Lufthansa airline has set a new record of in-flight passengers. The German airlines transported 107.7 million passengers in 2015, a 1.6 per cent increase from the previous year. At the same time the company carried out more than one million flights and achieved the highest ever seat load factor of 80.4 per cent. This corresponds to an increase in capacity utilization of 0.3 percentage points compared to 2014.

The airline said it invested heavily in the improvement of its offers and services throughout the past few years. As part of this, 17 new aircraft were taken into service by the Lufthansa Group in 2014.

Lufthansa Group said in a statement made available to News Express that it’s airlines’ fleet will be amended by a further 251 jets over the next ten years.

“Additionally, the comfort of travel has been noticeably enhanced through cabin refurbishment in all classes, improvements in on-board services and the availability of the FlyNet® broadband internet connection. With these improvements, the Group was able to markedly increase demand and to convince more customers than ever before to fly with one of its airlines,” the statement said.

The group also announced that shopping above the clouds has become easier and more convenient for Lufthansa passengers. It said leisure and business travelers can reserve their desired items from the In-flight shopping selection of Lufthansa worldshop online at www.LH.com/preflight-shopping before their Lufthansa flight.

A free “preflight shopping” reservation is non-binding and can be made up to four days before take-off. Flight guests can look at their pre-reserved products on board and acquire them by paying with cash, credit card or Miles & More miles. In contrast to ordering online, inflight shopping gives customers the chance to examine the desired products before purchasing them and to seek advice from trained flight attendants if they like.

Around 180 premium products are on offer, including, technology, entertainment items, exclusive cosmetic articles and perfumes, as well as watches and children’s toys.

Dr. Reinhold Huber, responsible for customer experience and innovation said the new Preflight Shopping allows the Lufthansa airline guests to choose from on board sales assortment at home at their leisure. Through the preflight reservations they are assured that the desired products are available on board.

“As of today the new service is available on all intercontinental Lufthansa flights, as well as on selected inner-European flights with in-flight shopping,” he noted.

*Photo shows a Lufthansa boardSell.