Passengers from the Middle East will soon have more destination choices as Lufthansa is further expanding its route network to South America. From 16 November 2015, the airline will offer year-round flights to Panama City for the first time, subject to government approval.

Flying from Dubai and arriving early morning at Frankfurt, an Airbus A340-300 aircraft will fly five times a week between Frankfurt and the economic metropolis in Central America. Flight LH 484 will take off from Lufthansas Frankfurt hub in the morning at 10.15 a.m. and arrive in Panama in the afternoon at 4.40 p.m. (local time) after a flight time of 12 hours and 25 minutes. The return flight LH 485 will depart from Panama City in the early evening as a night flight and land at Frankfurt Airport the following morning leaving plenty of time to connect back to Dubai.

This new route is good news for both our leisure and business passengers here in the Middle East. With booming trade between the UAE and Panama especially as both countries are important port operators, the new connection via our hub in Frankfurt opens more channels and possibilities to reach South America. Our passengers will also have ample time to relax at our lounges in Frankfurt during their connecting time, said Karsten Zang, General Manager, UAE and Director Gulf and Pakistan, Lufthansa German Airlines.

On board, passengers can expect to find Lufthansas usual high level of comfort. A total of 298 seats will be available in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, featuring the latest cabin design in all classes: seats in the new Business Class can be converted at the touch of a button into a comfortable horizontal bed measuring 1.98 metres in length. In the new Premium Economy Class, increased legroom and a greater seat pitch await passengers. With the individual in-flight entertainment system, there is a wide range of entertainment on offer for passengers in all travel classes, as well as FlyNet, the wireless broadband internet.

Lufthansa is also expanding its partnership with the Panamanian airline Copa. Lufthansa passengers will in future be able to easily reach a further 50 destinations in Central and South America and the Caribbean with the partner airline. The most important travel destinations in Copas network include airports in Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala. The times of the Lufthansa services are coordinated with Copas connecting flights in such a way that passengers can transfer comfortably at Tocumen Airport, Copas Hub of the Americas.

Panama is located between Costa Rica and Columbia and has recorded increasingly strong economic growth in recent years. Besides the famous Panama Canal, it has an important banking sector, a favourable geographic location and good infrastructure, providing reasons for a business trip to the Central American country. Untouched beaches and a large number of national parks with their rainforests, mangroves and unique subaquatic world also promise leisure travellers an unforgettable trip.

In terms of trade, Panama exported goods worth Dh3.5 million to the UAE last year, up from Dh2.9m the previous year, but imported only Dh2.5m last year, a drop from Dh4.3m, according to reports quoting the UAE Ministry of Economy.

A return flight between Dubai-Frankfurt-Panama can already be booked. Further information and flight booking services with Lufthansa can be found online at LH.com. Flights can also be booked with Lufthansas travel agency partners and at the Lufthansa ticket desks in airports.

The new routes at a glance

Dubai-FrankfurtPanama City (Panama)

Airports/
Three-letter code/
Time zone (summer) Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1 (DXB); UTC +4 hours
Frankfurt Airport, Terminal 1 (FRA); UTC +1 hours
Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen (PTY); UTC -5 hours

Flight timetable
(all time information in local time; summer time) Daily
LH 631 Dubai 01.25 a.m. Frankfurt 05.20 a.m.
LH 630 Frankfurt 1.25 p.m Dubai 10.35 p.m.

NEW from 16 November 2015

Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
LH 484 Frankfurt 10.15 a.m. Panama 4.40 p.m.
LH 485 Panama 6.45 p.m. Frankfurt 11.35 a.m. (following day)

Flight time between FRA and PTY
(average) 11 hours 20 minutes

Distance 9,070 km (4,897 nautical miles)

Aircraft type

Airbus A340-300
(298 seats, of which 18 in Business, 19 in Premium Economy and 261 in Economy Class)