SAN DIEGO – June 22, 2017 – Lufthansa will offer direct flights between its largest hub, Frankfurt, Germany, and San Diego on a year-round basis beginning in March 2018.

The flight represents a speedy, efficient and convenient connection between Europe and Southern California for both business and leisure travelers, said Kimberly Becker, President/CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

“We’re pleased to add Lufthansa to our growing list of international air carriers,” Becker said. "Lufthansa will tie us into a new European hub system year-round. It will enable San Diego businesses and leisure passengers to reach new destinations not currently accessible via London Heathrow.”

The flight will operate out of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) five-times weekly.  The flight, which will maintain year-round service to the European Union, will connect to over 85 destinations in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.  New destinations available with a single flight connection include:  Bangalore, Casablanca, Florence, Gdansk, Kiev, Krakow, Nuremberg, Riga, Riyadh, St. Petersburg, Sofia and Zagreb.

This will be the only European flight serving San Diego International Airport (SAN) with a morning departure. It will take off from Frankfurt at 10 a.m. (Frankfurt time) and arrive at SAN at 1:20 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves SAN at 3:20 p.m. and arrives in Frankfurt at 11:40 a.m. (Frankfurt time, the following day). Flights will operate every day except Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lufthansa, which has never served SAN before, will use the 279-seat Airbus 340-300 aircraft on the route configured with Business, Premium Economy and Economy class cabins.  The flight will be co-marketed and sold in conjunction with United Airlines.