Lufthansa Weighs Cuts to 100 Domestic Flights

Lufthansa is considering eliminating around 100 weekly domestic flights in Germany, citing mounting operational expenses and shrinking profitability on short-haul routes. If the airline fails to secure relief from airport and air-traffic fees, the potential cuts could take effect as early as the summer 2026 schedule.

Speaking to Welt am Sonntag, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said location-related costs in Germany — including taxes, airport charges, and air-traffic control fees — have doubled since 2019, putting the carrier’s domestic network “under acute financial pressure.” Spohr emphasized that specific routes, particularly those connecting Munich with smaller regional airports such as Münster/Osnabrück and Dresden, are now “operating at a daily loss.”

If enacted, the reductions would primarily affect regional airports that rely heavily on Lufthansa for hub connectivity, potentially cutting off smaller cities from direct links to Frankfurt and Munich. Airport operators and local officials have voiced concern, warning that fewer flights could hurt regional economies and limit business travel options.

Lufthansa is still evaluating which routes could be withdrawn and is in discussions with regulators and local authorities. While no final decision has been made, the airline maintains that domestic routes will remain “under review” until cost conditions improve.

The decision reflects broader structural challenges in Germany’s aviation market. Business travel has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, while high-speed rail options lure passengers away from short-haul flights. Analysts note that Lufthansa’s move could mark a strategic shift toward focusing on more profitable long-haul and international services.

The planned reductions also underscore a growing challenge for European full-service carriers balancing cost control, sustainability pressures, and shifting travel demand — as short-haul aviation faces increasing competition from rail and stricter environmental taxation.

In September, Lufthansa’s union of pilots announced that many Lufthansa pilots voted in favor of a strike, which could ground flights soon.

Photo by Dennis Gecaj on Unsplash