome the world’s largest commercial passenger jet which offers the finest in terms of flying comfort, luxury and efficiency. With the new A380, Lufthansa customers will be able to experience Lufthansa’s latest in-flight products and services including the latest business class and state-of-the art First Class.”
The new A380 strengthens Lufthansa’s commitment to the Indian market and will set new standards in international travel with the unique Lufthansa experience. Lufthansa already operates A330, A340 and B747 on its routes from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore to Europe and B737 from Pune. As a special gesture for customers, Lufthansa also announced a limited period, pre-launch pricing campaign on 7th, 8th and 9th November offering discounted fares to passengers flying from India to North America.
The Lufthansa A380 seats 520 passengers and its four Rolls-Royce engines each generate 70000lbs of thrust. Ecologically speaking, too, the A380 raises the bar. The megaliner is quieter than other planes, uses less fuel and can even “think” for itself and automatically apply the brakes after landing on the runway.