Lufthansa's new 'Jump' airline sets sights on Asia-Pacific

Lufthansa will launch a new airline named 'Jump' next year with its eye on the Asia-Pacific market.

However, Jump isn't the German carrier's as-yet-unnamed budget offshoot – instead, it will adopt a 'hybrid' model closer to that of competitor AirBerlin, but on an international scale, with a launch date of November 2015.

Jump's startup fleet of eight Airbus A340 jets will be fitted with 18 business class seats, 19 premium economy and 261 economy seats, according to reports in Asia-Pacific Business Traveller.

Those business class seats will be the same as offered on Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8 jets.

At the same time, Jump is expected to run with far leaner operating costs than its parent, including new contracts struck with unions for as much as 25% less than Lufthansa.
Jump's primary destinations will cover key cities in China, India and Thailand, as well as select cities in North America.

Lufthansa's low-cost airline, also due to begin flying in late 2015, will target "more tourist-centric markets, for less money than both mainline Lufthansa or ‘Jump’ could offer", according to a Lufthansa spokesman.