Boeing, Lufthansa, Rolls-Royce partner to test technologies to improve fuel efficiency, reduce noise

 Research focuses on a novel engine inlet, operational concepts

- Test occurring on newest Boeing ecoDemonstrator flying test bed

- Collaboration supports FAA CLEEN program

SEATTLE, JULY 16, 2026 — Boeing [NYSE: BA], Lufthansa and Rolls-Royce will soon conduct flight tests of innovations meant to improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise.

Being tested on these flights are:

Boeing, Lufthansa, Rolls-Royce partner to test technologies to improve fuel efficiency, reduce noise

The Next Generation Inlet, a reduced-length engine inlet demonstrator with advanced acoustic treatments. The inlet enables the integration of more fuel-efficient engines onto future platforms, and reduces weight and drag while maintaining the acoustic performance.

Modified departure and arrival procedures, including Intelligent Operations flight paths, which aim to reduce community noise around airports. These flight paths are algorithmically generated using multiple data sources to identify opportunities for fuel-efficiency and noise benefits.

The testing, which begins later this month at the Boeing site in Glasgow, Montana, is being conducted on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet that’s serving as Boeing’s 2026 ecoDemonstrator Explorer airplane. This Boeing 787-9 is scheduled to be delivered to Lufthansa at a later date and features Trent 1000 engines from Rolls-Royce. The testing is expected to run through mid-August.

“Boeing works tirelessly to deliver the aerospace innovations of today and tomorrow,” said Boeing Chief Technology Officer Lane Ballard. “The more efficient inlet and Intelligent Operations flight paths we’re evaluating on this year’s ecoDemonstrator Explorer are among the many promising concepts we’re working on. These enhancements have the potential to make our airplanes even more valuable to our partners, including customers like Lufthansa and suppliers like Rolls-Royce.”

“Lufthansa Group and Boeing share a long-standing partnership in aviation. We are pleased to support this year’s Boeing ecoDemonstrator Explorer program alongside Rolls-Royce” said Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Lufthansa Group. “Together, we aim to help advance aviation’s transformation by testing technologies with the potential to improve fuel efficiency, reduce noise and prove their value in real-world operations.”

“This program is the culmination of a decade of collaboration with Boeing, built on a shared ambition to reduce noise, improve efficiency and unlock more sustainable flight,” said Alan Newby, Director of Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce, which provided engineering support and oversight for operating the engine with the Next Generation Inlet installed. “With Boeing and Lufthansa, we are building on our extensive research to test technologies in real-world conditions and see how they perform where it matters most - in service. We look forward to sharing insights and demonstrating how world-class partnership and innovation can deliver benefits for our customers and the industry.”

The innovations being tested are part of Phase III of the Federal Aviation Administration’s CLEEN (Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise) program. Through this initiative, CLEEN works together with industry to test and develop technologies that will enable manufacturers to create airplanes and engines with benefits such as improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise.

“These tests demonstrate how the public-private partnership of the CLEEN program supports the development and integration of advanced technologies into current and future aircraft,” said Julie Marks, executive director of the FAA’s Office of Environment and Energy.

Since 2012, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program has accelerated innovation by taking new technologies out of the lab and testing them in an operational environment to help solve real-world challenges for airlines and passengers. The ecoDemonstrator program has tested more than 260 technologies to enhance safety, reduce fuel use, emissions and noise and improve operational efficiency and the passenger experience.

“The Boeing ecoDemonstrator program helps us continue to deliver improved products that meet our customers’ needs, including better fuel economy and lower noise emissions,” said Allison Melia, Boeing vice president of Sustainability. “Maturing these technologies is key to supporting their fleet modernization strategies and sustainability goals while advancing resilient aviation growth.”

SPECIAL LIVERY - Lufthansa's first Airbus A350-1000 arrives with a special livery

The seventh aircraft with the blue anniversary livery is scheduled to be transferred to Munich this fall

D-AIFA is to be named “Deutschland”

The A350-1000 will be the 700th aircraft delivered by Airbus to the Lufthansa Group

In just a few weeks, Lufthansa’s special anniversary fleet will welcome another addition: The very first A350-1000 that Lufthansa Airlines will take delivery of from Airbus was painted at the Toulouse plant in blue, featuring a white XXL crane and the lettering “1926 | 2026” and “100” - using a total of 432 liters of blue paint and 246 liters of white paint.

