Two repatriation charter flights will bring some 400 managers, employees of German companies and their families back to their workplace in China – Both flights organized and carried out by German Chamber of Commerce, the German Diplomatic Missions in China and Lufthansa Group – Lufthansa Group flights will be first repatriation charter flights from Europe to China
The German Chamber of Commerce in China together with the German Diplomatic Missions in China and Lufthansa Group are teaming up to operate two repatriation flights from Germany to China. Both flights will originate from Frankfurt and go to Tianjin and Shanghai.
These flights plan to return some 400 managers, employees of German companies and their families to China, where they operate subsidiaries of multinational companies as well as Germany’s prestigious SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). Both flights will be the first repatriation flights from Europe to China.
“This is an important step to reconnect China’s and Germany’s economies,” said Jens Hildebrandt, Executive Director of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China. “It is our common interest to contribute in helping the economy return to normalcy and pre-virus levels.” Germany is one of China’s most important and long-standing trading partners with more than 5,200 German companies located throughout the country and employing more than 1 million people. “We know there is a huge demand in the German business community to get more foreign employees back to China.”
Lufthansa German Airlines will carry out the flights to Tianjin and Shanghai organized by the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the German Diplomatic Missions in China. Both flights will operate an Airbus A340-300 and each will have around 200 passengers on board. “These two flights are the first of hopefully many more Lufthansa Group flights between China and Germany in the coming months,” said Alain Chisari, Vice President for the Lufthansa Group Airlines in Asia-Pacific. “We are confident authorities will gradually ease restrictions for travelers from both countries so flights with our airlines return to China on a regular basis.”
Dr. Matthias Goebel, Lufthansa Group Chief Representative China, points out that both flights to Shanghai and Tianjin are the product of a joint effort of the German Diplomatic Missions in China, relevant Chinese authorities, the German Chamber of Commerce and Lufthansa Group. “It’s remarkable teamwork by all parties involved that makes these flights happen – and something we will build on to increase air travel again between our home markets, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and China.”