Lufthansa Launches Direct Flights from Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt

Lufthansa has announced a significant expansion in North Carolina, introducing a new direct flight from Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt. This new route strengthens Lufthansa's presence in the region and provides Carolinians with seamless connections to Europe and beyond.

 

Expanding Options for North Carolina Residents

With the new Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt route, North Carolina residents now have direct access to Lufthansa's vast network, including major business hubs, hi-tech companies, and R&D centers across Europe. This new service complements the existing Charlotte to Munich flight, making Raleigh-Durham the second gateway in North Carolina for Lufthansa.

Increased Frequency and Connectivity

The airline has been serving Charlotte for nearly 20 years, and with the addition of the Raleigh-Durham flight, Lufthansa now operates 12 weekly frequencies to both Frankfurt and Munich. This expansion allows passengers more flexibility and options for travel to Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Dirk Janzen, Vice President Passenger Airlines Sales, The Americas, Lufthansa Group, expressed his enthusiasm:

"Lufthansa is thrilled to bring Raleigh-Durham International Airport its first-ever nonstop connection to Frankfurt, and Germany as a whole. This new route will provide travelers throughout North Carolina with seamless access to Lufthansa Group’s worldwide network, opening up a world of possibilities for business and leisure travel, and helping to further the Group’s goal of connecting people, cultures, and economies."

Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details

The new service will operate five times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Flight LH408 departs Frankfurt at 10:20am and lands at Raleigh-Durham at 1:50pm. The return flight LH409 departs Raleigh-Durham at 3:40pm and arrives back in Frankfurt at 6:05am the following day. The flights will be operated with an Airbus A330-300, featuring 42 Business Class, 28 Premium Economy, and 185 Economy Class seats, accommodating 255 passengers.

Comments from Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, said:

“The launch of service to Frankfurt was 10 years in the making, dating back to our early conversations with Lufthansa in 2014 and culminating in today’s arrival of the first nonstop flight from Germany to RDU. We are thrilled to welcome Lufthansa as RDU’s newest international airline partner and provide convenient service to another European gateway."

Discover Frankfurt and Beyond

Frankfurt, Germany’s most international city, is a major financial hub and cultural center. It offers a rich history, world-class ballet, opera, theaters, and art exhibitions. It is also home to the German Central Bank and the European Central Bank, managing the euro. Passengers can easily connect to over 300 destinations worldwide through Lufthansa Group carriers and its partners, United Airlines and Air Canada.

Lufthansa's Expansion in the US

The new Raleigh-Durham route marks Lufthansa's 26th gateway in the United States. The airline now operates approximately 400 weekly flights to the US, with recent route additions from Seattle to Munich and Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Frankfurt, and increased capacity from Munich to Washington D.C. with an A380.

New Service Details

Route: Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt
Flight Number: LH409
Flight Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Departure – Arrival: 3:40pm – 6:05am (+1 day)

Route: Frankfurt to Raleigh-Durham
Flight Number: LH408
Flight Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Departure – Arrival: 10:20am – 1:50pm