German aviation giant Lufthansa sees growth on UAE routes
Lufthansa and Swiss airlines carried over 345,000 passengers to and from the UAE during 2018.
A Lufthansa Airbus A380 passenger plane takes off. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
European aviation giant Lufthansa gas reported a 3 percent increase in passenger traffic in the UAE for 2018, compared to the previous year.
The company’s airlines Lufthansa and Swiss carried over 345,000 passengers to and from the UAE during the January-December period, a statement said.
A total of 671,000 passengers to and from the GCC region were transported in 2018, it added.
Heinrich Lange, senior director sales, Gulf, Afghanistan & Pakistan Lufthansa Group, said: “Home to very active and dynamic population, the UAE has been witnessing continued growth in air travel.
"This is also driven by the easing of travel barriers and increased interest to discover international destinations. Similarly, the UAE has emerged as one of the most attractive destinations for both business and leisure travelers, thanks to its rapidly growing economy and wide range of tourism attractions."
Lange said Lufthansa Group saw robust demand for long-haul flights in 2018 from passengers traveling to and from the UAE, adding that it remains committed to "exploring new ways to offer unique experiences to our yearning customers".
During 2018, the Lufthansa Group increased its passenger capacity on the UAE’s routes by 4 percent to meet increased customer demand.
Lufthansa currently operates 41 weekly flights between Frankfurt and six destinations in the region - Dubai, Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Bahrain. In addition, the Group’s network airline Swiss offers seven weekly frequencies between Zurich and airports in Dubai and Muscat.
The region’s most trending destinations in Europe included London, Paris, and Munich while Toronto, Washington, and Los Angeles were named as the top three long distance destinations for outbound travelers last year.