Lufthansa Group to Deploy 40 New Narrowbodies for City Airlines Launch

Lufthansa Group is set to allocate 40 out of 80 newly ordered narrowbody aircraft to its upcoming subsidiary, City Airlines (VL, Munich). The new airline is expected to launch in 2024, initially utilizing A319-100s sourced from its parent company. City Airlines will focus on feeder flights connecting European cities to Lufthansa’s major hubs at Frankfurt International and Munich.

During an internal video call with employees on October 11, Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr outlined the plans, stating that City Airlines would operate 120 to 140-seater Embraer E-jets or A220s, with half of the 80 narrowbodies dedicated to this purpose. The remaining 40 aircraft are likely to be A320neo or B737 MAX, to be distributed among other airlines within the Lufthansa Group.

The decision on both orders is expected to be finalized during the IATA winter season. It’s worth noting that Lufthansa’s consideration of the B737 MAX is unusual, given its current all-Airbus narrowbody fleet, including A320-200Ns and A321-200NX.

City Airlines aims to enhance regional connectivity by facilitating feeder services, further strengthening Lufthansa Group’s position in the European market.