Lufthansa facts for kids
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| Founded | 6 January 1953 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1 April 1955 |
| Hubs | |
| Frequent-flyer program | Miles & More |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Fleet size | 274 |
| Destinations | 229 |
| Parent company | Lufthansa Group |
| Headquarters | Cologne, Germany |
| Key people | |
| Revenue |  €15.6 billion (2023) |
| Operating income | €5.9 billion (2023) |
| Net income | €6.8 billion (2023) |
| Total assets | €45.7 billion (2023) |
| Total equity | €11.6 billion (2023) |
| Employees |  96,677 (2023) |
Lufthansa is a major airline from Germany. It is one of the largest airlines in Europe and the world. Lufthansa started flying in April 1955. The company itself was created in 1953.
Lufthansa owns several other airlines. These include Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss International Air Lines. The company also owns businesses related to aviation. These include Lufthansa Consulting and Lufthansa Technik.
The company was first called Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf, or Luftag. It was founded on January 6, 1953. Staff from an older German airline, Deutsche Luft Hansa, helped start it. That older airline had stopped flying in 1945. Luftag bought the name and logo of Luft Hansa in 1954. This helped continue the tradition of a German national airline.
Lufthansa's main office is in Cologne, Germany. Its biggest operations base is at Frankfurt Airport. This is the airline's main hub. Lufthansa also has a second hub at Munich Airport. Lufthansa is a founding member of Star Alliance. This is the world's largest group of airlines, started in 1997.
Contents
History of Lufthansa
Starting After the War (1950s)
Lufthansa's story goes back to 1926. That's when Deutsche Luft Hansa was formed in Berlin. This airline was Germany's main carrier until 1945. It stopped all flights after World War II. The company was officially closed in 1951.
To create a new national airline, a company called Luftag was started. This happened in Cologne, West Germany, on January 6, 1953. Many of its staff had worked for the old Deutsche Luft Hansa.
In 1953, Luftag ordered its first planes. These were Convair CV-340 and Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft. On August 6, 1954, Luftag bought the name and logo of the old Deutsche Lufthansa.
On April 1, 1955, Lufthansa was allowed to start flying. Its first flights were within Germany. They connected cities like Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt. International flights began on May 15, 1955. These went to cities like London and Paris. Flights to New York City started in June 1955.
At that time, Germany was divided. Lufthansa was not allowed to fly to Berlin. This was because the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and France controlled Berlin's airspace. Lufthansa hoped this would change. But it didn't until Germany was reunited in 1990. Because of this, Frankfurt Airport became Lufthansa's main hub.
Jet Planes Arrive (1960s)
Lufthansa started using jet planes in 1958. They ordered four Boeing 707 aircraft. This was a big step forward. It allowed them to start jet flights between Frankfurt and New York City in March 1960. They also bought Boeing 720B planes for shorter flights.
Lufthansa's network grew in the early 1960s. Flights to Asia reached Hong Kong and Tokyo by 1961. In 1962, flights to Africa started, including Lagos and Johannesburg.
The Boeing 727 was introduced in 1964. This allowed Lufthansa to fly a new route over the North Pole. This route went from Frankfurt to Tokyo, stopping in Anchorage. In 1965, Lufthansa ordered twenty-one Boeing 737 aircraft. These started flying in 1968.
Lufthansa was the very first airline to buy the Boeing 737. This was a special moment in Boeing's history.
Bigger Planes (1970s–1980s)
The era of "wide-body" planes began for Lufthansa in 1970. This was with a Boeing 747 flight. Later, they added the DC-10-30 in 1973. The first Airbus A300 joined the fleet in 1976. In 1979, Lufthansa and Swissair were the first to order the Airbus A310.
Lufthansa updated its fleet for the 1990s. In 1985, they ordered fifteen Airbus A320s and seven Airbus A300-600s. They also bought ten Boeing 737-300s. All these planes were delivered between 1987 and 1992. Lufthansa also added Airbus A321, Airbus A340, and Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
In 1987, Lufthansa helped create Amadeus. This company helps travel agencies sell flights. In 1988, Lufthansa changed its look. Planes got a new paint job, and offices were redesigned.
Growing Bigger (1990s–2000s)
After Germany reunited in 1990, Lufthansa quickly started flying to Berlin again.
In the mid-1990s, Lufthansa changed how it was organized. It created separate companies for different tasks. These included Lufthansa Technik for maintenance and Lufthansa Cargo for shipping goods. The group also added LSG Sky Chefs for airline food and Lufthansa CityLine for regional flights.
Lufthansa joined with other airlines to form Star Alliance on May 18, 1997. This was the world's first big airline alliance.
Lufthansa also looked into its past. In 1999, it took part in a German effort to address wartime issues. The airline admitted that its older version, Deutsche Luft Hansa, had used forced labor. Lufthansa also paid money as part of this effort.
