Fight or flight: Lufthansa lists on Airbnb in midst of revenue drop

Fight or flight: Lufthansa lists on Airbnb in midst of revenue drop

FRANKFURT – Times may be tough for Lufthansa right now, but that isn’t stopping the airline from having a bit of fun.

Last week, the German airline lowered its revenue forecast amid declining bookings, citing “increasing political and economic uncertainties,” reports The Economist. Recent events like the Brexit vote and terror attacks in Europe have resulted in less people booking flights, particularly long-hauls to Europe.

To get around this, Lufthansa has found a new way to reach potential customers: via Airbnb. The airline posted a listing on the popular accommodation booking site, representing the first flight to ever be offered via the platform, says Quartz, which first reported the listing.

Titled “Luxury Awaits Above the Clouds,” the listing goes on to say, “Our cabin isn’t in the woods, but in the sky!” Amenities include TV, heating and wireless Internet but not “free parking on premises” and “elevator in building.” Lufthansa also included three “house rules” in the listing: no smoking, not suitable for pets, and no parties or events.

In true tongue-in-cheek style, the minimum stay is listed as four nights, although the airline notes, “Just 1 night? Well, the flight doesn’t take more than that.”

As for the price of Lufthansa’s ‘room in the sky’, the listing puts the per-night-cost at US$790, plus a $95 Airbnb service fee.

So is this a sign of things to come? Will Airbnb change its model to include flights becoming a one-stop shop for all travel-related services? Lufthansa’s listing is little more than gimmick, sure, but it’s not that hard to imagine this trending in the near future. We’ll just have to wait and see.

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