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On-Board Goods Bid Adieu: Lufthansa Axes Perfumes, Cigarettes, and Sunglasses on Long-Haul Flights
Economic constraints have compelled Lufthansa to say goodbye to in-flight sales of perfumes, cigarettes, and sunglasses on their long-haul flights. A spokesperson from the airline confirmed this decision, citing decreasing demand colliding with high procurement costs as the primary reasons. Prior reports of this move were made by "Aero Telegraph".
This change affects Lufthansa's main brand and has already been implemented on specific connections. From September, the entire network will be devoid of on-board sales. Short-haul flights have not included sales for a prolonged period. The business in the webshop and airport shops remains untouched.
Germany's Other Aviation Giants Stand Firm
Other German carriers such as Tuifly and Condor aren't planning to mimic Lufthansa's strategy, at least for now. Tuifly has seen robust demand, especially on tourist flights to destinations like the Canary Islands. The in-flight shop remains a vital component of the travel experience. Condor, too, has no intentions to discontinue on-board sales, with profits proving healthy, particularly at holiday spots.
Lufthansa is also reimagining its entire on-board service on long-haul flights as part of the "Fox" project. Innovations and enhanced processes have been trialed in economy class this month, with premium classes to follow in the near future. Lufthansa ensures it's not about saving money, but rather improving the guest experience. The menu of food and drinks will see enhancements.
AI Lends a Hand
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to play a role in streamlining service. A "Tray Tracker" AI system assesses trays cleared in-flight, aiming to recognize whether meals have been touched or left untouched. The flight route, travel class, and meal concept are fed into the analysis to optimize portion sizes and food selection.
Insights:
- Economic Rationale: Lufthansa's decision to eliminate on-board sales is primarily driven by economical considerations, primarily due to decreasing demand meeting high procurement costs.
- Focus on Optimization: Reducing the logistical complexities associated with stocking and selling physical goods on-board has been a priority for Lufthansa, as they seek to streamline operations and optimize profitability.
- Broader Context: The broader context suggests a focus on optimizing profitability across business segments, with Lufthansa Cargo showing strong growth in Q1 2025 despite challenges in the passenger division, including a slight drop in U.S.-bound summer travel demand.
- Lufthansa's discontinuation of perfumes, cigarettes, and sunglasses sales on long-haul flights is supposedly due to economic and social policy concerns, as the airline aims to address declining demand and high procurement costs.
- Despite Lufthansa's decision, other German carriers like Tuifly and Condor are supposedly not planning to follow suit at this time, as they continue to see strong demand and profits, particularly in the tourist and holiday sectors.
- As part of the "Fox" project, Lufthansa is not only focusing on discontinuing physical goods sales but also reimagining its entire on-board service on long-haul flights to improve lifestyle and travel experiences, including improvements to the menu of food and drinks.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being utilized to streamline service, with a "Tray Tracker" AI system assessing trays cleared in-flight, aiming to optimize portion sizes and food selection based on factors such as flight route, travel class, and meal concept.
