Lufthansa City Airlines has officially begun flight operations from Frankfurt Airport, the Lufthansa Group’s largest hub. Following its launch in Munich in summer 2024, the opening of the Frankfurt base marks another milestone in the expansion of the Group’s newest airline.
“With our new base and the targeted growth of our short-haul network, we are both strengthening our market position and laying the foundation for further expansion within the Group,” said Peter Albers, Chief Operating Officer of Lufthansa City Airlines.
The inaugural flight, VL946, departed Frankfurt for Manchester on February 9 aboard a modern Airbus A320neo registered as D-AIJN. Berlin and Valencia will be added to the route network in February, followed by Düsseldorf and Málaga in March with the introduction of a second aircraft. Starting in summer 2026, Frankfurt’s network will gradually expand to include additional destinations such as London Heathrow, Stockholm, Bilbao, Hamburg, Helsinki, Ibiza, Marseille, and Bucharest.
Fleet Growth and Staffing Expansion
By fall, Lufthansa City Airlines’ Frankfurt fleet will grow to seven Airbus A320neo aircraft. The airline currently operates 13 aircraft at its home base in Munich. In 2025, it flew nearly 16,000 flights, carrying around 2 million passengers to 27 destinations.
Lufthansa City Airlines continues to focus on growth and is actively recruiting staff. Approximately 60 employees have already been hired in Frankfurt, with plans to recruit an additional 80 cockpit crew members and 200 cabin crew in the coming months. The airline currently employs around 450 people.
Since September 2025, Lufthansa City Airlines has been a permanent member of the Star Alliance, offering passengers access to a global network and additional benefits.
With the launch of its Frankfurt base and the ongoing expansion of its route network, Lufthansa City Airlines is reinforcing its role as a key part of the Lufthansa Group while driving the development of European short-haul air travel.
