Lufthansa Group accelerates strategy implementation and optimizes summer flight offer

(27  April 2026)

Due to sharply rising kerosene prices – which have more than doubled compared with the period before the Iran war – as well as additional burdens resulting from labor disputes, the Lufthansa Group is implementing parts of its corporate strategy earlier than originally planned.

An initial package of measures includes adjustments to the short-, medium-, and long-haul flight program, as well as steps to accelerate fleet modernization.

The most important measures at-a-glance:

• Summer flight schedule 2026: Discontinuation of flights operated by Lufthansa CityLine (CL)
• End of summer flight schedule 2026: Retirement of the last four Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 aircraft and grounding of two Boeing 747-400s
• Winter flight schedule 2026/2027: Additional capacity reduction of the Lufthansa short- and medium-haul offer by five aircraft

As a result of discontinuing flights previously operated by Lufthansa CityLine, the Lufthansa Group’s summer capacity will be reduced by around 1% of available seat kilometers. In total, approximately 20,000 short-haul flights will be removed from the schedule through October.

The flight schedule adjustments primarily reduce unprofitable short-haul connections. The European network will be more strongly consolidated via the Lufthansa Group’s central hubs. This ensures that travelers continue to have access to the global route network – particularly to long-haul connections.