The Airbus A350-1000 is scheduled to be transferred from Toulouse to Munich this fall. Until then, several test flights, further work on the aircraft’s interior, and the final acceptance inspection are still pending. The A350-1000 will bear the registration number D-AIFA and the name “Deutschland.” An official naming ceremony is scheduled to take place at a later date. What makes this first A350-1000 special is that it will be the 700th aircraft that Airbus has delivered to the Lufthansa Group.

In just a few weeks, Lufthansa’s special anniversary fleet will welcome another addition: The very first A350-1000 that Lufthansa Airlines will take delivery of from Airbus was painted at the Toulouse plant in blue, featuring a white XXL crane and the lettering “1926 | 2026” and “100” - using a total of 432 liters of blue paint and 246 liters of white paint.

The Airbus A350-1000 is scheduled to be transferred from Toulouse to Munich this fall. Until then, several test flights, further work on the aircraft’s interior, and the final acceptance inspection are still pending. The A350-1000 will bear the registration number D-AIFA and the name “Deutschland.” An official naming ceremony is scheduled to take place at a later date. What makes this first A350-1000 special is that it will be the 700th aircraft that Airbus has delivered to the Lufthansa Group.

 

SPECIAL LIVERY - Lufthansa's first Airbus A350-1000 features the airline's centenary commemorative livery. Named Deutschland, it will be delivered in the autumn of 2026.

 Photo: A380_TLS_A350

A350-100: Accommodates 300 passengers across four travel classes: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.
Lufthansa has ordered 15 A350-1000s, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by 2030

Airbus and Lufthansa Group celebrate 50 years of partnership and agree on future strategic cooperations

• 700th Airbus aircraft for the Lufthansa Group to be delivered later this year
• New component services agreement for the Lufthansa Group’s Airbus A220 fleet
• Commitment to more sustainable aviation

Airbus and Lufthansa Group, at the opening of ILA Berlin Air Show, agreed on a series of further cooperative efforts and officially celebrated the 50th anniversary of their partnership which started with the delivery of the first A300 to Lufthansa in 1976.

“Today, we are working together towards the delivery of the 700th aircraft for the Lufthansa Group which is scheduled for later this year. This major milestone is just one example of how Airbus and Lufthansa jointly worked on making aviation one of the key industries for Germany”, says Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus.

“As the world leading aviation groups, Airbus and the Lufthansa Group share a long-standing, trusting, and very special partnership. Over the past half-century, we have not only taken delivery of more aircraft from Toulouse and Hamburg than any other airline in the world, but have also supported the development of numerous aircraft models as launch customers. We intend to build on this foundation together to further advance aircraft technology and expand Europe’s leading role in the aviation sector”, says Carsten Spohr, CEO Lufthansa Group.

The Lufthansa Group has been operating all Airbus aircraft families including the A220, A300, A320, A330/A340, A350 and A380. For several aircraft, Lufthansa was the launch operator, continuously driving innovation forward in commercial aviation. Lufthansa has recently finalised a firm order for 10 additional A350-900 aircraft to complement its existing fleet of 43 of the type. In total, Lufthansa has now ordered 75 A350s – including the soon to be delivered A350-1000.

The agreement signed in the presence of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz at ILA comprised several areas. Lufthansa signed a component services agreement covering its entire Airbus A220 fleet, ensuring efficient operation of the smallest member of the Airbus aircraft family across the various airlines of the Lufthansa Group.

Airbus and Lufthansa also reaffirmed their commitment to the future of sustainable aviation. As an example both companies also presented recently a SharkSkin aircraft coating for the A330 to further reduce fuel consumption.

Photo caption: Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr and Lufthansa Group CTO Grazia Vittadini signing the agreement with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner in the presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the opening of ILA Berlin Air Show

 

Lufthansa Group at ILA Berlin 2026: Anniversary Aircraft and Lufthansa Technik Defense

• Lufthansa A320neo in special 100th-anniversary livery
• Lufthansa Technik Defense showcases its portfolio in Hall D
• Focus on current projects for the German Armed Forces and NATO partners

The Lufthansa Group will have a dual presence at this year’s International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin: with its Airbus A320neo at the Airbus Static Display in Lufthansa’s special 100th founding anniversary livery, and with the Lufthansa Technik Defense exhibition booth.

