Lufthansa City Airlines Opens Frankfurt Base and Accelerates European Short-Haul Offensive

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Lufthansa City Airlines took a pivotal step in its brief but ambitious history this Tuesday by officially launching operations from Frankfurt Airport, the primary hub of the Lufthansa Group. The opening of this new base follows its operational debut in Munich during the summer of 2024, confirming the strategic role the airline is destined to play within the German group’s ecosystem.

“With our new base and the selective expansion of the short-haul network, we are strengthening our market position and laying the groundwork for further growth within the Group,” emphasized Peter Albers, Chief Operating Officer of Lufthansa City Airlines.

Maiden Flight and Initial Network Deployment

The service entry in Frankfurt was marked by flight VL946, which departed in the afternoon bound for Manchester. The operation was carried out using an Airbus A320neo, registration D-AIJN, reflecting the airline’s immediate focus on a modern and efficient fleet.

Route planning from Frankfurt shows a staggered but clearly defined growth trajectory:

February: Integration of Berlin and Valencia.

March: Opening of Düsseldorf and Malaga, supported by the arrival of a second based aircraft.

Starting in the summer of 2026, Lufthansa City Airlines anticipates a progressive expansion of destinations. Mentions already include London Heathrow, Stockholm, Bilbao, Hamburg, Helsinki, Ibiza, Marseille, and Bucharest. The inclusion of Heathrow on this list signals a significant positioning on high-value corporate routes.

→ Lufthansa Begins Modernization of Business Class on Its Airbus A380 Fleet

Fleet Growth: Frankfurt Gains Operational Weight

The development of the Frankfurt base will be accompanied by a sustained increase in capacity. According to official data, the local fleet will reach seven Airbus A320neo aircraft by autumn.

In parallel, the airline already operates 13 aircraft at its Munich hub, consolidating a dual-base structure that bolsters the Lufthansa Group’s intra-European connectivity. During 2025, Lufthansa City Airlines operated nearly 16,000 flights and transported approximately 2 million passengers across 27 destinations. These figures highlight the rapid pace of growth achieved in just its first full year of operations.

Workforce Expansion and Commitment to Employment

Operational growth is being paired with a robust expansion of the workforce. Approximately 60 employees have already joined the Frankfurt team, and the company plans to hire the following in the coming months:

80 technical cabin crew (cockpit).

200 flight attendants (cabin crew).

Currently, Lufthansa City Airlines employs around 450 people, a figure set to rise as new aircraft and destinations are added.

Star Alliance Integration: A Gear in the Global Machine

Notably, Lufthansa City Airlines has been a permanent member of Star Alliance since September 2025. This integration ensures access to a global network and additional benefits for passengers, reinforcing its role as a feeder and complementary airline within the group.

With the opening of the Frankfurt base and the constant expansion of its network, Lufthansa City Airlines is solidifying its position as a strategic element in the development of the Lufthansa Group’s European short-haul traffic.