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Lufthansa to Link Columbus and Frankfurt With First Transatlantic Nonstop
Lufthansa plans to begin nonstop service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Frankfurt in May, giving central Ohio its first direct flight across the Atlantic. The route will connect travelers to the German airline’s hub and its network of more than 200 destinations.
Columbus is set to gain its first nonstop transatlantic flight in May, when Lufthansa launches service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Frankfurt, Germany.
The route was announced Oct. 19 by representatives of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Lufthansa, JobsOhio and One Columbus. The announcement did not specify flight frequency or exact start date.
Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest airport and one of Europe’s busiest, is a major Lufthansa hub. The airline says the new service will offer travelers direct access to Germany and connections to destinations across its network.
“This new service establishes Ohio’s gateway to continental Europe,” said Daren Griffin, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, describing the route as a milestone for the region.
The flight will use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner configured for 287 passengers: 28 lie-flat business-class seats, 28 premium-economy seats and 231 economy seats.
The route also has an economic-development rationale. German companies are Ohio’s third-largest international source of investment, after Japan and Canada, according to figures cited at the announcement. More than 750 German-owned businesses operate in Ohio, including 38 in the Columbus region, and they account for about 41,000 jobs statewide.
Jonas Peterson, president of One Columbus, said the connection could make it easier for companies with ties to Europe to do business in the region and for Columbus to compete for new investment. Lufthansa Group executive Dirk Janzen said the flight is intended for both business and leisure travelers.
The new service will add a long-haul option for local travelers who currently need a connection to reach Europe by air. Further details on schedules and ticket availability were not included in the announcement.