Lufthansa City Airlines

Lufthansa City Airlines is a German airline established by Lufthansa Group to operate short- and medium-haul services within the group’s European network. Although initially formed in 2022 under the name City Airlines, the carrier adopted the public-facing Lufthansa City brand as it prepared for scheduled operations. It received an air operator’s certificate from the German Federal Aviation Authority in June 2023 and began flying scheduled services on 26 June 2024. The airline was created primarily as a network and cost-competitiveness initiative. Lufthansa Group has positioned it as a feeder operator for the group’s long-haul hubs, particularly Munich Airport and Frankfurt Airport. Its flights are sold through Lufthansa Group channels and operate under the VL IATA designator, while the airline maintains a codeshare relationship with Lufthansa. The initial network from Munich connected German cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Hanover with European destinations such as Birmingham, Bordeaux and Manchester. Frankfurt operations began in February 2026. Lufthansa City Airlines forms part of Lufthansa’s broader effort to protect and expand its German hub network while managing the cost of regional flying. The airline operates alongside Lufthansa CityLine, the established Lufthansa regional subsidiary, but its creation became a major subject of labour controversy. Pilot and cabin-crew unions argued that Lufthansa was using the new carrier to shift flying away from existing collective-bargaining arrangements, reduce labour costs and eventually replace CityLine. Lufthansa management instead presented City Airlines as a necessary, competitive platform for future feeder operations, citing restrictions affecting CityLine’s use of larger aircraft, the age and technical limitations of parts of the CityLine fleet, and rising operating costs. The fleet initially relied on Airbus A319 aircraft and Airbus A320neo aircraft. Lufthansa Group reported that City Airlines had 15 aircraft at the end of 2025, comprising 11 A320neos and four A319s. The group planned substantial further expansion, including an intended fleet of 20 A320neos, four A319s and one Airbus A220 by the end of 2026. The carrier also joined Star Alliance in September 2025, strengthening its integration into Lufthansa’s global network and alliance structure. By early 2026, Lufthansa City Airlines had become a more prominent component of Lufthansa’s short-haul system. Its Frankfurt base opened on 9 February 2026 with a flight to Manchester, with planned services also including Berlin, Valencia, Düsseldorf and Málaga. In April 2026, the airline and ver.di announced a first collective labour agreement for cockpit and cabin crew. Shortly afterward, Lufthansa Group announced that Lufthansa CityLine’s 27 operational aircraft would be removed permanently from the flight programme, intensifying the perception that City Airlines was replacing the older regional operation. Lufthansa City Airlines therefore represents both a fleet-modernisation and network-expansion vehicle for Lufthansa Group and a significant restructuring of the group’s German regional-airline model.