In the early 2000s, Lufthansa stayed strong. Even after the September 11th attacks, the airline made a profit. It did not have to cut jobs. In 2004, Lufthansa was the first to offer internet on flights with Connexion by Boeing.
Lufthansa grew by buying other airlines. It bought Swiss International Air Lines in 2005. Then came Brussels Airlines (between 2009 and 2017) and Austrian Airlines in 2009. These purchases helped the group fly to more places.
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By the end of the 2000s, Lufthansa invested in very large planes. It got its first Airbus A380 in 2010. It also became the first airline to use the Boeing 747-8I in 2012.
Changes and Challenges (2010s)
After losing money in 2010 and 2011, Lufthansa cut 3,500 office jobs. In 2012, Lufthansa started a plan called SCORE. This plan aimed to make the company more profitable. As part of this, short flights outside its main hubs were moved to its low-cost airline, Germanwings.
In September 2013, Lufthansa Group made its biggest plane order ever. It ordered 59 large aircraft. Earlier that year, it ordered 100 smaller planes.
Lufthansa had disagreements with its pilot union. The pilots wanted to retire at 55 and keep 60% of their pay. Lufthansa said this was too expensive. Pilots went on strike several times in 2014.
During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, some Lufthansa planes were painted with "Fanhansa."
In November 2014, Lufthansa signed a big deal with IBM. IBM took over the airline's IT services.
In June 2015, Lufthansa decided to close its small long-haul base at Düsseldorf Airport. This base had two Airbus A340-300s flying to Newark and Chicago. The Düsseldorf-Newark route ended in November 2018. The base officially closed in March 2019.
On March 22, 2016, Lufthansa stopped using Boeing 737-500 planes. The last Boeing 737 (a 737-300) was retired on October 29, 2016. Lufthansa had flown the 737 for almost 50 years.
On December 4, 2017, Lufthansa became the first European airline to get a Skytrax 5-star rating. This was partly because of plans for a new Business Class cabin in 2020. To celebrate, Lufthansa painted an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 747-8 with "5 Starhansa" livery.
In March 2019, Lufthansa ordered 20 Boeing 787-9 and 20 Airbus A350-900 planes. The airline also announced it would sell six A380 aircraft back to Airbus.
Pandemic and Recovery (2020s)
On March 19, 2020, Lufthansa canceled 95% of its flights. This was due to travel bans from the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline lost a lot of money.
On May 14, Lufthansa Group said it planned to fly 1,800 flights a week by the end of June. All passengers on Lufthansa Group flights had to wear a mask.
On June 25, Lufthansa shareholders accepted a €9 billion bailout. This money came from the German government. It gave the government a 20% share in the airline.
In January 2021, Lufthansa said it would retire its Airbus A340-600 fleet. However, this decision was later changed. Several A340-600s returned to service in 2021. In June 2021, Lufthansa said it wanted to pay back the government aid. Also in June 2021, Lufthansa said it would use more gender-neutral language. It would stop using greetings like "Ladies and Gentlemen."
In January 2022, Lufthansa said it had flown over 18,000 empty flights. This was to keep its airport slots during the pandemic.
In March 2022, Lufthansa confirmed its entire Airbus A380 fleet would be retired. But in June 2022, this decision was reversed. They planned to bring up to five A380s back into service by 2023.
In May 2022, Skytrax changed Lufthansa's rating from 5-star to 4-star.
In 2023, an IT problem affected Lufthansa. Thousands of passengers were stuck. The problem happened when construction work cut fiber optic cables.
In May 2023, Lufthansa Group agreed to buy 41% of ITA Airways. This deal also allows Lufthansa to buy the rest of the shares later.
How Lufthansa Works
Ownership
Lufthansa was owned by the German government until 1994. Since 1966, Lufthansa shares have been traded on German stock exchanges. This means people can buy and sell parts of the company.
German Government Help
The German government offered Lufthansa €9 billion to help it during the COVID-19 pandemic. This bailout increased the government's share in the airline to 20%. It also gave the government seats on the airline's board.
Lufthansa's Main Office
Lufthansa's main office is in Cologne. In 2006, they started building a new headquarters there. By 2007, Lufthansa planned to move 800 employees to the new building. However, in 2013, Lufthansa said it would move its main office to Frankfurt by 2017.
Some Lufthansa departments are at the Lufthansa Aviation Center. This center is at Frankfurt Airport. It has a modern design with glass walls and indoor gardens.
Airlines in the Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa owns several other airlines. These are part of the Lufthansa Group.
