Bigger Planes Fly between Debrecen and Munich

The BMW Group has signed a partnership agreement with Lufthansa concerning travel to and from its car factory in the eastern Hungarian city of Debrecen, under which larger-capacity planes will be operated between Debrecen and the southern German city of Munich on Mondays and Fridays, according to an announcement at a press conference in Debrecen on Friday after the arrival of the first plane this Friday.

The 215-seat Airbus A321neo, the airline's largest aircraft serving short- and medium-haul routes, will operate on the route on these days, Johannes Walter, Lufthansa Group Vice President, who himself arrived in Debrecen on the first flight, announced.

He said he was delighted that the flights, for which they have signed a long-term agreement, will transport hundreds of BMW engineers and innovators between the two cities.

The new flight will take 1.5 hours from Debrecen to Munich, compared to 3-3.5 hours via Budapest, he said, adding that Lufthansa's aim is to promote people, cultures and the economy in a sustainable way.

Johannes Walter added that Lufthansa's commitment to Hungary was undiminished, with 141 destinations served from Budapest.

Liv Eske Herrström, CFO of BMW Manufacturing Hungary Ltd., said the expansion of capacity was an important milestone, which was a tribute to the work of Lufthansa and Debrecen Airport. Improvements have been made in recent years that allow larger aircraft to land in Debrecen, she added.

She said that they now have more than 1,000 employees in Debrecen, preparing the plant for the start of car production next year. The workforce is growing steadily, and the larger capacity Lufthansa flights will allow their employees to travel home and back in good quality.