The Lufthansa A320neo, registered D-AING, is part of the anniversary fleet commemorating the founding of the first Lufthansa 100 years ago. The aircraft, featuring the iconic Lufthansa crane in XXL format on a blue fuselage, represents more than a century of aviation history and the continuous modernization of the Lufthansa Group fleet.

At ILA 2026, the Lufthansa Group will place a particular focus on Lufthansa Technik Defense. Since 2023, Lufthansa Technik has brought together its defense activities for the German Armed Forces and its NATO partners under this brand. The company is involved in various military modernization and procurement programs, including the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the PEGASUS signals intelligence system, and the CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift transport helicopter. In addition, Lufthansa Technik Defense, together with Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall, and ESG, provides technical support for Germany’s future F-35 fleet.

At its 144-square-meter exhibition stand, Lufthansa Technik Defense will showcase these programs as well as additional capabilities in the maintenance, repair, overhaul, and modification of military aircraft.

Visit us at ILA Berlin 2026: The Lufthansa A320neo can be seen at the Airbus Static Display (S4). The Lufthansa Technik Defense stand is located in Hall D, Stand 395.

SPECIAL LIVERY - LUFTHANSA / D-AING / A320NEO - 100yrs c/s

Ton Jochems - AMS
 

Kicking off the soccer summer: Lufthansa flies the men's national team to the U.S.

National team travels to Chicago on Lufthansa Allegris in an Airbus A350-900

Passengers experience special surprises on board

Starting in Chicago, with the World Cup on the horizon: At around 2:30 p.m. local time today, flight LH434 took off from Frankfurt Airport with the German men’s national soccer team on board, en route to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. As the official airline of the German men’s national soccer team, Lufthansa bid the team farewell with an exclusive departure event at the new Lufthansa Group Hangar One Congress and Visitor Center.

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines: “We are delighted to fly the German men’s national soccer team to the U.S. Soccer and we share the common goal of connecting and bringing people together worldwide. We are proud of this long-standing partnership. On behalf of all Lufthansa employees worldwide, I wish the team a successful tournament and hope the cheering fans experience many exciting, unforgettable, and ultimately joyful moments.”

To ensure the DFB team starts the tournament under optimal conditions, the squad is traveling in the multi-award-winning Lufthansa Allegris premium cabin concept aboard an Airbus A350-900, one of the most modern aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet.

On board, the players and the coaching and support staff were welcomed by the 14-member crew led by Captain Freddy Niedner, Senior First Officer Corvin Jacobs, and First Officer Johanna Thoma, as were numerous passengers, some of whom only learned about the special flight when they boarded. As a welcome gift and to get everyone in the mood for the World Cup, all guests received an exclusive jersey designed in partnership with the DFB and Adidas.

The flight had another surprise in store for the DFB team and the passengers—to be seen starting June 3 on the Lufthansa Instagram channel.

 

ORDER - Lufthansa Group orders ten Airbus and ten Boeing long-haul aircraft

Order for ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s at a list price of 7.7 billion U.S. dollars

Delivery of the highly efficient twin-engine long-haul jets between 2032 and 2034

A consistent step toward greater efficiency and sustainability

The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved the order for a total of 20 new long-haul aircraft at its meeting today. The Executive Board had previously decided to order ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s. Delivery is scheduled to take place between 2032 and 2034.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says: “By ordering 20 additional long-haul aircraft, we are making a sustainable investment in the future of the Lufthansa Group. It is a clear commitment to a modern fleet, to premium quality, and to further reducing CO2 emissions. After all, aircraft featuring the latest technology are the most powerful tool for more climate-friendly air travel. The state-of-the-art Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are more fuel-efficient, quieter, and have lower emissions than their respective predecessors. We are thus continuing the largest fleet modernization in our history.”

The Airbus A350-900 and the Boeing 787-9 will replace older and therefore less efficient models starting in 2032. The decision regarding which airline and which hub the ordered aircraft will be deployed at will be made at a later date.

The gradual standardization of the fleet reduces complexity and increases efficiency, operational flexibility and operational stability. At the same time, maintenance and operating costs will be reduced. Additionally, further synergies will arise, for example in the areas of cockpit and cabin crew licensing and spare parts management.

