Though it has a perplexing business plan of always overcharging for its flights in Europe and simultaneously investing in a carrier that undercuts its competitors in the US (JetBlue), Lufthansa is offering another insight into its seemingly-obtuse thinking, this time talking up the future of Asia.

Seems investing in eastern markets is the new goal of the carrier--at least that's what the CEO of Lufthansa told his fellow executives at a meeting last week. The boss, Wolfgang Mayhruber, explained that the US and Europe currently hold 70 percent of the global air market but only 15 percent of the world's population. Talk about saturation.

He added that everything is going to change within the next 20 years and said that Lufthansa plans to invest in Asian markets, especially China and India. We already think cheap and reliable AirAsia is the best budget carrier we've flown in ages. Look for it to become the Southwest of the 21st century--unless Lufthansa comes up with some competition soon.

Related Stories:
· Lufthansa CEO Sees Long-Term Prospects In Asia [CNN Money]
· Lufthansa coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: nasebaer]]]> ced138 2008-11-24T09:35:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/16/15527/4748

Between buying up one airline and looking at another, Lufthansa apparently also had time to make a social networking site for college kids. Just what the world needs!

GenFlyLounge promises everything you already do on, you know, real social networking sites:

Now you can get travel recommendations from fellow students, connect with like-minded travelers, share your travel experiences, photos and videos and have the trip of a lifetime!

Do we even have to mention that there's also a Twitter account?

The only thing that might make this totally unnecessary site useful is the fact that it promises to deliver student-only deals to members. Worth it? Meh.

Related Stories:
· GenFlyLounge [Official Site, via]
· Lufthansa coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-09-16T15:15:28-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/28/3429/31806

When is an airline strike not an airline strike? When nearly 100 percent of your flights take off on time despite it.

Germany's national carrier Lufthansa apparently has some 52,000 union members who've agreed to strike over a pay rise. Since 10 pm last night strike action has been in place at Frankfurt and Hamburg airports, but according to reports, so far nearly all flights have left on time.

But the strike doesn't actually have an endpoint yet so some are predicting that things will get worse. Fears that Olympic athletes might have their flights to Beijing disrupted have, of course, really tugged at the heartstrings of German sports fans. Double-check your flights if you're booked on Lufthansa in the next few days or you might be bumped for a German volleyballer.

Related Stories:
· Lufthansa Votes for 1st Strike in 13 Years [Reuters]
· Lufthansa Says Flights Not Hit By Strike [Reuters]
· Lufthansa coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: nasebaer]]]> amandak 2008-07-28T09:00:24-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/14/112611/23

Do you own an airline that's worth about half of what it was at the beginning of the year? Lufthansa may want to talk to you, too! The German carrier is dropping $300 million on a share of JetBlue, but no one's quite sure what's going to happen next.

Lufthansa is only picking up 19 percent of the low cost carrier, but it will get to put a representative on JetBlue's board of directors. The American airline will of course get a big infusion of (much needed!) cash from the deal, and the German company could be trying to lock down takeoff and landing slots at JFK.

While ideas about transatlantic code sharing and a full Lufthansa takeover have been floated, none of them seem too plausible. In fact, one Morgan Stanley analyst can't figure out why the deal was done at all:

It's not clear to us what Lufthansa gains from such a transaction.

Related Stories:
· As Lufthansa Flies JetBlue, Analysts Wonder Why [NYT]
· JetBlue coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of JBLU stock price: Google Finance]]]> pbb 2007-12-14T11:35:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/7/31547/5748

'Tis the season to do tacky Christmas marketing, and European budget airlines are not immune. Many of them are advertising special deals and calling them Christmas presents, whether you buy 'em for yourself or a loved one, the airlines don't care.

Italian budget airline MyAir, for example, has decided on a two-for-one offer as its seasonal gift to consumers. If you book before December 10 for flights between January 8 and January 31, you'll be able to buy two tickets for the price of one, though you'll both have to pay the airport taxes.

But it's not just the real low cost carriers that are serving up some good deals at the moment. Huge German airline Lufthansa has surprised us in the past with impressively cheap deals, and they're doing it again at the moment. They're offering flights between Germany cities and places like Paris, Milan or Prague for €99 ($145)--and this price is for a round-trip flight, and includes all taxes and charges. Of course there are not many seats available at that price (and by the time you read this, they might be all gone), but it does pay to remind us that even "normal" airlines in Europe have good deals sometimes. The spirit of giving, perhaps?

Related Stories:
· MyAir [Official Site]
· Lufthansa [Official Site]
· MyAir coverage [Jaunted]
· Lufthansa coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: clemente]]]> amandak 2007-12-07T09:15:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/3/30/52315/7091

Granted, not everyone can afford to fly first class with Qantas to get a go at their super-delicious tasting menu, just released. Our next suggestion is to borrow a child (or if you have your own, they'll do too) and hit a Lufthansa flight to anywhere. Because this German airline has just got fun and original with its kids' menu (and we reckon we should be able to eat this way too). You can, for example, eat aliens that sound pretty tasty:

The martians have a face made of mousse and strawberry purée. Chocolate buttons form the eyes, two liquorice sticks the aerials.

Yum! The interesting behind-the-scenes story is that six trained children helped prepare and test the new menu items, and then they used a focus group system of children from varying nationalities to vote for the foods that should end up on the final menu.

As for the entertainment, you don't need a movie, I quickly became addicted to the tail camera.

Turns out Lufthansa has its own version of JenniCam, with no Jenni, but lots of live jumbo jet ass.

The tail camera shows a live continuous, wide angle shot of the plane in flight.

Peter Greenberg continued his Today Show review of the Airbus A380 this morning, with plenty of live shots from his Frankfurt to JFK "proving flight" yesterday.

A380 Tour Highlights:
·    Greenberg got frisked in Germany.
·    A grand staircase connects upper and lower decks.
·    Multiple "mock boardings" took place.
·    The plane had access to three jetways as it took off.
·    First class is super comfortable, coach is as crowded as ever.
·    The lavatory is huge and sports a window.
·    Sharkey was on board.]]> markj 2007-03-20T10:35:57-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/