After a hiatus of nearly two decades, German airline Lufthansa has proudly reinstated its direct passenger flight service between Munich and Johannesburg. This route was previously operational until 2005 and had been managed by South African Airways until 2020. The discontinuation occurred when South African Airways reduced its international routes due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset.
The revival of this route began with the inaugural flight LH578, which took off from Munich Airport (MUC) at 20:29 on September 2, 2024, and successfully landed at OR Tambo International Airport the following morning at 06:43. This flight was facilitated by an Airbus A350-900, identified as D-AIXD, part of Lufthansa’s fleet of 29 of these advanced widebody aircraft.
Lufthansa has scheduled this service to operate three times weekly, with departures from Munich every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. This augments Lufthansa’s existing daily service from Frankfurt to Johannesburg, which utilizes the larger 364-seat Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The Munich route offers 293 seats distributed across three classes: 48 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy, and 224 in Economy Class, thereby providing ample choice for different types of travelers.
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa, highlighted Munich’s strategic significance during the inaugural flight. Munich is not only a key hub in the heart of Europe with an award-winning airport but also offers passengers convenient connections to approximately 130 global destinations spanning Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East, he stated. He further emphasized the additional flexibility and travel options this route offers to South African customers, aligning the same pricing level with the Frankfurt route to enhance passenger convenience and flexibility.
The new flight timing departing Johannesburg at 08:20 and arriving in Munich at 06:50 also provides an alternative, efficient travel time to Europe, completing the journey in just about 10.5 hours. This is among the shortest flight durations available to Western Europe from South Africa, presenting an appealing option for business and leisure travelers alike.
The reintroduction of this route is considered a significant enhancement to Lufthansa’s global network, facilitating increased bilateral trade, job creation, and economic prosperity in both Germany and South Africa. The CEO of Airports Company South Africa, Mpumi Mpofu, expressed enthusiasm about the new service. This direct connection not only marks a milestone for the aviation industry but also fortifies South Africa’s role in the global aviation network, Mpofu remarked. He praised Lufthansa’s commitment to enhancing the aviation landscape at OR Tambo International Airport, noting the broad implications for national connectivity and collaboration.