Including today’s order, the Lufthansa Group currently has a total of 232 state-of-the-art aircraft on its order list, including 107 next-generation long-haul aircraft.

Lufthansa exercises option to acquire a majority stake in ITA Airways

Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s stake in ITA Airways is set to increase by 49 percent to 90 percent
Second block of shares to be acquired for 325 million euros
Completion of the majority acquisition expected in the first quarter of 2027
ITA Airways is already firmly integrated into the Lufthansa Group as its fifth network airline in many areas

The Deutsche Lufthansa AG will exercise its option to acquire a majority stake in ITA Airways in June of this year. This will increase its stake from 41 to 90 percent. The Supervisory Board approved this decision by the Lufthansa Executive Board at its meeting yesterday.

The acquisition of the additional 49 percent stake will take place at a previously agreed purchase price of 325 million euros. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, primarily from the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. Following this, ITA Airways will be fully integrated into the Lufthansa Group, both organizationally and financially.

Since 17 January 2025, Deutsche Lufthansa AG has held a 41 percent stake in ITA Airways as a minority shareholder. Upon the conclusion of the purchase agreement with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in June 2023, an annually recurring option for Deutsche Lufthansa AG to acquire an additional 49 percent stake in ITA Airways was agreed upon. This option is now being exercised along with the accompanying acquisition of a majority stake in the Italian flagship carrier. The seller is the MEF, which will initially continue to hold the remaining 10 percent of the shares in ITA Airways. In 2028, this tranche may also be acquired by Lufthansa.

Carsten Spohr, CEO of the Lufthansa Group and Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said at today’s Annual General Meeting:
“Following the acquisition of the first 41 percent stake in ITA Airways last year, we promised the fastest airline integration in our history. We aimed to complete all major integration steps into the Lufthansa Group within just 18 months.

We have not only kept this promise. We were even faster: All customer-facing interfaces are already integrated today—with the exception of North Atlantic flights, where, as is well known, regulatory approval for our merger is still pending.

Passengers already experience ITA Airways as an integrated part of the Lufthansa Group. With unified booking, sales, and fare systems, the Miles and More frequent flyer program, Star Alliance membership, and access to our global network of premium lounges.

Integration is also progressing in the cargo business. Since last year, Lufthansa Cargo has been marketing ITA Airways’ cargo capacity, which alone corresponds to the additional capacity of three Boeing 777 freighters. In light of this success story, we decided to exercise our option to acquire an additional 49 percent stake as early as June of this year.”

 

First A380 with new Business Class takes off

Modernization of the first of eight Airbus A380s completed

“Mike-Charly” features new Business Class seats on the upper deck

First flight with the modernized cabin on April 23 from Munich to Los Angeles

Premium XXL: Lufthansa is retrofitting its eight A380s and installing a completely new Business Class in its largest aircraft. In the future, Business Class on the A380 will offer even more comfort and privacy at a new premium level. The new Thompson seats feature a seat width of 58 cm, a bed length of at least two meters, and flexible partitions—making this the most comfortable Business Class in the A380 ever. Each of the 68 seats is directly accessible from the aisle.

In addition, the in-flight entertainment system has been upgraded. In Business Class, guests can now enjoy feature films, TV series, music, digital newspapers and magazines on an 18-inch Panasonic screen and can also use, for example, their own headphones via Bluetooth. Also new are an interactive 3D moving map, cinema-quality sound, flight cameras, and a new intuitive user interface in all cabin classes.

Following the successful retrofit and the ferry flight to Munich two days prior, the first flight for D-AIMC “Mike-Charly” will depart for Los Angeles on Thursday, April 23. The aircraft will take off from Munich as flight LH452 at 12:15 p.m. local time and land in Los Angeles around 3:15 p.m. local time.

After just under twelve weeks, the retrofit of the first A380 was completed. Work on modernizing the next aircraft, D-AIMH “Mike-Hotel” in its blue anniversary livery featuring the XXL crane, began on the very same day, meaning that two Lufthansa A380s were in Dresden on Tuesday.

The retrofit program began in early February at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden. In addition to the modernization of the Business Class, routine maintenance work is also being performed on the aircraft. All eight A380s are scheduled to be retrofitted by mid-2027.

