Lufthansa to join Air France, British Airways with new first class cabin

Lufthansa is to join British Airways and Air France in revamping its first class cabins ahead of the World Cup in May, according to media reports.

The new first class package will debut in May, says Bloomberg, ahead of the airline's inaugural A380 flight to Johannesburg, carrying the German World Cup team.

Lufthansa has confirmed that the new first and business class menus will be designed by Michelin-starred chef Holger Stromberg, the chef to Germany's national football team.

Bloomberg quotes aircraft interior design expert Michael Oakey as saying that the new Lufthansa cabins will be "contemporary rather than colorful and futuristic, calling to mind private-jet interiors and luxury cars." The interior is reported to feature high-gloss wood veneers and brown and beige leather.

Lufthansa has also confirmed some of the new food options from Stromberg. Hors d'oeuvres in First Class include mousse and salad of green and white asparagus or breast of quail on mango and peperonata chutney, while the main courses include saddle of veal with cocoa, rhubarb, shallot compote and potato gnocchi or a coq au vin of spring chicken, pearl onions, parsley puree and Venus rice and a classic asparagus dish.

Business Class passengers can choose between beef roulade Gasthaus Stromberg-style filled with vegetables in jus, onions marinated in red wine and potato mash, pikeperch with caramelised beluga lentil stew and millet galettes or ravioli filled with cauliflower and Parmesan cream, cashew nut, macadamia nut and Pecorino cheese pesto and caramelised garlic.

Despite several airlines opting to reduce their first-class offerings in the wake of the financial crisis, some appear to have opted to innovate to survive.

Lufthansa's move follows British Airways' £100m (€115m) upgrade of first class in February, which added personal wardrobes and personal electric blinds to the first class cabin.

Fellow European flag-carrier Air France has integrated a small art gallery in the first class cabin of its A380, as well as a changing room for passengers to get ready for bed.

http://www.lufthansa.com