A few weeks ago I had posted a thread on LH dropping the FRA-PNQ route operated by Privatair. There were a few comments there where some of the posters said Privatair is shutting down or something on those lines. I tried searching for that thread but could not find it.

Anyways, looks like LH has brought the route back on operated by the same equipment a B737. Tickets are bookable on the LH website starting October 28th. Good to see the route back on. From what I have heard, the route has always done well since it was started in 2008.

According to this article it was suspended until end of summer schedule due to "operational and commercial reasons".

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cit ... 095484.cms

Suspend an India route in the summer? That is bizarre to say the least.

Well PNQ was mainly all business traffic on a 737 not VFR, I am sure they re accommodated the passengers.

Air German outlet is now reporting Lufthansa will be deploying the A319 to Pune http://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-a319-indien/46864 (link in German only). Spectacular if true given that LH 319s only offer Euro business class.

LGAviation wrote:

Air German outlet is now reporting Lufthansa will be deploying the A319 to Pune http://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-a319-indien/46864 (link in German only). Spectacular if true given that LH 319s only offer Euro business class.

Privatair also have an A319 in their fleet. But not sure about the current configuration

Someone83 wrote:

LGAviation wrote:

Air German outlet is now reporting Lufthansa will be deploying the A319 to Pune http://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-a319-indien/46864 (link in German only). Spectacular if true given that LH 319s only offer Euro business class.

Privatair also have an A319 in their fleet. But not sure about the current configuration

From the LH webpage and the seat selection it looks like a regular LH A319, also they're having a stop at Baku also eastbound.

IMHO EY or QR need to operate to PNQ. Given this schedule and aircraft, I don't see why most won't drive to BOM or fly via DEL/BLR.

What is the draw of Pune in terms of business traffic? What is the economy made of and why does LH in particular serve the route?

Its an interesting route.

LGAviation wrote:

Someone83 wrote:

LGAviation wrote:

Air German outlet is now reporting Lufthansa will be deploying the A319 to Pune http://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-a319-indien/46864 (link in German only). Spectacular if true given that LH 319s only offer Euro business class.

Privatair also have an A319 in their fleet. But not sure about the current configuration

From the LH webpage and the seat selection it looks like a regular LH A319, also they're having a stop at Baku also eastbound.

That is ridiculous. It can't be real.

I see in LH, FRA-DEL-PNQ on Lufthansa/Vistara is 11h30' VS 9h50' of this "thing". I would gladly "waste" 1h40' in a long-haul trip rather than being 10 hours in a LH slim seat.

bhxdtw wrote:

What is the draw of Pune in terms of business traffic? What is the economy made of and why does LH in particular serve the route?

Its an interesting route.

Pune is India's automotive capital with investments from german companies such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and many other suppliers.

The scheduling is insane. 11+ hours on the way back from PNY to FRA on a regular A319 is torturous

LH768 Frankfurt to Baku departing 10:30AM arriving 6:05PM
LH768 Baku to Pune departing 6:50PM arriving 12:50AM (+1 day)

LH769 Pune to Baku departing 2:10AM arriving 6:10AM
LH769 Baku to Frankfurt departing 6:55AM arriving 9:15AM

Source https://onemileatatime.com/lufthansa-is ... st-flight/

Wow, yes this looks awful. Cramped shorthaul config plus long flight plus middle of the night stop sounds like a very poor paxex.

The A321neoLR could be ideal for it longer term though...

To be fair, with that kind of trip time and aircraft plus a stop both ways you're better off flying PNQ-DEL/BLR and catch the LH nonstop. At least you get a full night of sleep and a legitimate long haul product.

The Privatair flight had decent seats and only had to stop on the way out of PNQ.