Lufthansa
 

FLEET - Lufthansa Group Accelerates Strategy Implementation

Accelerated capacity and fleet measures due to increased kerosene costs and additional burdens from labor disputes

Capacity reduction in three steps:

(a) During the current summer flight schedule:

Immediate and permanent removal of Lufthansa CityLine's capacity from the program

(b) At the end of the summer flight schedule:

Retirement of the last four A340-600s and grounding of two B747-400s

(c) During the 2026/2027 winter flight schedule:

Additional capacity reduction of the Lufthansa core brand's short- and medium-haul program by five aircraft

Accelerated allocation of nine additional A350-900s to Discover Airlines

Savings targets for further reduction of administrative costs

Photo: Duncan Stewart - LAX

In view of significantly increased kerosene prices, which have more than doubled compared to the period before the Iran war, as well as rising additional burdens from labor disputes, the implementation of the corporate strategy is being partially accelerated. To this end, an initial package has been approved that provides for a reduction of the flight program on short-, medium-, and long-haul routes, as well as measures for early fleet modernization.

As a first immediately effective step, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently removed from the flight program starting the day after tomorrow, in order to reduce further losses of the loss-making airline. The Canadair CRJ aircraft are nearing the end of their technical operational capability and have comparatively high operating costs.

In the second step, long-haul capacity will be reduced by a total of six intercontinental aircraft at the end of the summer flight schedule. To this end, the last four remaining Airbus A340-600s will leave the fleet in October, thus bringing the era of this aircraft type at Lufthansa to a definitive end. Additionally, two Boeing 747-400s will be grounded from October onwards for the coming winter. The final farewell to this aircraft type is planned for next year.

In the coming 2026/27 winter flight schedule, the third step will take place with a reduction in the capacities of the Lufthansa core brand as part of the envisaged consolidation of short- and medium-haul traffic across six hubs of the Lufthansa Group. This additional capacity reduction corresponds to five aircraft of the Lufthansa core brand.

The package of measures generates a disproportionate savings effect on fuel costs. On the one hand, particularly inefficient aircraft are being removed from flight operations early. On the other hand, the saved kerosene quantity reduces the unhedged portion of the Group's fuel requirements.

The kerosene consumption of the Lufthansa Group's passenger airlines is hedged at an above-average rate of around 80 percent based, among other things, on crude oil prices. However, the remaining 20 percent must still be purchased at significantly increased market prices. This particularly expensive portion of fuel requirements will be reduced by around 10 percent.

Till Streichert, Chief Financial Officer and CFO of Lufthansa Group, says: "The package for accelerated implementation of fleet and capacity measures is unavoidable in light of the sharply increased kerosene costs and geopolitical instability. The goal is to focus our short- and medium-haul platforms more clearly and make them more competitive. In this regard, we had already identified the prospective removal of CityLine from our program as part of our strategic development for some time, independently of the current geopolitical crisis. The current crisis is now forcing us to implement this measure earlier. This is a painful step, particularly with regard to the colleagues at Lufthansa CityLine. It is therefore all the more important now to find continued employment opportunities within the Group."


With the implementation of the first package of measures, the Group is accelerating its intended consolidation of short- and medium-haul traffic. The early retirement of older aircraft types also corresponds to the strategy of reducing the number of different sub-fleets as quickly as possible. The planned allocation of nine additional Airbus A350s to Discover Airlines is taking place within the framework of medium-term fleet planning.

To further reduce administrative costs, new savings targets for staff recruitment, internal events, and external consulting services have been decided. They support the existing reduction target of 4,000 administrative positions group-wide by 2030.

Against the background of the scheduled end of flight operations of the Canadair jets at Lufthansa CityLine by the end of the year at the latest, and a possible termination of all flight operations, offers for follow-up employment have already been made to all employee groups in the past:

Ground staff have already received employment at the newly founded Lufthansa Aviation GmbH
Cockpit and cabin crew were already offered transfer options at the turn of 2024/2025, which provided for employment at Lufthansa City Airlines with multi-year comparable compensation conditions to Lufthansa CityLine. According to this offer, any differences in working conditions were to be offset by a compensation payment.
The goal remains to enable crews of Lufthansa CityLine to have options for a professional perspective within the Lufthansa Group.
In addition, discussions will be initiated with the employee representatives of Lufthansa CityLine GmbH regarding a reconciliation of interests and social plan.

