Lufthansa: Deutsche Fluggesellschaft (AvHistory #8)
From postwar rebirth to global aviation leader: the remarkable journey of Germany's flagship airline.
Aviation History, Episode Eight: Lufthansa-The Icon of German Hospitality
Now, in Episode Eight of Aviation History, we turn our attention to 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, and Lufthansa is just that-at least in its second iteration after World War II.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG (pronounced "Ah-Geh" in German), trading as Lufthansa Group, 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 Birth of Modern Lufthansa
The modern Deutsche Lufthansa AG was founded as Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf, shortened to Luftag, on January 6, 1953, by staff members 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 because of its association with the Nazi regime during World War II.
NOTE: The modern Lufthansa has absolutely no connection with the pre-WWII airline. The connections Lufthansa markets for its 100th anniversary, for example, are an illusion for branding connectivity purposes.
Luftag later adopted the branding of the former flag carrier by acquiring the Lufthansa name and logo in 1954, merging them into a single brand. As stated, 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.
From Deutsche Luft Hansa to Lufthansa
The history behind the postwar reformation of Lufthansa can be traced 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 employees had previously worked for Deutsche Luft Hansa and were required to undergo denazification in order to be employed.
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 in preparation 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. This effectively revived the Lufthansa brand and created the appearance of continuity with the former airline.
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 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 (BER) 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.
Entering the Jet Age
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 707, 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.
The Birth of Star Alliance
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 continued expanding through acquisitions and investments, including Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and, more recently, ITA Airways.
Lufthansa has also faced significant challenges throughout its history, including restructuring programs, labor disputes, and the tragic Germanwings Flight 9525 crash in 2015.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lufthansa grounded approximately 95% of its flights and later received a €9 billion government bailout, resulting in partial state ownership.
Today, Lufthansa continues to modernize its fleet with aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, while also refurbishing Boeing 747 aircraft as part of its ongoing cabin modernization program.
Fleet and Operations
Lufthansa previously operated as many as 14 Airbus A380 aircraft. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire fleet was grounded, but several aircraft were later reactivated because of 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 also continues, with aircraft often named after German cities, regions, or significant international partner cities.
Notable exceptions include aircraft named after Gander and Halifax, recognizing the hospitality those communities provided to stranded passengers and crews during Operation Yellow Ribbon following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Cabin Class Overview
Lufthansa offers several cabin classes, depending on the aircraft and route. We shall close out with an overview.
First Class
First Class is offered on select Airbus A340-600s, Airbus A380s, and Boeing 747-8s and 747-400s.
Seats convert into approximately two-meter-long beds and include on-demand dining and access to premium lounges, including the Lufthansa First Class Terminal (FCT) in Frankfurt.
Lufthansa's new Allegris cabin concept is designed to provide an enhanced premium travel experience and represents one of the airline's most significant cabin upgrades in recent years. NOTE: Allegris is not offered on the upper decks of the 747 aircraft because of cabin spacing issues.
Business Class
Business Class is available on Lufthansa's long-haul aircraft, offering fully lie-flat seats on many aircraft, premium lounge access, and enhanced onboard service.
A new generation of Business Class seats is being introduced as part of the Allegris cabin rollout across newer aircraft.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy was introduced in 2014 and offers increased seat pitch, larger screens, and improved comfort compared with Economy Class.
Economy Class
Economy Class, or the main cabin, is available throughout the fleet and provides the standard service expected from a major international carrier.
Closing Note
Thank you for reading and learning with us.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about one of the most influential airlines in aviation history and one of the world's best-known carriers.
Lufthansa's story is complicated, particularly when viewed through the history of its predecessor and Germany's experience during World War II. Yet the modern Lufthansa represents a remarkable postwar rebuilding of German commercial aviation and has played a significant role in connecting Germany with the rest of the world.
From the Super Constellation to the Boeing 707, from the 747 to the A380, and from its founding role in Star Alliance to today's next-generation fleet, Lufthansa has remained an important part of the story of global aviation.
Thanks for flying with us through this episode of aviation history.
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