Lufthansa, the German flag carrier, is to be the first commercial airline to offer its long-haul first and business class passengers the option of continuing their journeys within Europe by private business jet.

The airline is joining forces with NetJets, the world's leading operator of corporate jets and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, the US group headed by Warren Buffett, to offer the service initially from Munich airport. The launch of the service at the end of the month, comes as demand for private jet services is growing in Europe and the US.