New cargo flights and UCI service, Lufthansa eyes growth in the GBA market

On the Agenda

In a recent interview with GDToday, Frank Naeve, Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution at Lufthansa Group, shared his views on the company’s latest innovations and its strategic direction in the Greater Bay Area. With the recent launch of the upstream check-in service (UCI), Lufthansa is aiming to provide seamless travel experiences for passengers from the region, reflecting its strong belief in the area’s economic growth and its importance to Lufthansa’s network.

Naeve emphasized Lufthansa Group’s long-term commitment to the Greater Bay Area, a region that has become a vital hub for international business, especially in industries such as technology and artificial intelligence. He pointed out that Lufthansa sees the region’s vibrant economic growth as a key factor driving the demand for travel to and from Europe.

“The Greater Bay Area is one of the most dynamic regions in the world today,” Naeve noted. “We have seen a recovery rate of about 70% for travel between the Greater Bay Area and Europe, and we expect this number to continue rising over the next year.” He further explained that the rapid economic growth, driven by major investments in innovation, technology, and the burgeoning e-commerce sector, will continue to fuel the demand for international travel.

In addition to its passenger services, Lufthansa Cargo is also making significant strides in the Greater Bay Area. Since July, the company has been offering twice-weekly freighter services to Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, reinforcing its commitment to local logistics needs and capitalizing on the booming e-commerce market. “We see tremendous opportunities in the local market, especially in logistics and e-commerce, and we are eager to expand our services in line with the region’s growth,” Naeve said.

Amid recent media speculation about European airlines scaling back their operations in China, Naeve reaffirmed Lufthansa’s long-term confidence in the Chinese market. “We are the European airline with the most flights between China and Europe. With 43 weekly flights to key destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, we are fully committed to serving this market,” Naeve emphasized. MDT/GDToday