Lufthansa 

 

Lufthansa celebrates 100 years and opens new conference and visitor center

Hundreds of guests from politics, business and media attended the ceremony at Lufthansa Group Hangar One

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the official keynote speech

Carsten Spohr, CEO Lufthansa Group: "100 years ago, the founding of the first Lufthansa marked the beginning of an unprecedented success story"

Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Supervisory Board: “Air travel means economic growth and jobs”

Lufthansa Group celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Lufthansa with a major ceremony on Wednesday. As part of the event, Hangar One, the new conference and visitor center of Lufthansa Group at Frankfurt Airport, was officially opened. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the official keynote speech.

Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group: "100 years ago, the founding of the first Lufthansa marked the beginning of an unprecedented success story. From it emerged our present-day Lufthansa Group. With 110,000 employees across 14 airlines today, at Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik, at six hubs in 5 home markets in the heart of Europe. As an international group, we will continue to fulfill our mission in the future: to connect people, cultures and economies in a sustainable way. Because air transport has been a growth industry for a hundred years and will remain so in the future."

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz paid tribute to the significance of the anniversary in his speech: "Lufthansa is an integral part of the history of the Federal Republic and a key company for Germany as a business location. For a century, it has connected people and markets around the world. Lufthansa's success is above all the merit of over 100,000 Lufthansa employees who, day after day, hour after hour, ensure that passengers and cargo arrive safely. I wish Lufthansa continued success for the next 100 years."

Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “We are ready for the future. And we want the future. We are prepared to contribute to prosperity and growth in Europe. To do so, we are focusing on innovation. On new technologies in aviation. On artificial intelligence and digitalization. On further internationalization. Civil aviation is more important today than ever before. For people all over the world, it means connectivity beyond their own borders. It means economic growth and jobs. We at Lufthansa are ready for the future.”

Kley thanked the Chancellor for his loyalty to Lufthansa, which he had once again demonstrated with today’s visit.

Among other things, the ceremony paid tribute to the people who have shaped the Lufthansa brand over a century. For example, the youngest apprentice in the Lufthansa Group was interviewed on stage. The artistic program impressively showcased the company's eventful history. Guests included numerous ambassadors and top political representatives from federal, state and European levels, including Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Hessian Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU), and numerous members of state governments from Hesse, Bavaria and Berlin.

Lufthansa Group today makes a significant contribution to Germany's position among the world leaders in aviation. Around 65 percent of the group's more than 100,000 employees work in Germany. In Frankfurt am Main alone – the company's largest location – more than 35,000 people are employed. The Lufthansa Group Hangar One, which opened today, enables new forms of collaboration for the company's employees. For customers, business partners and aviation enthusiasts, it is intended to be a place where Lufthansa's pioneering spirit and the future of aviation can be experienced firsthand. The main attractions are the historic Lufthansa aircraft Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed Super Star, which have been extensively restored and are now on permanent display. Among other features, guests can explore numerous exhibits from Lufthansa's corporate history on an open gallery, some of which are accessible to the public for the first time. Lufthansa Group Hangar One will open to the general public in early summer.

With this press release, we are sending you a very special photo! Over 200 employees from various departments positioned themselves in front of an Airbus A350 in anniversary livery to mark Lufthansa's 100th founding anniversary. Technicians, flight attendants, pilots, baggage handlers, administrative staff – all working together to ensure that Lufthansa aircraft take off and land. This photo was taken in March during the anniversary event in Munich.

 

SPECIAL COLOURS - Lufthansa / A350-900 / D-AIXL - 100th Anniversary - 1026-2026

K.C.Wong

SPECIAL COLOURS - Lufthansa / B747-8I / D-ABYN - 100th Anniversary - 1926-2026

K.C.Wong
 

SPECIAL COLOURS / ROUTES - On Easter Monday: Lufthansa special flights will fly the routes of the inaugural flights from exactly 100 years ago

• Just like on April 6, 1926: Two flights will depart from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne
• A grand ceremony is planned at BER Airport
• Numerous guests of honor, plane spotters, and spectators are expected

On April 6, 1926, the first flights of the first “Luft Hansa” took off from Berlin. On Easter Monday, April 6, 2026 - exactly 100 years later - this special anniversary will be celebrated in multiple ways.

