ATW Daily News

Lufthansa moving forward with first class, inflight Internet

Thursday April 5, 2007

Lufthansa will install a new first class cabin on one of its long-haul aircraft for a test run this year. "Even though the A380 is delayed for Lufthansa, we will introduce our new first class on time on our A340 fleet, starting the reconfiguration process with the 2008 winter schedule," Executive VP-Marketing and Sales Thierry Antinori told ATWOnline. LH will complete the retrofit of its 83 long-haul aircraft with its new business class next month. Economy passengers should benefit from the installation of individual video screens starting this fall. Antinori said 60 long-haul aircraft have inflight Internet capability but the service was deactivated when Connexion by Boeing shut down last summer (ATWOnline, Aug. 18, 2006). "We are talking to new [Internet] providers," he said, indicating a decision may come as early as this month.

Separately, Antinori said Star Alliance signed an MOU with both EgyptAir and Ethiopian Airlines for bilateral cooperation. "But that does not mean both carriers will be members of the alliance," he cautioned.

by Kurt Hofmann

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