25
September
2015
|
18:32 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Lufthansa launches Tampa/Frankfurt Route

September 25, 2015

Today, Lufthansa German Airlines began new nonstop service to Florida’s west coast. Flight LH482 left Frankfurt (FRA) at 11 a.m. and arrived at Tampa International Airport (TPA) at 3:50 p.m. local time. The return flight, LH483, will depart Tampa at 5:20 p.m. and arrive in Frankfurt Sept. 26, at 8:45 a.m.

Lufthansa’s summer schedule, running to October 25, offers five weekly flights between Tampa and Frankfurt. The winter schedule offers four flights per week. Tampa joins Miami and Orlando as Lufthansa’s third destination in Florida, expanding Lufthansa’s presence in the United States to 18 gateways.

“It’s an exciting time at Lufthansa as Tampa is the first of several new leisure destinations that we plan to add to our network in the coming months,” said Karl Ulrich Garnadt, CEO Lufthansa German Airlines and member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “Passengers from the Tampa Bay area will now be able to experience the quality service and premium products that Lufthansa has always been known to offer, including our brand new Premium Economy Class that offers extra space for comfort and relaxation, as well as an elevated experience.”

“This is a game changer for Tampa International Airport and our community,” said airport CEO Joe Lopano. “We’ve already seen huge growth in international passengers. This service will allow us to double international traffic compared to 2010. We anticipate the flight, which gives our passengers direct access to the heart of Europe and the world via the airline’s extensive global network, will have an annual economic impact on the Tampa Bay region of $97 million and create roughly 680 jobs.”

The Airbus A340-300 – which is equipped with FlyNet, Lufthansa’s broadband internet access product – 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. Lufthansa’s new Business Class offers a unique seating arrangement in the form of a “V” that angles two neighboring seats towards one another along a central axis. This innovative 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 sitting 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 new 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 surrounding the seats include a bottle holder, electrical outlet and ample storage. Premium Economy passengers also receive a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 50 pounds each and access Lufthansa Business Class Lounges for 25 EUR. The 261 Economy Class cabin seats also feature an in-seat video screen and an optimized ergonomic seat design with a slimmer seat back that adds to more personal space per passenger.

Frankfurt – Germany’s most international city – offers a rich culture and history. With a population of about 5.6 million, the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region is one of Europe’s leading economic centers and a popular travel destination with a wide range of tourist attractions and sights, including world-class ballet, opera, theater, and art exhibitions. Although only fifth in size among German cities, Frankfurt is Germany's financial powerhouse. The German Central Bank is there, as is the European Central Bank, which manages the Euro.
Through its home base at Frankfurt Airport and together with its Lufthansa Group carriers and Star Alliance partners, Lufthansa provides passengers connecting through Frankfurt with convenient access to the world’s largest airline network and more than 1,300 destinations worldwide.

The Tampa – Frankfurt Lufthansa flight can now be booked on LH.com. A round-trip from Tampa to Frankfurt in Economy Class can be booked with rates beginning at $999.