Frankfurt is one of the most prominent cities in Germany. A popular destination in Europe, this city receives millions of visitors each year. It is fifth largest city in the country. It also serves as the financial capital of Germany and is a hub for world famous banking institutes here. The city entices businesspersons from all over the world to its premises. A global city, it is famous for various attractions that grace its limits. While the world knows this city at face value, there are many hidden facts about it as well. Let us uncover the other side of its gorgeous city in the form of compilation of lesser-known facts about Frankfurt below.

Frankfurt is the city’s short name
Frankfurt is not the full name of the city of Frankfurt. The complete name of this German city is Frankfurt am Main. This literally means Frankfurt on the Main River. The city is also sometimes referred to as Main-hattan. This gorgeous city derives its names from the word frankfurter. Frankfurter in turn comes from frankfurter würstchen, which means pork sausages. These popular snacks were in the city from the beginning of the 13th century and became an inspiration so great as to name a modern city like Frankfurt!

It one of the best cities in the world to live in
The city of Frankfurt is home to more than 687,775 people. Apart from the local residents, it attracts a large number of foreigners each year, who flock to the city in search of a decent living and a comfortable lifestyle. If the report by Mercer Human Resource Consulting Worldwide Quality of Living Survey is to be believed then this city ranks on number seven on the list of cities that sport greatest quality of living the world over.

Main Tower offers a breathtaking view of the city below
Travelers visiting the city must ensure a trip to the Main Tower. This tower is Frankfurt’s one and only skyscraper open to the commoners. The 650-feet tall building offers glittering glimpses of the breathtaking panorama of the city. One can enjoy a delectable meal with their loved ones and at the same time relish the spectacular sight of this world-famous city.

People do not drink tap water!
As bizarre as it may sound, the people of this thriving German city do not drink tap water. Though the taps are flooded with water, yet the locals opt to visit departmental or retail stores to pick their cans of drinking water.

Shopping at Street Zeil is rejuvenating
Street Zeil is a pedestrian district that is one of the most visited places in the city. It is also known as the Fifth Avenue of Germany, and is flocked by curious shoppers most of the times. This place is the mix of modern and the ordinary as it houses items from street vendors to chic and branded stores. This place is forever bustling with activities day in and day out.

People prefer bland food
The local residents have peculiar food habits. They are not fond of spicy food rather prefer to eat bland food. Another strange fact is that finding any Mexican delicacy in the city is a rarity.

A recent study conducted by a travel firm ‘Which?’ published the latest findings that rated the top 10 airlines in the world as among the best and worst. The airlines that made it to the top 10 ranks in different categories include Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Emirates Airline, American Airlines, Thomas Cook, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Ryanair, among others. The study has been good for some, while it has been bad for others.

According to the study, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines were tied in first place among the best performers in the world aviation industry. Emirates Airline achieved the third place in the category of the world’s best airlines. However, the findings were not good for Qantas Airways as it was ranked in 10th place. This was however a consolation for Qantas Airways as it has been facing stiff competition on the trans-Tasman sector with a poor showing in the latest customer satisfaction rankings as against its rivals. The airline was ranked 24th among leading airlines flying on long-haul routes on the trans-Tasman sector. In the latest rankings that placed Qantas Airways at the 10th place, the airline received three stars out of five and was voted negative for its seat comfort and legroom offered to its customers.

Among the worst airlines included Manchester-based carrier Thomas Cook and American Airlines. Iberia was also not up to the mark in terms of its performance and was given only one-star rating. The airline received negative vote for its poor food and drink service and customer service. The airlines received the ratings based on 13 criteria, which included customer service, baggage allowances, in-flight entertainment, food and drink, cleanliness, seat comfort, punctuality and value for money.

Even though different airlines continue to invest heavily in premium seats aiming to attract business travelers in a big way, this is proving to be somewhat costly. The reason being that most of the airlines are fearing loss of revenue as premium seats often go without passengers on international routes. This situation has led to a major rethink among the airlines on how to bring a turnaround in their fortunes. One such airline to have been affected by this phenomenon of costly premium seats going empty is none other than Delta Air Lines. In a recent development, Delta Air Lines has indicated that it is not going to wait any further for a major revenue boost that it desperately wants for its long-haul fleet. The airline has stressed that it won’t hesitate in doing away with some premium seats as the empty seats are proving to be biggest hurdle in soaring its revenue.