- Completely Owned by Lufthansa:
* Lufthansa German Airlines ** Lufthansa Regional – for regional flights. *** Lufthansa CityLine – a German regional airline. *** Air Dolomiti – an Italian regional airline. *** City Airlines – a new regional airline starting in summer 2024. ** Discover Airlines – for long and medium-haul leisure flights. * Network Airlines ** Austrian Airlines – the main airline of Austria. ** Swiss International Air Lines – the main airline of Switzerland. *** Edelweiss Air – a Swiss leisure airline. ** Brussels Airlines – the main airline of Belgium. * Eurowings Group (low-cost airlines) ** Eurowings – a German low-cost airline. ** Eurowings Europe – a low-cost airline based in Austria. * Lufthansa Cargo – a German airline for shipping goods.
- Partly Owned by Lufthansa:
* AeroLogic – a German cargo airline (50% owned by Lufthansa). * SunExpress – a Turkish leisure airline (50% owned by Lufthansa).
Other Lufthansa Businesses
Lufthansa also has other companies related to aviation:
- Global Load Control: Helps with aircraft weight and balance.
- Lufthansa Consulting: Gives advice to airlines and airports.
- Lufthansa Flight Training: Trains pilots and flight crews.
- Lufthansa Systems: Provides IT services for aviation.
- Lufthansa Technik: Maintains and repairs aircraft.
Lufthansa's Look and Slogan
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The Lufthansa logo is a crane flying inside a circle. It was first designed in 1918. The old airline, Deutsche Luft Hansa, used this symbol. Lufthansa continued to use it when it started in 1954.
After World War II, Lufthansa kept blue and yellow as its main colors. The crane logo also stayed. In 1967, a designer named Otl Aicher created a new look for the airline. The crane logo was always in a yellow circle on a blue tailfin.
In 2018, Lufthansa changed its look again. The crane logo stayed, but the background became dark blue. The tail and back of the plane were painted dark blue. The rest of the plane was white. The company slogan is 'Say yes to the world.'
Alliances and Partnerships
Lufthansa works with other airlines in different ways.
- Commercial Deals:
* Lufthansa bought a part of JetBlue Airways in 2007. They also shared flights. Lufthansa sold its share in JetBlue in 2015. * Lufthansa bought 45% of Brussels Airlines in 2009. Brussels Airlines then joined Star Alliance. * Lufthansa also bought Austrian Airlines in 2009. * In 2010, Lufthansa was part of an investigation about price-fixing. But it was not fined because it helped the investigation. * Lufthansa sold BMI to International Airlines Group in 2012. * Lufthansa works with Air Canada and United Airlines on flights across the Atlantic. It also works with ANA on flights to Japan.
- Technology:
* Lufthansa used to manage its own flight systems. But in the 1990s, it started using Amadeus for reservations. Later, it moved more of its systems to Amadeus.
- Partner Airlines:
* Lufthansa considers Luxair and LATAM as partner airlines. They share flights and frequent flyer programs.
- Sponsorships:
* Lufthansa sponsors the football club Eintracht Frankfurt. It also supports the German Sports Aid Foundation.
Lufthansa Group Airlines
The Lufthansa Group includes several airlines. These are Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Edelweiss, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine, Eurowings, and Discover Airlines. All these airlines are part of the Star Alliance. The Lufthansa Group is the second-largest airline group in Europe.
- Buying ITA Airways:
* In May 2023, Lufthansa signed a deal to buy 41% of ITA Airways. Lufthansa can buy the rest of the company later. This deal means Rome will become a hub for the Lufthansa Group.
Places Lufthansa Flies To
Lufthansa flies to many places around the world. It also shares flights with other airlines. This means you can book a flight with Lufthansa, but fly on a partner airline's plane.
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Astana
- airBaltic
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air Dolomiti LH
- Air India
- Airlink
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines LH
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines LH
- Cathay Pacific
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- EgyptAir
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Etihad Airways
- Eurowings LH
- Iran Air
- ITA Airways
- KM Malta Airlines
- LATAM Airlines
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Luxair
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- SunExpress LH
- Swiss International Air Lines LH
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
- Vistara
LH Part of the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa's Planes
Naming Planes
Lufthansa has a tradition of naming its planes after German cities and towns. The first Boeing 707, named Berlin, started this tradition in 1960. Other planes were named "Hamburg," "Frankfurt," and "Munich." The size of the plane often matches the importance of the city it's named after.
There have been a few exceptions to this rule. One Airbus A340-300 was named "Gander/Halifax." These are two Canadian cities that helped passengers after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Another plane, an Airbus A321-100, was named Finkenwerder. This is in honor of the Airbus factory in Hamburg.
In 2010, Lufthansa started naming its Airbus A380s after its main hub airports, Frankfurt and Munich. Other A380s were named after other Lufthansa Group hubs like Zurich and Vienna. Some were named after big German cities or Star Alliance hub cities like Tokyo and New York.
Restoring Old Planes
Lufthansa Technik, which is Lufthansa's maintenance company, has restored old planes. They restored a Junkers Ju 52/3m from 1936. Lufthansa is also restoring a Lockheed Super Constellation. They use parts from other old planes to do this.
