Lufthansa: AvHistoy #8
From Nazi-Era Liquidation to European Powerhouse: The Remarkable Resurrection of Lufthansa
Now, in Episode Seven of Aviation History: an analysis of one of the best and most reliable airlines in the world, the very icon of German hospitality and one of the founders of Star Alliance—Lufthansa. We felt it was time to return to a more positive airline. Lufthansa is just that airline, at least in its second iteration after World War II.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (pronounced “Ah-Geh” in German), trading as Lufthansa Group GmbH, is a German aviation holding company. Its principal airline, Lufthansa German Airlines—branded simply as Lufthansa—is the flag carrier of Germany. The Lufthansa Group is the second-largest airline group in Europe by passengers carried, as well as the largest in Europe and the fourth largest in the world by revenue. Lufthansa is also one of the five founding members of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, established in 1997.
The Lufthansa Group owns several other airlines, including Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, and Swiss International Air Lines. The group also owns several aviation-related companies and subsidiaries, including Global Load Control (GLC), Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Flight Training, Lufthansa Systems, and Lufthansa Technik (LT).
The modern Deutsche Lufthansa AG was founded as Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (shortened to Luftag) on 6 January 1953 by staff of the former Deutsche Luft Hansa (DLH), Germany’s national airline founded in 1926. While Deutsche Luft Hansa played a significant role in the development of commercial aviation in Germany, it was liquidated in 1951 due to its association with the Nazi regime during World War II. Luftag later adopted the branding of the former flag carrier by acquiring the Lufthansa name and logo in 1954, merging it into a single word. There is no direct corporate connection between the pre-1951 DLH group and the modern Lufthansa group founded in 1953 in West Germany.
The modern headquarters of Deutsche Lufthansa AG are located in Cologne. Lufthansa’s main operations base, the Lufthansa Aviation Center, is located at Frankfurt Airport, which serves as the airline’s primary hub. The airline also maintains a secondary hub at Munich Airport, along with its Flight Operations Center.
The post-war reformation of Lufthansa traces back to 1926, when Deutsche Luft Hansa was formed in Berlin through the merger of Deutscher Aero Lloyd (DAL), the world’s sixth-oldest airline, and Junkers Luftverkehr (JLV). Deutsche Luft Hansa served as Germany’s flag carrier until the outbreak of World War II, when it came under the control of the Luftwaffe. During the war, the airline was primarily involved in aircraft maintenance and repair, including the use of forced labor at Berlin-Tempelhof Airport. Following Germany’s surrender and the Allied occupation, all aircraft were seized, and Deutsche Luft Hansa was dissolved. The remaining assets were liquidated on January 1, 1951.
In an effort to create a new national airline, a company called Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (Luftag) was founded. Many of its early staff had previously worked for Deutsche Luft Hansa and were required to declare themselves “denazified.”
At the time, West Germany had not yet regained full sovereignty over its airspace, so it was unclear when the new airline could begin operations. Nevertheless, in 1953, Luftag ordered four Convair CV-340s and four Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations and established a maintenance base at Hamburg Airport, preparing for future operations.
In August 1954, Luftag acquired the name and logo of the liquidated Deutsche Lufthansa for DM 30,000 (approximately €41,000 today), effectively reviving the Lufthansa brand and creating the appearance of continuity.
On April 1, 1955, Lufthansa received approval to begin scheduled domestic flights. Its initial network connected Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Munich. International flights began on May 15, 1955, to London, Paris, and Madrid, followed by Super Constellation flights to New York City in June.
However, political realities of the time restricted Lufthansa from flying to Berlin during Germany’s division. The United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and France prohibited access to the city’s airspace.
Lufthansa had initially hoped this restriction would be temporary and planned to return its headquarters to Berlin once conditions allowed. However, this never materialized, and Frankfurt remained the airline’s primary hub, even after German reunification in 1990 and the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport in 2020.
The airline also launched marketing campaigns encouraging travel to West Germany as part of postwar reconstruction efforts, becoming a key contributor to the country’s international image by the 1960s.
Lufthansa entered the jet age in 1958 with orders for four Boeing 707 aircraft. This allowed the airline to launch jet service between Frankfurt and New York in March 1960. It later added Boeing 720B aircraft for shorter routes.
In the early 1960s, Lufthansa expanded its global network, adding destinations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Notable expansions included Hong Kong and Tokyo via Bangkok, as well as Lagos and Johannesburg.
In 1964, Lufthansa introduced the Boeing 727, enabling pioneering polar routes from Frankfurt to Tokyo via Anchorage. The airline also became an early customer of the Boeing 737, placing an order for 21 aircraft in 1965.
The widebody era began in 1970 with the Boeing 747-100, followed by the DC-10-30 in 1974 and the Airbus A300 in 1976. Lufthansa later became a launch customer for the Airbus A310 in 1979.
Fleet modernization continued through the 1980s and 1990s, including the Airbus A320 family, Airbus A340, and Boeing 747-400. In 1987, Lufthansa co-founded Amadeus, a global distribution system, alongside Air France, Iberia, and Scandinavian Airlines.
Following German reunification in 1990, Lufthansa quickly reintegrated Berlin into its network.
In 1997, Lufthansa joined Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines to form Star Alliance, the world’s first global airline alliance.
The airline expanded further through acquisitions, including Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and ITA Airways.
Lufthansa also faced challenges, including restructuring programs, labor disputes, and the tragic Germanwings Flight 9525 crash in 2015.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lufthansa grounded 95% of its flights and later received a €9 billion government bailout, resulting in partial state ownership.
Today, Lufthansa continues to modernize its fleet, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s, and refurbished Boeing 747 aircraft featuring its Allegris cabin product.
Fleet and Operations (Current Overview)
Lufthansa previously operated up to 14 Airbus A380 aircraft. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fleet was grounded, but several aircraft were later reactivated due to recovering demand and delays in Boeing 777-9 deliveries. The A380 now operates select long-haul routes from Munich, including destinations such as Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Bangkok.
Lufthansa’s naming tradition continues, with aircraft often named after German cities, regions, or significant international partner cities. Notable exceptions include aircraft named after Gander and Halifax in recognition of hospitality shown during Operation Yellow Ribbon after September 11, 2001.
Cabin Classes
First Class is offered on select Airbus A340-600s, Airbus A380s, and Boeing 747-8s. Seats convert into two-meter beds and include on-demand dining and premium lounge access, including the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.
Business Class is available on all long-haul aircraft, offering fully lie-flat seats, premium lounges, and enhanced service. A new generation of Business Class is being introduced across newer aircraft types.
Premium Economy was introduced in 2014, offering increased seat pitch, larger screens, and improved comfort compared to Economy Class.
Economy Class is available across the entire fleet and provides standard service comparable to other global carriers.
Closing Note
Thank you for reading. We hope you learned more about one of the most influential airlines in the world.
