Lufthansa will maintain their tradition of flying in traditional costumes this year, in a tribute to the Munich Oktoberfest, even if the actual festival doesn’t take place. Nine cabin crew members will depart for Charlotte on September 22nd, followed by Denver on October 3rd.
On Wednesday (September 15, 2021), Lufthansa announced that they will continue their ‘Trachtencrew’ tradition of flying in traditional costumes this year, even if the actual world-famous Munich Oktoberfest folk festival doesn’t take place due to the pandemic. For the first U.S. flights, Nine cabin crew members will depart Munich for Charlotte, North Carolina (U.S.) on September 22nd, followed by a flight to Denver on October 3, 2021. Lufthansa is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Frankfurt-Denver service, followed by Munich-Denver service five years ago.
This year, the Trachtencrew will also travel more frequently within Europe compared to previous years. The first flight already operated between Munich and Málaga and on September 18th, the original start of the Munich Wiesn, the Trachtencrew will fly to Funchal. This year, Lufthansa CityLine’s Trachtencrew will takeoff on around 40 flights in Germany and Europe. Between September 20th and October 3rd, they will fly to Copenhagen, Dublin, Alicante, and Sofia and other destinations, as well as domestically to Münster/Osnabrück, Bremen, Paderborn and Dresden.
Like in previous years, the bespoke traditional costumes were designed by Munich-based costume specialist Angermaier. The cabin crew’s Wiesn dirndl is dark blue with a silver-grey apron, while the men wear lederhosen with a dark blue fabric in the same fabric as the dirndl. Over the years, Lufthansa’s passenger service team in Munich’s Terminal 2 have also greeted passengers in dirndl and traditional costume during the Wiesn season.
From September 15th, guests onboard and in Lufthansa lounges will enjoy special Bavarian delights. Business Class customers on European routes will enjoy Munich delicacies as part of the ‘Tasting Heimat’ program. Depending on the duration of the flight, guests will enjoy a snack with an Obatzter cream and grilled peppers, or a hot dish, such as a lightly smoked pork tenderloin or fried bread dumplings with a mushroom ragout. Naturally, meals will be accompanied by traditional German bread. Visitors to the Senator and Business lounges in Munich can choose between typical Bavarian dishes such as Hendlhaxn with Sauerkraut or Bavarian potato salad, while guests visiting the festively decorated First Class Lounge will be treated to a small Wiesn menu.
Lufthansa’s first Trachtencrew flights took place in 1957, and have since delighted guests worldwide. The airline restored the tradition in 2006, on a flight to New York, and until now, the Trachtencrews have flown to 25 international destinations from China to Japan and India to the U.S., as well as destinations throughout Europe.
Source: Lufthansa