Delta Air Lines recently held its investor meeting in New York. The airline made it clear that it is no longer going to be a mute spectator to its mounting losses and suffer in silence. The airline has come up with a new strategy and is ready to expand its cheaper coach cabin so that planes do not fly empty thus putting a stop to revenue losses. Glen Hauenstein, Delta Air Lines’ Chief Revenue Officer, told at the investor meeting that the empty premium seats on the affected flights is rather significant and on average it is in the high 60 percent range.

Hauenstein said that the airline cannot put up with the losses and has decided to reconfigure its planes. He said that this step is necessary to match the service level and devise methods that would let the fliers pay for the service that they are getting. He said that Delta Air Lines has decided to effect these changes after deliberating on the cost analysis factor and is now actively considering replacing premium seats with low-fare coach class seats.

Lufthansa, the commercial carrier of Germany is excited about the launch of its premium economy cabins onboard its flights next year. The airline is gearing to debut the new class on its planes in November 2014.

The airline, which operates service as the largest European airline has given a sneak peak into the much talked about premium economy. The airline is set to unveil the new seats in this section at the ITB fair in Berlin in March next year. It then plans to launch these seats on its long haul flights from November onwards. The airline has not yet confirmed the route that will debut this class.

As per the airline, though premium economy seats are a little different from their economy counterparts they will be fitted with the economy class rather than a separate class on its flights. Reports suggest that the airline has ordered these seats from German seat manufacturer ZIM Flugsitz GmbH. The airline has also not confirmed if there is going to be a divider separating economy from premium economy class. These seats will however, be classified as economy seats and will not get benefits like dedicated check-ins. The airline intends to introduce several changes to its planes in the coming two years. Apart from this launch, the airline is also set to introduce fresh First Class. It is also ready to change the seating arrangements on its A340-300 and B747-400 aircrafts into two-class.

Air New Zealand announced its decision to extend flight services to Australia’s Sunshine Coast. The airline intends to do this for third time in a row. The airline will resume service to the destination next year.

The airline will commence service from June 27, 2014 through October 26, 2014. The airline will fly on twice-weekly basis between the two destinations. It will expand the service to thrice weekly during the peak travel season. The airline has chalked a plan for itself to offer seasonal service to the Sunshine Coast in the next three years. It looks forward to offering 18,000 seats in the stipulated time.

The airline believes Sunshine Coast has scripted a success story and has become a hugely popular destination ever since its debut in 2012. The airline added capacity this year and aims at enhancing 75 percent the next year. As per the airline, New Zealanders are happy about this service. They are choosing to hit the golden beaches of the Sunshine Coast during bitter winter months. Additional flights on the route is expected to bring with it big money. A large chunk of travelers from New Zealand visit the Sunshine Coast making it one of the most preferred destinations in Australia. In fact, the Kiwis contribute a major portion of the group of travelers that visited the city this year.

The airline and Sunshine Coast authorities expect a boom in tourism in the coming years. They are gearing to cope up with the mounting demands and of course the anticipation.

All Nippon Airways or ANA announced the launch of new routes from Tokyo Haneda. The airline said it is all set to commence service from Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Vancouver, Jakarta, Hanoi, and Manila in the coming year.

The largest carrier of Japan is keen on widening its international footprints. Hence, it has chalked a plan to expand services around the world. The announcement has come close on the heels of finalizing its international schedule for 2014 that begins on March 30 next year.

As per the schedule, flights will depart Tokyo at 11:30 am and arrive in London at 4:00 pm. Return flights will depart London at 5:35 pm and arrive in Tokyo at 3:15 pm, the following day. The airline will suspend its Tokyo Narita-London service on March 30. Similarly, flights will depart Tokyo at 10:25 am and arrive in Paris at 3:45 pm. Return flights will depart Paris at 9:10 pm and arrive in Tokyo at 4:00 pm the next day. The airline will use the services of Boeing 777-300ERs on these routes.

The airline already runs a service from Narita to Jakarta and Manila. The new services from Haneda will complement the existing flights to these destinations. However, Vancouver and Hanoi are new destinations for the airline. It will be offering flights to these cities for the first time.

Qatar Airways, the big player in the Middle East announced its decision to launch service to the city of Larnaca in Cyprus. The airline has rapidly been expanding in the last few years. The airline which, commenced service in 1994 today offers flights to over 100 destinations worldwide.

The new service between Doha and Larnaca is set for April 29, 2014 debut. The airline will use the services of Airbus A320 aircraft to fly this route. This plane is equipped with a seating capacity for 144 passengers. Of the 144 seats, 12 are available in business class and the rest 132 in economy class. The flights will depart and arrive at Larnaca International Airport every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. As per the schedule, flights will depart Doha at 8:10 am and arrive in Larnaca at 12 noon. Return flights will depart Larnaca at 2:10 pm and arrive in Doha at 5:45 pm.