On Monday morning, two long-haul aircraft will take off from Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich bound for the capital. A Boeing 787-9 will depart from Hesse, and an Airbus A350-900 from Bavaria. On board: more than 400 passengers, consisting of Lufthansa Group employees and their partners, who have been invited by the company. Also on board the flights: influencers and journalists. Both aircraft feature the special blue livery with a white XXL crane to mark Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary.

More than 600 guests are expected at a celebratory event at Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport.
On April 6, 1926, a Fokker Grulich F II took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport bound for Zurich, and a Dornier Komet III D-580 took off for Cologne. The flight to Zurich carried a newlywed couple, while the flight to Cologne had only a single passenger.

On Easter Monday, the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 will reenact these historic maiden flights. Both aircraft are scheduled to take off simultaneously from Berlin at around 3:00 p.m. Numerous spectators and aviation enthusiasts are expected on the BER visitor terrace for this special parallel departure.

The Dreamliner D-ABPU will depart for Zurich, and the Airbus D-AIXL for Cologne. They will also pass over the locations where the planes made stops on April 6, 1926. LH1926 (Boeing 787) flies from Berlin via Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart to Zurich, while LH2026 (Airbus A350) flies from Berlin via Magdeburg to Cologne. 100 years later, however, naturally without a stopover, but only as waypoints flown over in the air. Many aviation fans are also expected in Zurich and Cologne. Tickets for the two special flights sold out within a few days.

SPECIAL COLOURS - Highlight of the anniversary year: Lufthansa celebrates 100 years since its first flights in Berlin

• Special flights follow the routes from April 6, 1926, and take off for Zurich and Cologne on this special day
• 
  
• Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines: “Driven by a pioneering spirit, it all began here in Berlin”
• 
  
• The anniversary Boeing 787-9 aircraft is named “Berlin”: named by Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner

It is a special date for Lufthansa and a special day for all the employees who have shaped the airline with the crane logo: Exactly 100 years ago today - on April 6, 1926 - Lufthansa (at that time: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies on its first flights. On that day, two aircraft took off from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport bound for Zurich and Cologne. Exactly a century later, this special date was fittingly celebrated as a chronological highlight of the anniversary year on Easter Monday - including two special flights that retraced the historic routes of the inaugural flights.

A Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900, both in blue anniversary livery featuring a white XXL crane, had taken off from Frankfurt and Munich that morning. On board: hundreds of Lufthansa employees with their partners, who, as lucky winners of an internal raffle, had been invited by the company to join the anniversary flights and be there in person in Berlin on this special day. A total of more than 600 guests, including passengers on the fully booked special flights as well as invited guests from the political and aviation sectors, celebrated the highlight of the anniversary year at a festive event in Berlin. Among them was Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner. A special highlight: The Boeing 787-9 in anniversary livery was officially named “Berlin” during the ceremony.

Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, emphasized in his speech: “Today, Lufthansa is celebrating its birthday! Driven by a pioneering spirit and passion, it all began here in Berlin. Exactly 100 years ago, the first flights of the original Lufthansa took off from here. Today, Berlin is one of our company’s largest locations. Around 2,000 Lufthansa employees live and work in the capital region. Lufthansa and the Group’s airlines will remain strong partners in Berlin in the future.”

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, emphasized in his welcoming remarks: “100 years of Lufthansa is an impressive anniversary. On April 6, 1926, two flights departed from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne, thereby establishing Lufthansa’s long-standing connection with Berlin. To this day, Lufthansa remains an outstanding partner for Berlin - and I am delighted that, on the occasion of this special anniversary, we are naming the Boeing 787-9 ‘Berlin.’”

Routes of the inaugural flights re-enacted

Around 3:15 p.m., the Boeing 787-9, which had previously been named “Berlin,” and the Airbus A350-900 with the registration D-AIXL then departed the capital for Zurich and Cologne. On their journey, the special flights flew over the locations where stopovers were made on April 6, 1926. The Boeing 787-9 flew from Berlin via Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart to Zurich, while the A350-900 flew via Magdeburg to Cologne. The flight numbers of the two flights, LH1926 and LH2026, also commemorated the special anniversary.

Lufthansa will celebrate its 100th founding anniversary in 2026. Berlin plays a special role in the airline’s history: the first Lufthansa was founded here on January 6, 1926. Today, the Lufthansa Group is one of the four largest airlines worldwide and the largest airline group in Europe. In Berlin, the company is the clear market leader. Around 30 percent of all flights in the capital are operated by airlines within the group.

