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• Airbus A330 of new Lufthansa Group leisure airline Eurowings Discover arrived at Victoria Falls International Airport from Frankfurt today at 11:15 am
• Eurowings Discover is the first intercontinental airline ever to offer direct flights to Victoria Falls
• Three weekly direct flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) from March to mid-November 2022
In a powerful demonstration of the endorsement of Zimbabwe as a prime tourist destination, Lufthansa Group’s leisure airline, Eurowings Discover (4Y), touched down in Zimbabwe for the very first time this Wednesday. The carrier departed from Frankfurt, Germany, on March 29 with an Airbus A330. Flight 4Y138 arrived at Victoria Falls International Airport this morning at 11:15 am on time.
Speaking during the launch, Hon Felix Mhona, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development said the ecstatic glamour and attractive splendour of airport infrastructure is a guaranteed nectar of tourism leading to other positives such as trade and regional integration.
“Air travel ensures the movement of people and goods in a more cost-effective way. The introduction of new players in the market is in line with our policy of de-overregulating the air travel sector which is a key enabler of economic development. We hope it will have the net effect of reducing air travel time with a view to improving access to a wider marketplace. I, therefore, challenge you to make maximum use of this key business enabler,” Hon Mhona said.
His counterpart, Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu welcomed the development as a harbinger for tourism development.
“This is a great milestone in an effort to place Zimbabwe back on the world tourism map giving due recognition of our country as a competitive tourism destination,” Hon Ndlovu said.
Eurowings Discover operates three weekly direct connections from Frankfurt to Victoria Falls in 2022, with return flights on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flights are operated as tag flights with a short stopover in Windhoek.
Captain Wolfgang Raebiger, who is also the CEO of the new airline, operated the first flight to Victoria Falls, which was welcomed by an airport event and special guests including the German Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Udo Volz.
“This flight marks a special milestone for our airline Eurowings Discover: We are proud to be the first intercontinental airline offering direct flights to Victoria Falls as of today. It has never been easier for travelers from all over Europe to get to know this beautiful country, its culture and kindhearted people and of course, the stunning natural wonder Victoria Falls. Our booking figures show that travelers from all over Europe are increasingly drawn to the vastness and beauty of the African continent and we are convinced that they will value Victoria Falls as a great and unique addition to our portfolio,” says Wolfgang Raebiger, Chief Executive Officer of Eurowings Discover.
“With the launch of our brand new Victoria Falls flights, we are now able to offer our customers a direct connection between Europe and the diverse KavangoZambezi region. This area is of particular importance to our leisure airline Eurowings Discover, as we continue expanding our portfolio into attractive touristic destinations in Africa. Furthermore, we believe in sustainability and by introducing our new direct Eurowings Discover service to Victoria Falls, we are playing an active part in rebuilding the local tourism industry in Zimbabwe, as well as in the neighbouring countries,” says Dr. Andre Schulz, General Manager Lufthansa Group, Southern and East Africa.
“Travel has become an important factor in the lives of many Germans. Travellers from Germany constitute an important factor in the international tourism business. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is an extremely beautiful and attractive destination in Africa. Therefore, I very much welcome the fact, that tourists from Germany venturing into Africa are now being provided much easier access not only to the majestic Victoria Falls but to Zimbabwe altogether. At the same time, a fast route to Germany is now available to the people of Zimbabwe. I wish this venture every success,” says Udo Volz, German Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
High-quality product with many services included
This new flight connects Victoria Falls to the heart of Europe. Through the integration into the Lufthansa network, passengers benefit from the direct connection to all German and European Lufthansa departure points as well as a continuous booking process and seamless transfer traffic.
Eurowings Discover offers a high-quality product with many services included. The aircraft offers up to 300 seats, up to 30 of which are in Business Class (full lie-flat seats), up to 31 in Premium Economy, and up to 244 in Economy. In all three classes, guests can look forward to a special, high-quality travel experience with all meals and non-alcoholic beverages included in the fare. Next to the culinary experience, Eurowings Discover also provides excellent entertainment on board the flight to vacation – completely free of charge in all classes with their own screens in the seat. Another special feature onboard Eurowings Discover: guests can quickly and easily connect to the Onboard Cloud via their own device to receive an extended entertainment offer.
The flights are bookable via all usual booking channels including lufthansa.com and eurowings.com.
About Eurowings Discover
Eurowings Discover is the Lufthansa Group’s new leisure airline that flies travelers from the Frankfurt and the Munich hub to the world’s most beautiful short-, medium- and long-haul destinations. The claim of Eurowings Discover is to tailor the travel experience to the individual needs of its guests and to make the flight a special experience. Through integration into the Lufthansa network, travelers benefit from direct connections to all German and European Lufthansa departure points, as well as an end-to-end booking process and seamless transfers. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the airline draws on the expertise and experience of one of the world’s leading aviation companies.