Lufthansa Airlines

History, Fleet, Routes, Hubs, Lounges, Safety, Loyalty Program, Financials and Future Outlook. Last researched and updated: August 12, 2026.

Lufthansa at a Glance

Lufthansa Airlines is Germany's largest airline and the flagship passenger carrier of the Lufthansa Group. Its principal hubs are Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC), from which it operates a large European and intercontinental network. Lufthansa describes its core product as a premium offering connecting Germany with destinations around the world.

The airline is also one of the founding members of Star Alliance, the world's first major global airline alliance, established in Frankfurt in 1997.

2026 is particularly significant for Lufthansa: the company is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its aviation heritage, while the modern Lufthansa airline itself traces its legal foundation to the re-establishment of the company in 1953, with flight operations resuming in 1955.

The figures above distinguish Lufthansa Airlines from the much larger Lufthansa Group. This distinction is important: the Group operated 737 aircraft and carried about 135 million passengers across its passenger airlines in 2025.

1. Inception and History

Lufthansa's history is unusual because the modern airline is part of a much longer German aviation tradition. The original Deutsche Luft Hansa AG was established in 1926, and Lufthansa's 2026 centenary celebrations look back to that aviation heritage. However, the company makes an important distinction between the historic organization and the modern Lufthansa: the legal foundation of today's Lufthansa was laid with its re-establishment in 1953, and flight operations resumed in 1955. The airline's wartime history should not simply be merged with the postwar company without explanation.

2. Lufthansa's 100-Year Aviation Heritage

Lufthansa has been using its centenary to reconnect its modern brand with historic designs and aircraft. In March 2026, the company announced a special Airbus A321 wearing a historic parabola design originally introduced in the 1950s — a sweeping design intended to convey movement, speed and modernity. The anniversary presents Lufthansa's history while acknowledging that the history of German aviation is complex and includes the company's predecessor during the Nazi era; it is presented here historically and factually rather than as a purely celebratory narrative.

3. Name, Logo, Crane and Brand Identity

Few airline symbols are as recognizable as Lufthansa's crane logo. The stylized bird inside a circular form has become one of the most recognizable visual identities in commercial aviation. Lufthansa's brand traditionally combines yellow, dark blue, white, the crane emblem, clean typography and highly recognizable aircraft liveries. Its historic liveries are particularly relevant during the 2026 centenary celebrations.

4. Lufthansa and the Jet Age

Lufthansa's transformation into a major international airline accelerated with the arrival of jet aircraft. The Boeing 707 helped establish the airline as a modern intercontinental carrier, while the 727, 737, 747, A300, A310, A340, A330, A380, A350, 747-8 and 787 shaped successive generations of the network. The Boeing 747 in particular became one of the defining aircraft of the Lufthansa brand. Today Lufthansa remains unusual among European carriers because it continues to operate both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 on its long-haul network.

5. Lufthansa Current Fleet

At December 31, 2025, Lufthansa Airlines and its associated regional operations had 387 aircraft. The Lufthansa Group's complete fleet was considerably larger at 737 aircraft, so these numbers should not be confused.

6. Fleet Modernization

Fleet renewal is one of the most important elements of Lufthansa's current strategy. In 2025 Lufthansa added 7 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 1 Airbus A350-900 to its long-haul fleet, equipped with the new Allegris cabin concept. The company also returned all eight of its Airbus A380s to active service by the first quarter of 2025, partly because deliveries of new long-haul aircraft were delayed.

At the end of 2025, the Lufthansa Group had 219 firm aircraft orders and options for another 182 aircraft, including the A350-900, A350-1000, 787-9, 777-9, 777-8F, A220-300, A320neo, A321neo and 737-8, with deliveries scheduled through 2032. These are Lufthansa Group orders — aircraft are allocated among Group airlines and are not necessarily destined for Lufthansa Airlines itself.

7. Lufthansa Allegris

One of Lufthansa's most significant product investments is Allegris, its new long-haul cabin concept covering all four classes. The new First Class includes private suites designed to provide a much more enclosed personal space. Allegris Business Class introduces five different seat types, allowing passengers to choose among different layouts and privacy levels. Premium Economy provides additional personal space, dedicated seating and enhanced entertainment, and Economy has been redesigned on long-haul aircraft with updated seating and features. Allegris is being introduced progressively, so travelers should always check the aircraft assigned to a particular flight.

