German airline Lufthansa has started to list flights on international accommodation juggernaut Airbnb, taking a novel approach to advertising in an effort to encourage more Americans to cross the pond.
Over the last year, Lufthansa and other airlines have experienced a drop off in flight bookings, particularly when it comes to transatlantic flights. One creative response from the German brand has been to take advantage of the continuing growth of the sharing economy, headed up by accommodation rental service Airbnb. Disguised as an apartment based in Frankfurt am Main, Lufthansa’s “cabin in the sky” is instead a return flight from New York to Frankfurt, available for $901 per night.
(Image credit: Airbnb)
This creative piece of advertising may appear at first as a publicity stunt, but in reality there is every chance collaborations of this nature may become far more common in the future. As holidaymakers and businesspeople alike are increasingly turning away from traditional hotels in favour of homestays and rented apartments, brands such as airlines and car rentals may have to alter their approaches, or face being left behind.
(Banner image credit: Lufthansa)