Lufthansa Celebrates 100 Years Since Its First Flights in Berlin
Exactly one century after the airline then known as “Luft Hansa” took to the skies for the first time, Lufthansa commemorated its centenary this April 6, 2026, with a series of historic flights and institutional events in Berlin.
Commemoration in the Skies: Special Flights LH1926 and LH2026
To honor the inaugural routes that departed from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport in 1926 bound for Zurich and Cologne, the company organized two special flights that recreated these historic journeys. The aircraft selected for this mission were a Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900, both adorned in a commemorative blue livery featuring an XXL-sized crane logo against a white background.
The details of these commemorative flights included:
- Symbolic Identification: Flight numbers LH1926 and LH2026 were chosen to represent the century of operations passed.
- Recreated Routes: The B787-9 flew from Berlin to Zurich with simulated technical stops over Halle, Erfurt, and Stuttgart.
- Cologne Route: For its part, the A350-900 headed to Cologne, overflying Magdeburg.
- Special Passengers: Hundreds of airline employees and their partners, selected via an internal lottery, traveled on board alongside guests from the political and aviation sectors.
→ Lufthansa Group to Expand Summer 2026 Schedule with 1,600 Additional Flights
Christening of “Berlin” and the Alliance with the Capital
During the central ceremony in Berlin, attended by more than 600 guests, the official christening of the B787-9 with the name “Berlin” took place. The event was presided over by the city’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, and the CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, Jens Ritter.
In his speech, Ritter highlighted that the company was born from a pioneering spirit in Berlin and that, today, the capital region is one of its most important operational hubs, where approximately 2,000 group employees reside and work. Wegner, in turn, emphasized that the century-long relationship between the city and the airline remains stronger than ever, describing the company as an outstanding partner for Berlin.
A Century of Evolution: From Berlin to European Leadership
Although the inaugural flights occurred on April 6, the company’s original foundation took place in Berlin on January 6, 1926. In these 100 years, the enterprise has evolved from a local initiative into the Lufthansa Group, one of the four largest airline groups in the world and the leading operator in Europe.
Currently, the airline dominates the Berlin market, operating nearly 30% of all flights in the German capital, consolidating its strategic and economic relevance in the region.
Next Stop: Grand Ceremony in Frankfurt
The centenary celebrations will continue throughout the month. The next significant milestone will take place on April 15 at Lufthansa Group Hangar One, the new visitor and conference center at Frankfurt Airport. This event is expected to feature the participation of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, marking the formal conclusion of the commemorative acts for this historic anniversary.
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