The ceremonial highlight of Lufthansa’s anniversary year will take place on April 15 with a ceremony in Frankfurt. On this day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to attend at Lufthansa Group Hangar One, the new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport.

Lufthansa

 

SPECIAL COLOURS - Employees design a Lufthansa aircraft for the anniversary

Special livery for the 100th founding anniversary

Airbus A321neo tells the stories of Lufthansa employees

In the anniversary year of 2026, Lufthansa is taking to the skies with yet another very special aircraft: an Airbus A321neo featuring a special livery that tells deeply personal stories of the airline's employees. Under the motto "Made by many. Remembered by all," Lufthansa pays tribute to the people who have shaped the company for 100 years.

"All of our colleagues are part of Lufthansa's history," says Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines. "Whether in the air or on the ground – every person who works for Lufthansa defines our airline and makes it what it is. With this special livery, we want to honor their work and tell Lufthansa's history from their perspective."

Via the intranet, all Lufthansa Group employees were invited to submit their personal stories. A jury selected the 20 best anecdotes, ideas, and proposals, from which all employees were then able to vote for their favorites. Twelve motifs will now find their place on the aircraft bearing the baptismal name "Hamm."

The selected stories are wide-ranging: some employees highlighted special moments from Lufthansa's history, such as the first inter-German scheduled flight following Germany's division, which operated from Frankfurt am Main to Leipzig in 1989. Others submitted very personal experiences – for example, the story of a male and a female flight attendant who met while skiing during a layover in Vancouver. Their drawing of themselves on skis in the mountains will now adorn the aircraft – as will a motif contributed by Lufthansa Technik employees: it depicts two interlocking hands and is meant to symbolize the team spirit that is lived across many areas of work at Lufthansa.

In addition to the employee motifs, historical images will also be featured – for example, a photo of Lufthansa's first two female pilots, Nicola Lisy and Evi Hetzmannseder. All images are placed into designated mats integrated into the design of the now-familiar XXL crane, which extends across the entire aircraft bearing the registration D-AEIM. In this way, the employees' stories fly with it across all of Europe.

Additional employee motifs will be added on a rolling basis over the course of the year. Next to each mat on the aircraft, a QR code will be visible, linking to a landing page with background information on the respective motifs.

Lufthansa's key sub-fleets have already received their own special liveries in the anniversary year. Currently, two Airbus A320neo, one Airbus A350-900, one Airbus A380, one Boeing 747-8, and one Boeing 787-9 are flying around the world in the 100-year design featuring the XXL crane. In the fall, the A350-1000 will join as the seventh member of this special anniversary fleet.

SPECIAL COLOURS - Lufthansa / A320NEO /D-AIND - (100th Anniversary Livery)

Alain Charpentier
 

SPECIAL COLOURS - Lufthansa / Boeing747-830 / D-ABYN / MSN: 37838 -100 years livery

Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt
 

SPECIAL COLOURS - "Queen of the Skies" now also features XXL crane for 100th founding anniversary

Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 with blue anniversary livery

D-ABYN lands in Frankfurt on March 5

Anniversary fleet in special "100 Years" design now comprises 6 aircraft

For Lufthansa's 100th founding anniversary, the Boeing 747-8, the Queen of the Skies, now also wears the blue special design with XXL crane. The aircraft received its new livery in San Bernardino in the US state of California. Under flight number LH9913, the "Jumbo" will make its way to its home airport Frankfurt on Wednesday and is expected there on Thursday, March 5, at around 10 a.m. The aircraft, christened "Niedersachsen," is expected to land on the airport's center runway, clearly visible for spotters, journalists, and fans.

The Boeing 747-8 with registration D-ABYN will enter scheduled service on March 6, flying back to sunny California – specifically to Los Angeles.

The Lufthansa Jumbo is now the sixth aircraft in the iconic 100 Years special design. Most recently, last week, an Airbus A380 and an Airbus A320neo with the anniversary livery landed in Munich.

An Airbus A350, a Boeing 787-9, and another Airbus A320neo are also already flying with the XXL crane.

In autumn 2026, an Airbus A350-1000 will receive the special design, completing the anniversary fleet as the seventh and final aircraft.