Lufthansa Resumes Direct Flights Between Munich and Johannesburg
German airline Lufthansa has resumed scheduled passenger flights between Munich and Johannesburg after a hiatus of 19 years. The route, last served by Lufthansa in 2005, had been operated by South African Airways until 2020 before being discontinued due to the airline’s network reductions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The inaugural flight LH578 departed Munich Airport (MUC) at 20:29 on September 2, 2024, and arrived at OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) at 06:43 on September 3, 2024. This service is operated by Lufthansa’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft, specifically the D-AIXD from its fleet of 29 A350-900s.
Lufthansa plans to run this new route three times a week, with flights departing Munich on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This service complements Lufthansa’s existing daily flight from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, which is operated by the airline’s Boeing 747-8, a fleet comprising 19 aircraft.
The Munich-Johannesburg route will provide a capacity of 293 seats per flight, with the A350-900 configured to offer 48 business class, 21 premium economy, and 224 economy class seats. This year-round service aims to offer travelers more flexibility and options when flying between the two cities.
Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter, who was onboard the inaugural flight, highlighted Munich’s role as a major European hub. “Munich, with its award-winning airport, is a beautiful city and a convenient hub for onward travel across Europe and beyond,” Ritter said. “This new route provides our South African customers with additional travel choices and complements our daily Frankfurt-Johannesburg service.”
The new Munich-Johannesburg route provides an alternative departure time from Johannesburg, with flights leaving at 08:20 and landing in Munich at 06:50 after a flight duration of 10.5 hours. This schedule is designed to offer one of the shortest flight times to Western Europe.
The new service is expected to foster bilateral trade, create job opportunities, and boost economic prosperity for both Germany and South Africa. Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of Airports Company South Africa, remarked, “The nonstop connection between Munich and Johannesburg will strengthen South Africa’s position in the global aviation network and enhance economic ties between the regions. Lufthansa has been a key partner in improving the aviation landscape at OR Tambo International Airport.”
Lufthansa’s reintroduction of this route is considered a significant enhancement to its global network. As Munich is one of Lufthansa’s major hub airports, it offers South African travelers access to approximately 130 destinations worldwide, including cities across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.