Lufthansa eyes Hyderabad as potential destination; wants to fly to Pune too, but can’t: INTERVIEW
German premium carrier Lufthansa is eyeing Hyderabad as a potential flight destination to add to its network while consolidating its current market. The airline also wants to operate flights to and from Pune, but can’t do so for now as the city doesn’t have an airport to service large aircraft. In an interview, Alexander Schlaubitz, Vice President, Marketing; and George Ettiyil, Senior Director, Sales, talk to Financial Express Online about why Lufthansa’s premium pricing is relevant for India, what Lufthansa expects from the rising competition from domestic carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet and why Pune’s lack of airport costs not only domestic but also international carriers. An edited excerpt of Alexander Schlaubitz and George Ettiyil’s interview with Prachi Gupta.
In a price-sensitive market like India, how does Lufthansa fare by being a brand on the premium end? Is it a sore point for customers who may not be willing to shell more money?
