Lufthansa launches new nonstop flight from Johannesburg to Munich

• Inaugural flight arrives just in time for South Africa’s Tourism Month
• Three new weekly departures from O. R. Tambo to Munich year-round in just 10 ½ hours flight time
• Airbus A350 as modern and highly fuel-efficient aircraft will be operated

With the touchdown of a Lufthansa Airbus A350 this morning at O. R. Tambo International Airport at 6:43 AM, Johannesburg has received a new connection. After a 19-year hiatus, Lufthansa proudly announces the launch of its new nonstop long-haul service between Johannesburg and Munich (Germany). It marks a significant addition to Lufthansa’s network with 34% more seats offered from Johannesburg and coincides with South Africa’s celebration of Tourism Month.

Onboard the inaugural flight was Lufthansa’s CEO, Jens Ritter, who symbolically cut the ribbon in Johannesburg to commemorate this exciting new route. “Munich, with its award-winning airport, is a popular and beautiful city in the heart of Europe. It is also a convenient hub to take advantage of numerous onwards flights. Our customers in South Africa will have more choice and travel options departing from Johannesburg, as this new connection complements our daily service to Frankfurt. Both routes are priced at the same level, providing passengers with flexibility to even combine both routes,” said Mr. Ritter.

The new service will operate year-round from Johannesburg, with flights scheduled every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday morning. Passengers will travel on the modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900, which accommodates up to 293 passengers across Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.

With the flight departing Johannesburg at 8:20 AM, travellers now have an alternative travel time to Europe. It touches down at Munich airport at 6:50 PM, in 10 ½ hours, making it one of the shortest flight times to Western Europe. This service expands Lufthansa’s footprint in South Africa. Together with Cape Town, Lufthansa Group carriers Lufthansa, SWISS and Edelweiss now offer a total of 34 weekly connections to Europe from South Africa in the upcoming winter schedule.

Says Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of ACSA: “We are delighted to welcome the reintroduction of Lufthansa’s direct route between Munich and Johannesburg, which offers significantly more seats per week to travellers between Germany and South Africa. The nonstop connection between Munich and Johannesburg will undoubtedly boost bilateral trade, create jobs and contribute to the overall economic prosperity of both respective regions. It will also improve South Africa’s position as a main player in the global aviation network. Lufthansa Airlines has been a pivotal partner in enhancing the aviation landscape at O.R. Tambo International Airport.”

The Munich route, one of Lufthansa’s two major hubs, opens up around 130 global destinations for South African travellers, including Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East. This route had previously been part of Lufthansa’s schedule until 2005 and is poised to reconnect South Africa to one of Germany’s most important economic centres.

Munich, with a population of 1.5 million, is renowned for its diverse culture, scenic landscapes, and as the home to major international companies. The city is also famous for its vibrant events, including the annual Oktoberfest and its picturesque Christmas markets.

Rene Koinzack, Senior Director Sales Southern & Eastern Africa, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea Lufthansa Group, concluded: “This inaugural is a milestone in our 62 years long history in South Africa. Connecting Johannesburg with Munich is an exciting match as Bavaria and Gauteng both show a dynamic business environment, having economic ties into many sectors. Both destinations are also popular with many leisure travellers who find numerous unique attractions – with the benefit of almost no time difference, therefore no jetlag. This huge capacity increase will also contribute to the tourism sector in South Africa.”

Lufthansa operates from Munich Airport, which has been one of the most important passenger terminals in Europe, number #2 in Germany and an important international air traffic hub. It received multiple five-star ratings from Skytrax. The cheapest standard return fare from Johannesburg to Munich – all tax included -starts at 14,517 ZAR in Economy Class.