[UPDATE 21 MARCH] German carrier Lufthansa (LH) is to reduce operations on its route between Frankfurt and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via Khartoum, Sudan effective between 31 March and 1 June.
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| Short Finals into Khartoum (UR-SDV) |
According to AirlineRoute, Lufthansa will reduce its service from the current 6x weekly, to 4x weekly over the period 31 March - 01 June 2013. The resultant flights will operate only on Days 1356.
In contrast to the Middle Eastern carriers who have boosted flights and opened new routes to Khartoum in recent weeks, European carriers have continued to suffer on the route with fellow European carrier, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) announcing it will drop its Amsterdam - Khartoum - Addis Ababa route effective 31 March citing "weak demand".
Reuters states that Lufthansa threatened last year to halt its flights to Khartoum after Sudanese officials tried to force it to pay for jet fuel in US Dollars before
backing off.
[UPDATE 21 MARCH] AirlineRoute reports that Lufthansa's overall service to Addis Ababa will increase to 6 weekly again from 02JUN13, when it begins a 2x weekly Frankfurt – Addis Ababa nonstop operation.
Lufthansa(LH): Frankfurt – Addis Ababa
- Nonstop service from 02JUN13
- LH590 FRA1115 – 1905ADD 333 7
- LH590 FRA1115 – 1905ADD 343 2
- LH591 ADD2350 – 0605+1FRA 333 7
- LH591 ADD2350 – 0605+1FRA 343 2