Lufthansa seeks to please Indian palate

Leading European carrier Lufthansa on Tuesday announced an increase in its weekly services from India and introduction of new cuisine on long haul flights to cater to the growing number of Indian travellers.

Designating noted Indian chef Hemant Oberoi, the Chef of Taj Hotel in Mumbai, as the 'Star Chef', Lufthansa's director (South Asia) Werner Heesen said the

number of Indian passengers to Germany had grown considerably in the recent past with the recently liberalised bilateral air traffic agreement.

Lufthansa would add six services this October end to its 32 flights a week at present connecting Frankfurt with Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, and Munich with Delhi, he said.

Observing that travellers from different regions in India had varied food choices, Heesen said the meals offered on the flight would cater to different palates and diverse culinary tastes.

He said the choice of meals on board were made on the basis of customer feedback and consequent improvement of existing meals plus introduction of new ones.

As per the fresh culinary plan designed to pamper high-class travellers, Lufthansa would offer 66 dishes for the First Class and 42 for Business Class passengers.

While such menus were already being offered on Delhi-Munich sector, they would be introduced in other sectors from September 1.

Maintaining that meals on board were different from those available in restaurants, Oberoi said each meal, therefore, had to be innovatively prepared and ensured that it remained tasty and satisfying at a height of 30,000 feet.