Lufthansa to End Lufthansa CityLine a Year Early

Lufthansa Group is immediately removing all Lufthansa CityLine flights from its schedule.

The move is a direct response to skyrocketing jet fuel costs—which have doubled since the onset of the Iran war—and ongoing financial burdens from labor disputes.

The group is automating all cancellations and rebookings for CityLine flights scheduled through May 31. Beyond that date, Lufthansa will redesign its continental summer schedule to maintain routes using other Group airlines or partner carriers.

The immediate removal of CityLine’s 27 operational aircraft marks the end of a 68-year-old pillar of European regional travel. CityLine served as Lufthansa’s primary feeder wing, connecting hubs to smaller cities like Poznan, Basel, and Turin.

The restructuring extends far beyond regional travel. In October, Lufthansa will officially end the era of the Airbus A340-600, retiring its last four units. Additionally, two Boeing 747-400s will be grounded this winter, with a total fleet exit planned for 2027.

“The current crisis is forcing us to implement this measure earlier,” said Till Streichert, CFO of Lufthansa Group, calling the decision a “painful step” for CityLine staff.

The group is shifting its regional focus to Lufthansa City Airlines, a subsidiary launched in 2024. It was designed as a separate company created specifically to fly the same regional routes but with a much lower cost structure

The plan was for Lufthansas other retired CityLine by 2027, but because of those jet fuel increases, recent labor flights, and the CityLine fleet aging, Lufthansa has made the decision to retire the brand a year early. 

All theses moves are part of a broader efficiency drive that includes a target to cut 4,000 administrative positions across the Group by 2030. Lufthansa is also accelerating the allocation of nine additional Airbus A350-900s to its Discover Airlines brand.