8. Major Airport Hubs

Frankfurt Airport — FRA

Frankfurt is Lufthansa's largest traditional hub and one of Europe's most important connecting airports, providing European, North American, Asian, Middle Eastern, African and Latin American connections. It is particularly important for long-haul business travel and international connecting traffic.

Munich Airport — MUC

Munich is Lufthansa's second major hub and one of the airline's most important premium-oriented gateways, used for European connections, North American and Asian routes, Middle Eastern services and long-haul leisure and business markets.

9. Other Operating Bases and Related Airports

The broader Lufthansa Group network includes major hubs at Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, Rome and Milan. These are not all Lufthansa Airlines hubs — they belong to different Lufthansa Group network airlines. Lufthansa Airlines is not the same thing as Lufthansa Group, but the Group's multi-hub model gives passengers access to a much broader European network.

10. Major Route Regions

Europe is the airline's core short- and medium-haul market — France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

North America is one of Lufthansa's most important long-haul markets, with destinations including New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Asia-Pacific markets include Japan, China, South Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand and Southeast Asia. Lufthansa has announced a new Frankfurt–Kuala Lumpur nonstop service beginning in October 2026, operated five times weekly on a Boeing 787-9 with Allegris.

Lufthansa also serves major Middle East and Africa markets, complementing the wider network of Lufthansa Group airlines.

11. Lufthansa and Star Alliance

Lufthansa was one of the five founding airlines of Star Alliance, established in Frankfurt in 1997, alongside United Airlines, Air Canada, SAS and Thai Airways. The alliance dramatically expanded the reach of Lufthansa's network through coordinated connections and reciprocal frequent-flyer and lounge benefits, and remains central to Lufthansa's international strategy.

12. Major Airline Partnerships

Lufthansa maintains relationships through Star Alliance, codeshares, joint ventures, interline agreements and frequent-flyer partnerships. Important strategic relationships include United Airlines, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines. Lufthansa's Atlantic joint venture with Air Canada, United Airlines and other Lufthansa Group carriers is particularly important for transatlantic connectivity.

13. ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group

On January 17, 2025, Lufthansa completed the acquisition of an initial 41% stake in ITA Airways through a capital contribution of approximately €326 million, making ITA the Lufthansa Group's fifth network airline. ITA moved operations into Lufthansa Group terminal areas at Frankfurt and Munich, began participating in Group passenger benefits, introduced codeshare connections and entered the Star Alliance integration process. In 2026, Lufthansa moved to exercise its option to acquire another 49%, raising its stake from 41% to 90%, with the remaining 10% potentially purchasable in 2028. Italy is now a strategically important component of Lufthansa's future European network.

14. Lufthansa Lounges

Lufthansa operates an extensive lounge network, particularly at Frankfurt and Munich: First Class Lounges, Senator Lounges, Business Lounges, the First Class Terminal and the Welcome Lounge. Access depends on travel class, Miles & More status, Star Alliance status, route, operating carrier and airport, with different access levels for First Class, Business Class, HON Circle, Senator, Frequent Traveller and Star Alliance Gold customers. The Frankfurt First Class Terminal is one of Lufthansa's most distinctive premium facilities.

15. Miles & More

Miles & More is Lufthansa's frequent-flyer program, also used by several Lufthansa Group airlines and Star Alliance partners. The elite structure includes Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle. Members earn miles through flights, partner airlines, hotels, credit cards and everyday purchases, and redeem for award flights, upgrades, travel services, Lufthansa Worldshop products and other partner rewards. Miles & More has almost 40 partner airlines, and the current status system uses Points, Qualifying Points and HON Circle Points rather than relying solely on traditional distance-based qualification.

16. Cabin Classes

Lufthansa generally offers Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class, though the exact configuration varies significantly by aircraft. For long-haul aircraft equipped with Allegris, the differences between cabins are substantially greater than on older aircraft — the Allegris Business Class concept alone provides five different seat types.

17. Passenger Experience

Lufthansa's product strategy emphasizes German aviation heritage, reliability, premium service, business travel, international connectivity, modern aircraft and digital services. The product is increasingly differentiated between older-generation cabins and new-generation Allegris cabins, making aircraft selection increasingly important for passengers who care about the onboard experience.

18. Employees

Lufthansa Airlines employed 39,858 people at December 31, 2025 (average during the year: approximately 39,988). The broader Lufthansa Group had more than 100,000 employees across its airlines, logistics, maintenance and other aviation businesses — pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance, airport operations, ground handling, customer service, IT, administration, management, engineering and commercial operations.