Lufthansa City Airlines was formed in 2022 by Lufthansa Group under the initial name City Airlines. The project was intended to create a dedicated platform for short- and medium-haul flying within Lufthansa’s German hub system. Lufthansa Group presented the airline as a way to improve the competitiveness of feeder services and support future long-haul growth from Germany, especially through Munich and Frankfurt. The carrier obtained its German air operator’s certificate in June 2023. In October of that year, Lufthansa Group announced that operations would begin in summer 2024. The initial plan called for Airbus A319 aircraft, bases at Munich and Frankfurt, and recruitment of cockpit and cabin crew. As the launch approached, the airline adopted the public brand name Lufthansa City. In February 2024, Lufthansa confirmed an initial Munich schedule covering several major German cities and European destinations. Ticket sales began on 24 April 2024 under the VL designator. Scheduled operations began on 26 June 2024 with flight VL2508 from Munich to Birmingham, operated by an Airbus A320neo. The airline’s flights were integrated into Lufthansa Group distribution and designed to connect with the group’s wider network. Lufthansa City Airlines operated alongside Lufthansa CityLine, which had long served as Lufthansa’s regional feeder carrier. The establishment of the new airline generated substantial labour opposition. Lufthansa management argued that CityLine faced structural limitations, including restrictions concerning the use of aircraft above a specified seat capacity and the increasing age and technical-cycle constraints of its Bombardier CRJ900 fleet. Management also argued that a separate operating certificate and different labour arrangements were needed to contain the cost of feeder flying. Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr described City Airlines as a future replacement for CityLine and said the new carrier could achieve savings compared with operating Airbus A320 aircraft through the mainline airline. Vereinigung Cockpit disputed Lufthansa’s description of the collective-bargaining restrictions, saying that the relevant rules had been presented incompletely and that the union had offered possible adjustments. The union characterized the new airline as an unnecessary or potentially impermissible means of circumventing existing agreements. The cabin-crew union UFO similarly warned that City Airlines could accelerate the decline of CityLine and objected to requested concessions involving pay, working time, deployment, leave and roster stability. These disputes made the creation of Lufthansa City Airlines one of the most contested parts of Lufthansa Group’s short-haul restructuring. The airline expanded during 2025. In April it took delivery of its first factory-new Airbus A320neo, registered D-AIJP and named Ingelheim am Rhein. Lufthansa Group said the fleet had reached eight aircraft at that point and expected it to grow to 15 by the end of the year. Its 2025 annual reporting described an end-of-year fleet of 11 A320neos and four A319s, with a planned 2026 fleet of 20 A320neos, four A319s and one A220. The airline joined Star Alliance on 9 September 2025. On 9 February 2026, Lufthansa City Airlines opened its Frankfurt base with a flight to Manchester. The initial Frankfurt programme also included Berlin, Valencia, Düsseldorf and Málaga, with further summer destinations planned and a local fleet expected to reach seven A320neos by September 2026. In April 2026, the airline and ver.di announced a first collective labour agreement for cockpit and cabin personnel. The agreement covered compensation, employment conditions, pensions and performance-based pay, and was intended to apply retroactively from 1 April 2026 for three years, subject to committee approval. Six days later, Lufthansa Group announced that Lufthansa CityLine’s 27 operational aircraft would be permanently removed from the flight programme from 18 April 2026. The group cited higher kerosene prices, the effects of labour disputes, high operating costs and the technical age of the remaining Canadair aircraft. It also pointed to transfer opportunities previously offered to CityLine cockpit and cabin crews. The decision reinforced Lufthansa City Airlines’ role as the successor platform for parts of the group’s German regional operation, while leaving the carrier’s long-term labour and network model closely connected to Lufthansa Group’s continuing restructuring.

• 2026

  Frankfurt base opened

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline began Frankfurt-based operations on 9 February with a flight to Manchester.

• 2026

  First collective labour agreement announced

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline and ver.di agreed on a first framework for cockpit and cabin-crew employment conditions.

• 2025

  First factory-new A320neo delivered

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline received a new Airbus A320neo, registered D-AIJP and named Ingelheim am Rhein.

• 2025

  Joined Star Alliance

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Lufthansa City Airlines became a member of the Star Alliance network on 9 September.

• 2024

  Scheduled operations begin

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The first scheduled service flew from Munich to Birmingham on 26 June using an Airbus A320neo.

• 2023

  Air operator’s certificate obtained

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  The German Federal Aviation Authority issued the certificate required for commercial airline operations.

• 2023

  Summer 2024 launch announced

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Lufthansa Group announced planned operations from Munich and Frankfurt and began preparations for crew recruitment and Airbus A319 deployment.

• 2022

  Company founded as City Airlines

  [1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Lufthansa Group established the airline to support competitive short-haul and feeder operations within its German hub network.

A Lufthansa Group network carrier focused on competitive European feeder and short- to medium-haul operations from German hubs.

• Passenger aviation · 2024

  Domestic German flights

  Lufthansa City Airlines serves German cities from Lufthansa Group hubs, including routes linking Munich with Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Hanover. These services are designed primarily to provide domestic connectivity and feed passengers into Lufthansa’s broader European and intercontinental network.

• Passenger aviation · 2024

  European short- and medium-haul flights

  The airline operates European routes from Germany to destinations such as Birmingham, Bordeaux and Manchester, with additional services introduced as the Munich and Frankfurt bases expand. Flights are distributed through Lufthansa Group sales channels and coordinated with the group’s hub-and-connection model.

• Network aviation · 2024

  Hub feeder services

  Feeder flying is the airline’s central business role. Lufthansa City Airlines connects regional and European markets with Munich and Frankfurt, allowing Lufthansa Group to consolidate connecting traffic and support long-haul departures while using a dedicated short-haul operating structure.

• 2026

  CityLine withdrawal intensifies restructuring dispute

  Lufthansa Group’s decision to remove CityLine’s 27 operational aircraft from the flight programme shortly after City Airlines reached a labour agreement with ver.di reinforced concerns that the new airline was replacing the older regional carrier.