Larnaca is the third largest city in Cyprus after Nicosia, and Limassol. Larnaca is a scenic town in the country. It is blessed with abundant beauty, glittering seashores, and outstanding attractions. Travelers from all over the globe flock to the city to witness its richness and enjoy a great time. The airline is happy with the announcement and is keen to serve travelers who wish to explore its lavish exquisiteness.

So far this year the airline has launched flights to eleven new destinations including Gassim, Najaf, Phnom Penh, Chicago, Salalah, Basra, Sulaymaniyah, Chengdu, Addis Ababa, and Ta’if among others.

Ryan Air, the no frills airline of Ireland has a surprise for its travelers. The news may sound hard to believe but in all circumstances, it is true. The low-cost carrier announced its plan to alter its baggage policy. Some travelers dismissed the news as hoax until of course, they read it officially on their own. The changes made refer to the carry-on baggage.

In the recent past, a spat of unprecedented incidents have maligned the image of the airline. Some travelers have even branded the airline as money minting, and opportunist. Many believe the airline is least focused on customer satisfaction. The only thing, which, matters, is money. In a bid to perhaps, cleanse its tarnished image, it has come up with this decision. Passengers will now be able to carry hand baggage weighing not more than 10kg, and hold it, along with a second carry-on item. The catch is-Its Free!

Well, that is not it! There is more from the airline. On one hand, it is easing its baggage policy, on the other, it has decided to reduce the punishment fee for passengers who fail to print their boarding cards from home. It will now charge more affordable €15/$20 as fee rather than the earlier €70/$95 for the same. It also plans to launch mobile boarding cards in April 2014 along with assigned seats in February 2014.

Air Canada, the flagship carrier of Canada is the latest to join the bandwagon of airlines boasting Dreamliner in their fleet. The airline just recently uncovered the cabin design and seating to appear on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline has placed an order for whopping 37 of the state-of-the art aircrafts with its American manufacturer.

The airline expects to receive the first of these advanced planes in the spring of 2014. The new plane is set to debut on its maiden flight on Toronto-London Heathrow and Toronto-Zurich routes beginning May. These flights will initially operate on a two-month trial period. A Dreamliner will also launch service between Toronto and Tel Aviv beginning July.

These planes are equipped with a seating capacity for 251 passengers across business, premium economy, and economy classes. Business class will comprise 20 seats in 1-2-1 configuration. These travelers will enjoy adjustable headrests that include massage function. These seats can be converted into full flat beds and in full-length stretch up to 80 inches. These seats also include universal power points and USB points. Travelers can enjoy in-flight entertainment on 18 inch large screens. In addition to watching a movie or their favorite program, travelers can sip hot Lavazza espressos and cappuccinos.

Premium economy consists seating capacity for 21 passengers in 2-3-2 configuration. These seats are 19.5 inches wide, have seven inch recline, and include 38 inches of seat pitch. Each seat also consists of 11 inches screen, universal power plug, and USB outlets. They will also be able to relish delicious meals, priority check-in and baggage delivery at their destination. Economy class will consist of 210 slimline seats in 3-3-3 configuration and 31 inches of seat pitch. Every passenger will have a personal monitor of 9 inches, USB port, and universal charging point.

Aegean Airline, the largest Greek airline announced its plans to launch summer service to Birmingham. The airline said it intends to commence service between Birmingham and Athens in June next year. The airline was established in the year 1987 and since then has been operating service to various destinations from its hub in Athens International Airport and other cities across the country.

As per the plan, the airline will commence twice a week operations between the city pair. The flights will run every Tuesday and Saturday. The airline will use the services of Airbus A320 aircraft on this route. This plane is equipped with a seating capacity for 168 passengers. The seats have been configured in two classes, Business Class and Economy Class.

The seasonal service will function from June 10, 2014 through October 25, 2014. Earlier this year, the airline launched a similar service between London Stansted and Athens. The flights on this route commenced on July 11 and were terminated on September 25. Europe is one of the favorite holiday destinations amongst travelers. Many travelers explore the richness of Europe in different cities. With the onset of the season, passenger traffic and demands begin to mount. Many airlines therefore, either launch additional service or boost the frequency on popular routes.

However, business passengers and passengers who are Gold card members can access the airline’s lounge at the airport. In fact, Gold card members can also carry an extra baggage with them to their destination.