19. Management

Jens Ritter — CEO, Lufthansa Airlines. CEO since April 1, 2022, Ritter is himself a trained pilot and has held numerous operational and management roles within Lufthansa. In 2025 Lufthansa changed its hub-management structure: Francesco Sciortino became responsible for Frankfurt and Heiko Reitz for Munich, while Ritter focuses on the airline's overall development and turnaround program.

Carsten Spohr — CEO, Lufthansa Group. CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG since May 1, 2014, Spohr is a trained commercial pilot and previously held responsibilities covering Lufthansa's passenger strategy, alliances and Lufthansa Cargo.

20. Financial Performance — Lufthansa Airlines 2025

Lufthansa Airlines' adjusted EBIT improved from –€94 million in 2024 to +€148 million in 2025 — a significant turnaround for the core brand.

21. Lufthansa Group Financial Performance

In 2025 the broader Lufthansa Group generated €39.597 billion revenue, €4.329 billion adjusted EBITDA, €1.960 billion adjusted EBIT and €1.339 billion net profit — Group revenue up approximately 5% from 2024. The Group's passenger airlines collectively carried about 135 million passengers.

22. Stock Market

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is publicly traded under the symbol LHA in Germany. The stock is influenced by jet fuel prices, passenger demand, labor costs, aircraft deliveries, European aviation taxes, airport charges, competition, exchange rates, geopolitical events, fleet investment and Lufthansa's profitability. As an example of how rapidly this changes, Lufthansa's investor information reported a share price of €7.20 on March 31, 2026, compared with €6.70 a year earlier — live stock information should always be timestamped.

23. Safety Record

Lufthansa has operated commercial aviation for many decades and has experienced serious accidents and incidents during its history. A responsible safety section should distinguish between accident, serious incident, incident, hull loss, fatal accident, technical event and security event. For historical accidents the record should identify date → flight → aircraft → location → fatalities → investigation → official findings, and causes should only be reported when established by the appropriate investigation authority. The airline's historical safety record should be treated separately from modern operational performance.

24. Regulatory Actions

Lufthansa operates under numerous aviation and consumer-protection regimes covering flight compensation, passenger rights, competition law, slot rules, environmental regulations, safety requirements, accessibility, data protection, advertising and consumer protection. A particularly important modern case involved Lufthansa's investment in ITA Airways: the European Commission approved the transaction in July 2024 subject to a remedy package, including commitments concerning short-haul routes, long-haul routes and Milan-Linate airport. Regulatory cases should always distinguish investigation → proposed remedy → settlement → final decision → appeal, rather than simply labeling something a "fine."

25. Customer Satisfaction

Lufthansa's customer experience is closely connected to its operational reliability. The airline experienced significant operational and labor disruptions during 2023–2024, creating pressure on the brand. Its turnaround program has focused heavily on punctuality, reliability, customer service, productivity, cost control and fleet modernization, and Lufthansa reported that operational stability and punctuality improved substantially during 2025.

26. Employee Satisfaction and Labor Relations

Labor relations have historically been an important issue for Lufthansa, whose highly skilled workforces include pilots, engineers, cabin crew, technicians and ground personnel. Labor negotiations can directly affect flight schedules, operating costs, customer satisfaction, punctuality and profitability. The current turnaround strategy includes efforts to improve productivity and control costs while reaching agreements with employees — one of the major strategic challenges facing the airline.

27. Operational Performance

Lufthansa's 2025 numbers show meaningful improvement: 476,842 flights, 65.706 million passengers and a passenger load factor of 83.4% (up from 82.8% in 2024). At the Group level, passenger airlines carried 135 million passengers with an overall load factor of 83.2%.

28. Technology and Innovation

Lufthansa has invested heavily in digital aviation: mobile booking, digital check-in, mobile boarding passes, digital travel identity, automated airport processes, biometric technology, in-flight connectivity, digital customer service and paperless cockpit operations. Lufthansa Group airlines were among the early adopters of Star Alliance biometric technology at Frankfurt and Munich.

29. Sustainability and Fleet Efficiency

Fleet modernization is one of Lufthansa's main tools for reducing emissions per passenger — newer aircraft such as the A320neo, A350, 787 and (within the wider Group) A220 consume less fuel than many aircraft they replace. Lufthansa describes fleet modernization as a major lever for reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, alongside initiatives in sustainable aviation fuel, fuel efficiency, operational efficiency and environmental technology.

