On March 30, Lufthansa celebrated its first nonstop flight between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Munich, Bavaria, Germany via Munich Franz Josef Strauss International Airport (MUC). This is the first nonstop service between San Diego and Munich. Currently, flights operate three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays and will grow to five times weekly service in May when Lufthansa adds service on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
“We are happy to welcome Lufthansa back to San Diego and celebrate the first flight to Munich,” said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority president and CEO. “San Diego has many economic ties to Munich as well as tourism interests. This new route provides an essential pathway between our two countries and serves as a gateway to Europe and beyond. We thank Lufthansa for their continued support.”
The route is served by one of Lufthansa’s newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-900. This aircraft uses 25 percent less kerosene, produces 25 percent fewer emissions, and is significantly quieter on take-off. The 293-seat aircraft is equipped with a three-class configuration offering 48 seats in business class, 21 seats in premium economy, and 224 seats in economy classes. At just under 18.4 feet wide, the cabin is more spacious than comparable models of aircraft currently in operation.
Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and lies along the Isar River, which runs through the middle of town. A cosmopolitan city, Munich is home to several museums, churches, art galleries, biergartens, and restaurants. Historical places of interest include the Deutsches Museum, the world’s largest museum of science and technology, BMW Welt, an exhibit dedicated to Germany’s famous BMW export, and Residenz Royal Palace, home of the royal Wittelsbach family where jewels and art are on display. The city is perhaps best known for its annual Oktoberfest celebrations, which celebrate Bavarian culture and hosts millions of visitors in the autumn season.
Travelers from non-European Union countries can enter Germany if they are fully vaccinated. SAN has an on-site COVID-19 testing option through Carbon Health for travelers wanting to get tested before a trip. Appointments are required and there is a fee for tests. For more information, visit carbonhealth.com/covid-19-travel-clearance.
Lufthansa previously offered nonstop flights to Frankfurt, Germany until service was suspended in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. For schedule and tickets, visit lufthansa.com.
“The United States is one of our most important markets and California remains a top priority for expansion in the U.S.,” said Don Bunkenburg, senior director of sales U.S., Central, West and Central America, Lufthansa Group. “With a robust economy and thriving corporate landscape, San Diego is the perfect gateway for our new service to Munich, Europe’s leading 5-star airport and one of our main hubs in Germany. Furthermore, our customers flying to and from San Diego will be able to experience quality service on our flagship aircraft – the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 aircraft.”
