Lufthansa Group plans biggest summer network ever for 2026

The Lufthansa Group is gearing up for one of its most expansive summer seasons ever. With the release of its newly published Summer 2026 schedule, the group’s airlines, including Lufthansa, Discover Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss and ITA Airways, will offer more than 14,000 weekly connections to 330 destinations in some 100 countries. 

The schedule includes a mix of new long-haul and European routes, increased frequencies on high-demand services. However, adjustments are to be made on Germany’s domestic network with a further cut in frequencies, under cost pressures.

Lufthansa: More long-haul growth, adjustments in Germany

Lufthansa Airlines is prioritizing network stability and targets expansion from its Frankfurt and Munich hubs.

From Frankfurt, the airline will boost transatlantic reach by offering five weekly flights to St. Louis, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town. Raleigh-Durham, Washington, D.C., and Nairobi will move to daily service next summer.

Responding to strong demand for Nordic travel, Lufthansa will launch four weekly flights to Trondheim, Norway starting May 1, 2026. Combined with Munich service, Trondheim will be connected at least daily from Germany. Other cities in Norway — including Bergen and Stavanger — will see frequency increases.

In Munich, two long-haul routes introduced for winter 2025/26 — São Paulo and Johannesburg — will continue through summer with three weekly Airbus A350-900 flights each.

However, the carrier is cutting some of its links on its short-haul network. Particularly within Germany. Lufthansa will consequently reduce more than 50 feeder frequencies in Germany due to rising operational costs, affecting routes such as Munich-Cologne, Munich-Düsseldorf, Munich-Berlin, Frankfurt-Leipzig, and Frankfurt-Nuremberg. Services between Munich and Münster/Osnabrück or Dresden are also under review. Routes from Frankfurt to Toulouse and from Munich to Tallinn and Oviedo will end in spring, though Tallinn and Oviedo remain accessible via Frankfurt, and Toulouse via Munich.

Swiss: New Polish and Croatian routes, more Japan service

Swiss will introduce Poznan, Poland, from Zurich on March 29, 2026. It will also add Rijeka, Croatia during July and August. The Swiss carrier is also boosting popular European markets including Alicante, Valencia, Manchester, Montpellier, Tirana, Budapest, and Venice.

Long-haul service to Tokyo increases to daily flights in April, May, and October; the remainder of the season remains five times weekly.

Austrian Airlines: Mediterranean and “Coolcation” expansion

Austria’s flag carrier again focuses on vacation destinations — especially Greece, Spain, and Italy — with added frequencies and select new cities. Austrian will also grow its “coolcation” offerings to northern destinations like Sylt, Edinburgh, and the Lofoten Islands, following strong 2025 performance.

ITA Airways: Heathrow return and more leisure flying

ITA Airways will return to London Heathrow with twice-daily Rome–Heathrow service. Its full summer network will be published at a later stage, but direct flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate to major leisure destinations in Greece, Spain, and the Italian islands are already confirmed.

Brussels Airlines: Strengthening its Africa specialty

Starting June 2026, Brussels Airlines will add Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, its 18th Sub-Saharan African destination, served twice weekly. Frequencies to Freetown, Sierra Leone will rise from five to six weekly flights. European capacity will also grow, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Edelweiss: More long-haul leisure from Zurich

Edelweiss will expand summer long-haul operations with Windhoek, Namibia (twice weekly starting June), and added frequencies to Seattle, Punta Cana, and Tampa. Seasonal flying to Halifax, Cape Town, and Colombo will be extended.

Discover Airlines: New Ireland and Italy service, year-round Seychelles

Discover Airlines will launch Shannon (Ireland) and Brindisi (Italy), both twice weekly from Frankfurt. Larnaca, Cyprus will be served daily from both Frankfurt and Munich, with additional peak-day flights. On long-haul routes, its Seychelles service from Frankfurt becomes year-round, and a fifth weekly flight to Las Vegas will operate Saturdays.

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