Airbus A380 Planes
Lufthansa first ordered 15 Airbus A380-800 planes. By June 2012, ten were delivered. In 2019, Lufthansa announced it would sell six A380s back to Airbus.
On March 8, 2020, Lufthansa said it would stop flying all its A380s due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on June 27, 2022, Lufthansa announced that some of its A380s would return to service. This was because more people wanted to travel.
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On December 2, 2022, Lufthansa brought the first A380 out of storage. It flew from Teruel Airport to Frankfurt Airport. After maintenance, it went to Manila for more work.
Lufthansa's A380s started flying again from Munich to Boston on June 1, 2023. They also started flying to New York-JFK on July 4. As of October 2023, four A380s are flying for Lufthansa.
Services on Board
Miles & More Program
Lufthansa has a program called Miles & More. This is a frequent-flyer program. You can earn miles when you fly with Lufthansa or its partner airlines. You can also earn miles with Lufthansa credit cards. You can use these miles for flights or other rewards.
There are different levels in Miles & More:
- Miles & More member (basic level)
- Frequent Traveller (Silver)
- Senator (Gold)
- HON Circle (Black)
Higher levels offer more benefits, like lounge access.
Cabins on Planes
First Class
First Class is available on some long-haul planes. These include some Airbus A340-600s, Airbus A380s, and Boeing 747-8Is. Each seat turns into a 2-meter bed. They also have power outlets and entertainment. You can order meals whenever you want.
Lufthansa has special First Class check-in areas. They also have First Class lounges in Frankfurt and Munich. There's even a special First Class terminal in Frankfurt. In October 2022, Lufthansa showed a new First Class suite. It will be on new A350 planes starting in 2023.
Business Class
Business Class is on all long-haul planes. Seats turn into 2-meter flat beds. They have power outlets and entertainment. Lufthansa has special Business Class check-in counters and lounges at most airports.
As of 2014, all wide-body planes have lie-flat seats in Business Class. Lufthansa plans to release a new Business Class in 2023. It will be on the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350.
Premium Economy
Lufthansa introduced Premium Economy in 2014. It was first on some Boeing 747-8Is. Premium Economy seats have more legroom and are wider than regular Economy seats. They also have a personal entertainment screen.
Bus Service
In 2021, Lufthansa started a bus service from Nuremberg Airport to Munich Airport. This replaced short flights between the two cities. Lufthansa used to have a similar bus service in the late 1990s.
Accidents and Incidents
This section lists accidents involving Lufthansa's main aircraft since 1956.
Fatal Accidents
- On January 11, 1959, Lufthansa Flight 502, a Lockheed Super Constellation, crashed near Galeão Airport in Rio de Janeiro. Only 3 people out of 39 survived. The pilots were blamed for flying too low.
- On December 4, 1961, a Lufthansa Boeing 720 crashed near Mainz during a training flight. All three people on board died.
- On July 15, 1964, another Boeing 720 crashed during a training flight near Ansbach. All three people died after the pilots lost control.
- On January 28, 1966, Lufthansa Flight 005, a Convair CV-440, crashed near Bremen Airport. All 42 passengers and 4 crew members died. The plane stalled while trying to land.
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On November 20, 1974, Lufthansa Flight 540, a Boeing 747-100, crashed after takeoff at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. 55 passengers and 4 crew members died. This was the first accident involving a Boeing 747.
D-ABYB, the aircraft that was destroyed in the Flight 540 accident, was the second of three Boeing 747-100s delivered to Lufthansa. It is seen here during a promotional event at Nuremberg Airport in 1970. - On July 26, 1979, Lufthansa Flight 527, a cargo Boeing 707, crashed into a mountain near Galeão Airport. All three crew members died. This was due to a mistake in communication.
- On September 14, 1993, Lufthansa Flight 2904, an Airbus A320-200, overran the runway at Warsaw-Okecie Airport. The co-pilot and one passenger died.
Non-Fatal Incidents
- On December 20, 1973, a Lufthansa Boeing 707 collided with a shack near Palam Airport in Delhi. No one was hurt, but the plane was badly damaged.
- On October 18, 1983, a Boeing 747-200 cargo plane went off the runway at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. This happened after an engine failed during takeoff.
- On June 11, 2018, a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 caught fire while being moved at Frankfurt Airport. Six people were treated for breathing smoke. The plane was damaged.
- On March 1, 2023, Lufthansa Flight 469, an Airbus A330, experienced sudden turbulence over Tennessee. The flight was diverted, and seven passengers were taken to the hospital.
Images for kids
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A Lufthansa advertisement in Lisbon
See also
In Spanish: Lufthansa para niños
- Air transport in Germany
- List of airlines of Germany
