Highlight of the anniversary year: Lufthansa celebrates 100 years since its first flights in Berlin

It is a special date for Lufthansa and a special day for all the employees who have shaped the airline with the crane logo: Exactly 100 years ago today - on April 6, 1926 - Lufthansa (at that time: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies on its first flights.

Anniversary Milestone
- Date: April 6, 2026 marked exactly 100 years since Lufthansa’s first flights from Berlin-Tempelhof to Zurich and Cologne.
- Special Flights: Two commemorative flights retraced the original 1926 routes — operated by a Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900 in special anniversary livery.
- Flight Numbers: LH1926 and LH2026, symbolically chosen to mark the centenary.

Symbolic Moments
- The Boeing 787-9 was officially named “Berlin” by Governing Mayor Kai Wegner.
- Over 600 guests, including Lufthansa employees, political leaders, and aviation partners, joined the celebration.
- CEO Jens Ritter emphasized Lufthansa’s pioneering spirit and Berlin’s role as one of the airline’s largest bases, with around 2,000 employees in the capital region.

Broader Context
- Lufthansa was originally founded in Berlin on January 6, 1926 as “Luft Hansa.”
- Today, the Lufthansa Group is Europe’s largest airline group and one of the top four globally.
- In Berlin, Lufthansa Group airlines operate about 30% of all flights, underscoring their market leadership.

Upcoming Highlight
- The ceremonial centerpiece of the anniversary year will take place on April 15, 2026 in Frankfurt, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expected to attend at Lufthansa Group’s new Hangar One conference and visitor center.

This centenary celebration blends heritage and modernity, reaffirming Lufthansa’s deep roots in Berlin while showcasing its global scale today.