744lover wrote:

The scheduling is insane. 11+ hours on the way back from PNY to FRA on a regular A319 is torturous

LH768 Frankfurt to Baku departing 10:30AM arriving 6:05PM
LH768 Baku to Pune departing 6:50PM arriving 12:50AM (+1 day)

LH769 Pune to Baku departing 2:10AM arriving 6:10AM
LH769 Baku to Frankfurt departing 6:55AM arriving 9:15AM

Source https://onemileatatime.com/lufthansa-is ... st-flight/

How would this sort of scheduling be any different than flying on a Copa Airlines 737-800 with a routing such as SFO-PTY-MVD, a route that is more than 2000nm longer than FRA-GYD-PNQ?

TheLion wrote:

Wow, yes this looks awful. Cramped shorthaul config plus long flight plus middle of the night stop sounds like a very poor paxex.

LH's A319s are relatively comfy (compared to the rest of their A32S in the fleet), as they only have 138 Seats. There are airlines who have 156 seats in their A319s.

Why don't they just add a tag on to their BOM flights or even hire a luxury bus to travel to Pune from BOM like other airlines do in Texas

LGAviation wrote:

Air German outlet is now reporting Lufthansa will be deploying the A319 to Pune http://www.airliners.de/lufthansa-a319-indien/46864 (link in German only). Spectacular if true given that LH 319s only offer Euro business class.

And it will make a tech stop at GYD both ways. Given that this is in the short-haul configuration, I have to wonder if it would be better to fly via BOM and then take a connecting bus codeshare to Pune's city center. This is a route also for which LH really could use a plane like the A321LR, in a 165-seat, 3-class configuration (this route is longer than TXL-JFK would be). A tech stop would be needed on the return flight only. (LH wants to be able to any city in Germany to JFK on it before considering a long-range narrow-body). Such in a "mid-haul" configuration could also work for PNQ.

stl07 wrote:

Why don't they just add a tag on to their BOM flights or even hire a luxury bus to travel to Pune from BOM like other airlines do in Texas

There is an existing private service by a Pune-based company called K.K. Travels which drops/picks you at your door in Pune - a sort of a Super Shuttle. It has private cars and shared buses. Friends (who live on the other side of Pune city from where you enter if coming from BOM) use this regularly. Plus private individual taxis are pretty popular on BOM-PNQ.

stl07 wrote:

Why don't they just add a tag on to their BOM flights or even hire a luxury bus to travel to Pune from BOM like other airlines do in Texas

PNQ is not equipped to handle a 747 so the tag-on is out of question.
A luxury bus is no good either because there are plenty of shuttles and taxis between BOM and Pune that drop off and pickup passengers from their home.

Wow, this is insane. I am all for narrow-body long-hauls, but 10 hours on Lufthansa's 'slimlines' is sheer torture.... my small little butt goes numb after a while on those hard plastic seats!!! and don't get me started on the "faux" J with the blocked middle seat!! I am wondering how much extra $$$ they can command over regular Y with such a crap offering??

The booking engine shows Business Class to be 2 abreast (1-1) while Eco is going to be standard 6 abreast (3-3).
Looks like every Business passenger gets his own bench of 3 seats, unless they change the layout in between. Still not my choice for that route...

trijetsonly wrote:

The booking engine shows Business Class to be 2 abreast (1-1) while Eco is going to be standard 6 abreast (3-3).
Looks like every Business passenger gets his own bench of 3 seats, unless they change the layout in between. Still not my choice for that route...

I had checked earlier and it was showing as a 4 abreast (middle seat blocked like intra-Europe J)...looks like there is some tweaking going on. Even with a row of three - I am not sure it is the best use of a J fare...

pnqiad wrote:

trijetsonly wrote:

The booking engine shows Business Class to be 2 abreast (1-1) while Eco is going to be standard 6 abreast (3-3).
Looks like every Business passenger gets his own bench of 3 seats, unless they change the layout in between. Still not my choice for that route...

I had checked earlier and it was showing as a 4 abreast (middle seat blocked like intra-Europe J)...looks like there is some tweaking going on. Even with a row of three - I am not sure it is the best use of a J fare...