  Source

• 2024

  Labour controversy over the replacement of Lufthansa CityLine

  Pilot and cabin-crew unions criticized Lufthansa City Airlines as a possible vehicle for moving feeder flying away from Lufthansa CityLine and bypassing existing collective-bargaining arrangements. Lufthansa defended the project on competitiveness and fleet-structure grounds, while unions disputed management’s interpretation of the restrictions affecting CityLine.

  Source

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• 2026

  Open a Frankfurt operating baseStrategy

  Background

  The airline’s initial operation was centered on Munich, while Lufthansa Group also required a feeder platform for Frankfurt.

  Action taken

  Lufthansa City Airlines opened its Frankfurt base on 9 February with service to Manchester and a planned schedule including several additional European routes.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the airline’s role across both principal Lufthansa German hubs.

  Source

• 2026

  Establish a first collective labour frameworkStrategy

  Background

  The new airline required a formal employment framework for its cockpit and cabin workforce amid continuing disputes over the future of Lufthansa CityLine.

  Action taken

  Lufthansa City Airlines and ver.di announced a three-year collective labour agreement covering pay, working conditions, pensions and performance-related compensation.

  Aftermath

  The agreement provided a formal labour basis for expansion, although the wider restructuring dispute continued after Lufthansa Group announced the removal of CityLine aircraft from the programme.

  Source

• 2025

  Expand and modernize the fleetStrategy

  Background

  Lufthansa Group planned to scale the new carrier as part of its future European network while relying increasingly on newer Airbus aircraft.

  Action taken

  The airline added factory-new A320neos and pursued a fleet plan involving A320neo, A319 and A220 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The reported fleet reached 15 aircraft at the end of 2025, with further growth planned for 2026.

  Source

• 2024

  Launch scheduled passenger operationsProduct launch

  Background

  After obtaining its operating certificate and announcing initial Munich destinations, the airline prepared to enter Lufthansa Group’s European network.

  Action taken

  Lufthansa City Airlines began scheduled flying on 26 June with a Munich–Birmingham service operated by an Airbus A320neo.

  Aftermath

  The carrier became an active feeder and short-haul operator within Lufthansa Group’s sales and codeshare system.

  Source

• 2022

  Create a dedicated regional operating platformStrategy

  Background

  Lufthansa Group sought a more competitive structure for short-haul flying and a feeder platform capable of supporting growth at its German long-haul hubs.

  Action taken

  The group established City Airlines, later publicly branded Lufthansa City, as a new subsidiary airline.

  Aftermath

  The project developed into a major component of Lufthansa’s regional-airline restructuring and triggered opposition from pilot and cabin-crew unions.

  Source

• 2026

  Frankfurt base opens[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Lufthansa City Airlines opened its Frankfurt base with flight VL946 to Manchester and announced additional routes including Berlin, Valencia, Düsseldorf and Málaga.

• 2026

  First collective labour agreement announced[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Leadership change

  Lufthansa City Airlines and ver.di announced an initial agreement covering cockpit and cabin-crew pay, working conditions, pensions and performance-related compensation.

• 2026

  Lufthansa CityLine aircraft removed from the flight programme[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Lufthansa Group announced that CityLine’s 27 operational aircraft would be permanently removed from the flight programme, citing fuel costs, labour disputes, operating expenses and fleet age.

• 2025

  Lufthansa City Airlines joins Star Alliance[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The airline became a member of Star Alliance, further aligning its operations with Lufthansa Group’s international network.

• 2024

  Unions challenge the role of Lufthansa City Airlines[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Pilot and cabin-crew unions criticized the airline as a possible mechanism for bypassing existing collective agreements and transferring work from Lufthansa CityLine to a lower-cost operating structure.

• 2024

  Lufthansa City Airlines begins scheduled service[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The first scheduled flight, VL2508 from Munich to Birmingham, operated on 26 June using an Airbus A320neo.

• 2023

  City Airlines receives German air operator’s certificate[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The airline obtained certification from the German Federal Aviation Authority, clearing the way for scheduled commercial operations.

• 2023

  Lufthansa Group announces City Airlines launch plans[1]Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Lufthansa Group said the carrier would begin operating in summer 2024 from Munich and Frankfurt, initially using Airbus A319 aircraft and recruiting cockpit and cabin crew.

1. 1Lufthansa City Airlinesen.wikipedia.org