German flag carrier Lufthansa seems to be focused on expanding its footprint in the Indian subcontinent with an upgraded aircraft deployment for flight services from Frankfurt to Mumbai. While the route currently utilizes the airline's older Airbus A340s, they will soon be replaced with the much newer Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from late October until mid-January next year.

Lufthansa's Dreamliner heads to Mumbai

At present, Lufthansa currently operates a once-daily non-stop flight from Frankfurt Airport to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with flight LH 756, with the return leg operating as LH 757. The airline deploys the older and less fuel-efficient long-haul Airbus A340-300s for this route, allowing it to ferry an estimated 1,953 passengers to Mumbai weekly.

But beginning from October 29th, the flag carrier will deploy the bigger and more fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on this route, further allowing the airline to transport approximately 2,058 passengers to Mumbai weekly. Besides a capacity difference, the Boeing widebody does not feature any first class cabins, instead boasting 26 seats in business class, 21 in premium economy, and 247 in economy class.

Photo: Simlinger | Shutterstock

While passengers still won't get to experience Lufthansa's new and upcoming Allegris business class cabins yet, an aircraft upgrade is still warmly welcomed. Albeit it's pretty temporary, as the Boeing 787-9s will operate the daily rotation of the Frankfurt-Mumbai route until January 14th next year, before Lufthansa re-deploys the jumbo Boeing 747-400s.

A bigger emphasis on India

The flag carrier's decision to deploy the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for the Frankfurt-Mumbai route comes a few months after it announced a well-anticipated return to Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on January 16th next year. For that thrice weekly route, Lufthansa will also deploy the Boeing widebody. And in addition to these adjustments, the German carrier will also revive its Munich-Bengaluru route for this winter, which the Airbus A350-900s will operate.

Suppose all these still do not show how clear Lufthansa's renewed focus on India is; there's also the upgrade on the Frankfurt-Bengaluru route from the Boeing 747-400 to the 747-8 aircraft. The airline's footprint in India will eventually total five destinations, including New Delhi from Frankfurt, Mumbai and Bengaluru from Frankfurt and Munich, Chennai from Frankfurt, and the upcoming Hyderabad from Frankfurt.

Photo: Lufthansa

And since there's a greater emphasis on India now, given how it's one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, the possibility of new routes is undoubtedly in the future for Lufthansa. Since both are Star Alliance members, the airline might soon begin enhancing its partnership with Air India to work on further connections within India for Lufthansa, Germany, and the rest of Europe for Air India.

Bottom line

Now that the Frankfurt-Mumbai route is getting an aircraft upgrade, perhaps the next route to follow suit could be the Frankfurt-Chennai route, which currently utilizes the Airbus A340-300s as well. And maybe once Lufthansa finishes the revamp and stabilization of its fleet or when an improved partnership with Air India is done the airline may expand further in India.

Source: Business Traveller