Agree - absolutely not the best use of "J money"...I mean, what are you supposed to be doing with 3 narrow, hard, tight Y seats anyway?..ok, you may have your bag and computer sitting next to you, but in terms of seating comfort it still remains what it is... a seat designed for short-haul Y.

pnqiad wrote:

trijetsonly wrote:

The booking engine shows Business Class to be 2 abreast (1-1) while Eco is going to be standard 6 abreast (3-3).
Looks like every Business passenger gets his own bench of 3 seats, unless they change the layout in between. Still not my choice for that route...

I had checked earlier and it was showing as a 4 abreast (middle seat blocked like intra-Europe J)...looks like there is some tweaking going on. Even with a row of three - I am not sure it is the best use of a J fare...

My guess they will put in real J class lie flat. Not that big deal to change seats out. May need to use IPAD for IFE.

CaliguyNYC wrote:

My guess they will put in real J class lie flat. Not that big deal to change seats out. May need to use IPAD for IFE.

Most definitely not!

The exit row will be still between row 9 and 10, so the original seats will stay! Impossible to have lie flat with the same amount of rows. LH might offer free WiFi for J-class customers. Biggest concern in my opinion (beside the seats) is the catering, can't imagine to get fresh catering in Baku - and the galley is far too small for one up-lift. The A319 galley may handle one hot dish on a European flight but most definitely not a hot 3-course-menu!

Something else LH needs urgently to improve - the flights are listed as non-stop service:

02:10 - 09:15 , 0 Stops , Duration 11h 35min PNQ - FRA LH769

only if you click on the flight-number, you will get a message:

Stop Baku - Heydar Aliyev Int´l (GYD) 00 h 45 min

After looking up the flight in AMA, it seems just temp from Nov 18 until Jan 19 ... maybe the PrviateAir 73G has to undergo a bigger check.
And yes, in J class only one out of each three seats will be occupied.

Looks like LH is reinstating the Privatair 73G service

Source: https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... -feb-2019/

Schedule:

LH768 FRA1150 – 0040+1PNQ 73W x2
LH769 PNQ0210 – 0635OTP0705 – 0845FRA 73W x3

'902

bhxdtw wrote:

What is the draw of Pune in terms of business traffic? What is the economy made of and why does LH in particular serve the route?

Its an interesting route.

Interesting however an extremely essential route. Pune area is home to over 200 German companies (more than any other city in South Asia) related to automobile and related industries, IT, Biotechnology, Banking, etc. PNQ can easily sustain a J-heavy WB route to FRA if there ever was a runway and apron capacity extension. Other than LH's PNQ-FRA, the only other options include 9W's PNQ-BOM and PNQ-AUH.

Road connectivity between Pune and Mumbai airport sometimes get hectic due to traffic congestion in Mumbai, and rail connectivity is even worse, thus arising the need for direct connectivity for the company executives and employees to/from Germany.

Would the ex-BA’s A318 have the legs for this route (at least do FRA-PNQ without fuel stop)?

winGl3t wrote:

bhxdtw wrote:

What is the draw of Pune in terms of business traffic? What is the economy made of and why does LH in particular serve the route?

Its an interesting route.

Pune is India's automotive capital with investments from german companies such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and many other suppliers.

Chennai would be considered automotive capital of India/ South Asia. However Pune and near by areas have Benz, Volkswagen and Skoda, so there is manu

Subu

konkret wrote:

Would the ex-BA’s A318 have the legs for this route (at least do FRA-PNQ without fuel stop)?

FRA-PNQ is 1000+nm further than SNN-JFK, so I guess doubtful. An all J A319 might make it though.

How is the crew dispatch on this ?

TWA902fly wrote:

Looks like LH is reinstating the Privatair 73G service

Source: https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... -feb-2019/

Schedule:

LH768 FRA1150 – 0040+1PNQ 73W x2
LH769 PNQ0210 – 0635OTP0705 – 0845FRA 73W x3

'902

Good luck - according to this article (German only, but you can translate) https://www.aerotelegraph.com/lizenz-vo ... uspendiert their licence is suspended due to a court "error" in Switzerland. But Privatair will try hard to be back soon...