In 2026, Lufthansa celebrates 100 years since the origins of the Lufthansa aviation brand first began in 1926, marking a significant milestone in the history of European air travel.
Over the last century, Lufthansa has played a major role in the development of commercial aviation, helping shape international travel from its early experimental years through to the global industry we know today. In its early years, the airline connected cities across Germany before gradually expanding internationally as air travel became more accessible to passengers.
Following a pause in operations during World War II, Lufthansa was re-established in 1953 as Deutsche Lufthansa AG in West Germany, beginning a new era focused on rebuilding international connectivity and expanding long-haul travel.
As the jet age transformed aviation, Lufthansa rapidly expanded its network across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. Over time, the airline developed a reputation for reliability, engineering excellence and consistent service, becoming one of Europe’s leading international carriers.
The Lufthansa Group has since grown well beyond a single airline, now including carriers such as SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines. As a founding member of Star Alliance, Lufthansa also helped create one of the world’s largest global airline networks, improving connectivity for international travellers across multiple carriers.
Today, Lufthansa continues to modernise its fleet with aircraft including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 747-8, while investing heavily in sustainability, technology and customer experience improvements across all classes of travel.
As the airline moves into its second century, its story reflects not only the evolution of Lufthansa itself, but also the wider transformation of global air travel over the past 100 years.
