Lufthansa launches special travel scheme for SMEs

German flag carrier Lufthansa today announced a slew of initiatives under its corporate travel plan for Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The airline is set to provide easier upgrades and faster and more cash back offers among others under its Star Alliance Company Plus (SACP) programme to enable SMEs to reduce the cost of their business travel. "Lufthansa has always partnered small and medium enterprises in India and these enhancements are yet another step in this direction. The new programme delivers additional value, making business travel more rewarding," Lufthansa South Asia director Axel Hilgers said in a statement here. SACP members from India can enjoy easier upgrades from February 1 with a five-fold increase in the value of cash backs through a substantial enhancement in the earning power of their reward points, the statement said. Membership for SACP is free and requires no minimum turnover. Coupled with these benefits, members of frequent flyer programmes of participating airlines will continue to collect miles on their individual programme with each flight. SACP points can be redeemed for free flights and free upgrades across all participating airlines, as well as free excess baggage on Lufthansa-operated flights, it said. These benefits extend across the collective network of six Star Alliance partners - Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, bmi, Air Canada and United Airlines - offering a greater choice of flights, smoother connections and harmonised schedules, the statement added.

Lufthansa is committed to increasing services in Ghana - Becker

Accra, Mr Claus Becker, the Managing Director of Lufthansa Airlines has reiterated the airline’s commitment to increasing its services in Ghana and West African sub region.

He said this in Accra on Saturday when the airline organised a press briefing to introduce him as the new Managing Director for West and Central Africa and to announce their newly introduced daily flights to Accra in Ghana.

Mr Becker said Africa was very important to Lufthansa as it was a major part of their business.

He said he has worked with the airline for about 30 years in various capacities including product management, marketing and sales saying his first in Ghana was in 2008 when he came to witness the eclipse of the sun.

Mr Becker said he would be based in Lagos where the airline has its headquarters but has pledged to work closely with the Ghana office. “I look forward to working here with you to develop the Lufthansa business.”

Mr Becker said the main challenges facing the airline were inadequate infrastructure including airports, air traffic control, security, transportation among others adding that as the airline industry grows and passenger numbers increase, infrastructure must be developed to handle them, especially as airport taxes are passed on to the passengers in ticket prices.

 Mr Yannick Aplogan, General Manager of Lufthansa in Ghana, said the airline had from November 1, 2011 increased its Accra/Frankfurt service from five weekly flights to a daily service with a brand new Boeing 737-800 intercontinental.

He said this was to satisfy customer demands and to provide greater flexibility and convenience for their customers.

Aplogan said Lufthansa was working closely with the Ghana Airports Company Limited to address challenges at the Kotoka International Airport such as inadequate parking bays for aircrafts.

“In spite of these challenges, we have been able to build a superior product for our customers, we have established a strong brand which stands for reliability and safety,” he said.