30. AeroSHARK

One notable Lufthansa Group technology initiative is AeroSHARK, a surface film inspired by the structure of shark skin, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore fuel consumption — an example of improving existing aircraft rather than only purchasing new ones.

31. Lufthansa and German Aviation

Lufthansa has an unusually important role in Germany's aviation system, connecting German cities to the global economy through Frankfurt and Munich and supporting a broader ecosystem of airports, aircraft maintenance, cargo, catering, aviation technology, pilot training, engineering, tourism and business travel. The Lufthansa Group has around 300 subsidiaries and equity investments, making it considerably more than a traditional airline.

32. Lufthansa Group Structure

• Network Airlines: Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways
• Value / Leisure: Eurowings, Discover Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines
• Aviation Services: Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik and other aviation-related businesses

33. Lufthansa vs Lufthansa Group

Lufthansa Airlines is the actual German airline (LH / DLH). Lufthansa Group is the corporate group containing multiple airlines and aviation businesses. Therefore: 387 aircraft ≠ the entire Group fleet of 737 aircraft, and 65.7 million Lufthansa Airlines passengers ≠ 135 million Lufthansa Group passengers. This distinction prevents a major source of confusion.

34. Future Outlook

• Fleet renewal — a large aircraft order book extending into the early 2030s
• Allegris expansion — the new cabin product becoming a larger part of the long-haul fleet
• ITA integration — additional access to Rome, Milan and the broader Italian aviation market
• Core-brand turnaround — positive adjusted EBIT in 2025, but a modest 0.9% margin leaves considerable room for improvement
• Operational reliability — improving punctuality and regularity remains central to restoring customer confidence
• Premium positioning — strengthening its position as a premium European network carrier
• Cost competitiveness — balancing premium service, high European labor costs, airport charges, fuel costs and intense competition

35. Major Competitive Set

European: Air France, KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Turkish Airlines, SWISS, Austrian, ITA Airways, Finnair, SAS. Middle Eastern: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad. North American: United, Delta, American, Air Canada. Asian: Singapore Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air. Lufthansa's competitive challenge is particularly significant on intercontinental routes, where European network airlines compete against both U.S. carriers and large Middle Eastern and Asian airlines.

36. Strategic Strengths

• Strong home market — Germany is Europe's largest economy and an important business-travel market
• Central geographic position — Frankfurt and Munich connect Europe efficiently with other continents
• Large long-haul fleet — A350s, A380s, 747s, 787s and other wide-bodies
• Star Alliance — access to a huge global partner network
• Miles & More — a substantial customer-loyalty ecosystem
• Lufthansa Group — multi-airline structure with significant network breadth
• ITA investment — another major European network hub and customer base

37. Strategic Challenges

• High European operating costs, labor costs and airport charges
• Aircraft-delivery delays
• Strong competition from Middle Eastern carriers and U.S. network airlines
• Environmental regulations and fuel prices
• Geopolitical disruptions
• Maintaining premium service while improving margins
• Integrating ITA Airways
• Maintaining operational reliability — the 0.9% adjusted EBIT margin shows the core airline still has substantial work to do

38. Lufthansa Airlines — 2025 Key Statistics

39. Lufthansa Group — 2025 Key Statistics

40. Conclusion

Lufthansa is much more than Germany's national airline. It is one of Europe's most important aviation institutions and the central brand of a large aviation group whose network spans Europe and connects the continent with North America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other global markets.

The Lufthansa of 2026 is simultaneously historic and transitional: celebrating a century of aviation heritage while introducing new aircraft, the Allegris cabin, new digital technologies and a substantially renewed fleet. At the corporate level, the acquisition and integration of ITA Airways is reshaping Lufthansa's European network. The 2025 financial year was an important milestone: 65.7 million passengers, €17.1 billion in revenue and a return to positive adjusted EBIT of €148 million.

For travelers, the Lufthansa story increasingly comes down to three things: where it flies, what aircraft you fly on, and which Lufthansa product you receive. As the fleet renewal accelerates and Allegris becomes more widespread, those differences will become increasingly important.

Lufthansa Official Resources

• Lufthansa official website
• Lufthansa Group
• Lufthansa Group Investor Relations (2025 Annual Report)
• Lufthansa Miles & More
• Lufthansa Lounge Access Rules
• Lufthansa Allegris