Lufthansa to Serve Turkish Food on Flights
Starting this week Europe’s leading carrier is upgrading its onboard product on flights between Turkey and Germany with a uniquely created Turkish food selection. The menus are specially prepared for Lufthansa by YESAM-Culinary Arts Center of the Turkish Cultural Foundation. The preparation of the dishes is handled by the world’s largest airline catering company LSG SkyChefs e.g. at their facility at Atatürk airport. “With more than 75 flights per week between Turkey and Germany we are connecting the two largest countries in Europe which are not only economically but also ethnically in very close and stronger growing ties. For us at Lufthansa it’s the first time to adapt our mediumhaul flight catering to a local selection of exclusive dining opportunities” said Carsten Schaeffer, Lufthansa Vice
President Sales & Services South Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, during a media presentation at Nar Lokantasi Restaurant in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet area. “Clearly, Lufthansa will strengthen its position as leading foreign carrier in Turkey in 2013 – our growing fleet of brand-new Airbus A320 airplanes, new seats, smoother transfer opportunities for our passengers in Frankfurt and Munich and now an even better onboard service will differentiate us from others.” “Each community has its own unique food culture. But only a few of them developed rich culinary cultures, just like the Turkish Cuisine, that continued its existence on three continents throughout the ages. Beyond the bare necessity of food, Turkish Cuisine reflects a unique harmony of art and taste”, said Bea Berke, Lufthansa General Manager for Turkey. “I am convinced that not only our Turkish customers will immediately feel at home, also our international passengers will have the chance to experience Turkey again when flying away”. Working together with Lufthansa and LSG SkyChefs is Chef Vedat Başaran who is also President of YESAM Culinary Arts Center. Over a period of three months him, Lufthansa, LSG SkyChefs and have created something unique. Before these top menus can “take to the skies”, the Chef puts his head together at several meetings with the chefs employed by LSG Sky Chefs. These get-togethers further strengthen the mutual understanding of the catering philosophy; they are fruitful for both sides and an interesting experience. It is a challenging process for both the culinary maestros and Lufthansa. The aim is to ensure that exquisite menus produced in larger batches still bear the exclusivity of the chef. “Turkish Cuisine owes its fame mainly to its diversity. Casseroles prepared with grains, vegetables and meat; soups, dishes in olive oil, pastries; unique flavors of herbs special to Anatolia and an innumerable variety of desserts and many more. The variety of crops grew in the Asian and Anatolian lands, the interactivity within many different cultures throughout history, the new tastes formed in the imperial Seljuk and Ottoman palaces and the sovereignty over the Spice Route played essential roles in the development of Turkish Cuisine culture. We are very proud to bring this tradition and colourful culinary life up in the air and to cooperate with a strong global brand like Lufthansa”, said Vedat Başaran.
Turkey’s Airports Expect 11% Passager Growth in 2013
GM of the State Airport Authority Orhan Birdal, said that they expect 10.8% y/y growth in the total number of passengers carried in 2013e. Birdal reiterated Minister Yildirim’s comments
last week that Istanbul Ataturk Airport will stop serving scheduled flights for commercial airliners, but that rest of its activities will continue once the planned third airport becomes operational. Birdal once again said that Turkey is a constitutional state and they have to and will consider TAV’s losses due to the planned third airport. Lastly, in response to a question, Birdal indicated that whether Turkish Airlines will have a seperate terminal in the new airport is an issue that will be resolved between the airport terminal operator and Turkish Airlines. In line with Birdal’s comments, we also expect low-teens passenger growth in 2013 for the whole sector. On the other hand, Birdal’s comments about planned third airport and Istanbul Ataturk are broadly a reiteration of Minister Yildirim’s comments last week and come as no surprise. We expect the comments to have a limited impact on listed aviation stocks. NewFocus
March / April’2013
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