Pollak and al-Massry give details about the new plans at a press conference
German airline Lufthansa will upgrade its Doha-Frankfurt service to a non-stop flight from October 30 thus eliminating the intermediate landing in Riyadh and cut travel time between Qatar and the European country.
Flights from Qatar were previously operated from Doha to Frankfurt via Riyadh.
With the introduction of the winter time table 2011/12, which goes into effect on October 30, Lufthansa will offer six weekly non-stop flights from Doha to Frankfurt. 
The new service shortens the flight time from 7.30 hours to 5.45 hours for passengers departing from Frankfurt and from 8.25 hours to 6.50 hours for those departing from Doha.
The airline established in 1962 flies to 199 destinations in 81 countries across the world including 13 destinations in 10 countries in the Middle East.
In April, Lufthansa launched Iraq operations with four weekly flights to the city of Erbil. There are also plans to begin three times weekly services on Jeddah-Munich  sector (via Riyadh) during this autumn.
In all, Lufthansa Group, comprising Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and bmi British Midland, operates 196 weekly flights in 15 cities across the Middle East.
It also plans to operate flights from Doha to 100 destinations in Europe and some 21 cities in North America.
Between 2011-2016, the airline plans to invest up to €14.5bn having placed orders for 154 new aircraft while new European cabin retrofit is being planned for some 180 aircraft.
The airline, which follows a three-tier concept offers first class/HON circle, senator and business class lounges and it will also introduce new first class retrofitting for its Boeing 747 and Airbus A340/A330 between now and 2014.
A new, fully-flat business class product will be introduced onboard in 2012.
The aircraft is equally being refitted with the most advanced onboard broadband Internet hotspot worldwide “FlyNet”.
Also, by 2013, the airline will have invested about €150mn into its lounges across the world having renovated and improved almost 20 lounges in different parts of the world.
Speaking about the airline during a presentation at a press briefing yesterday Lufthansa’s  UAE general manager and Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq director Peter Pollak said: “Qatar is one of the most dynamic growth markets in the Gulf region and it has long been on our wish list to bring a non-stop Lufthansa service to the Doha-Frankfurt route. We are pleased to offer the superior travel comfort of a six weekly non-stop flight to our customers soon.”
Qatar sales manager Randa al-Massry said: “We are delighted to see enhanced services for our customers. We trust the new service will be welcomed by business and leisure travellers alike, who will now have an even more efficient access to Lufthansa’s Frankfurt gateway with flights to over 200 destinations.”
Lufthansa has won various awards in 2011 with the carrier being named ‘Best European Airline serving the Middle East’ in the recently held Business Traveller Middle East Awards.