Germany’s national airline Lufthansa has announced that it has decided to implement its new business strategy at a much faster pace than previously planned in response to rising fuel prices and strikes at the airline – however, such moves should not affect airBaltic, in which the German airline holds a 10% stake, reports Latvian Television.
Lufthansa has decided to discontinue its German domestic brand “Lufthansa CityLine” as of April 18th, 2026.
Lufthansa’s plan also calls for its long-haul fleet to be reduced by six aircraft – the remaining four A340-600 aircraft will leave the fleet at the end of October, ending the use of this model on the German airline’s route network. At the same time, the plan calls for the temporary suspension of two Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which the company plans to retire next year.
Photo: Kārlis Miksons / Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs
Considering that the German national airline is a minority shareholder of the Latvian national airline airBaltic, the LSM.lv portal approached the airBaltic governing council to find out if Lufthansa’s decisions will affect airBaltic.
“Lufthansa Group continues to fulfill its duties as a minority shareholder on the airBaltic board. I would like to emphasize that the strategic changes announced by Lufthansa Group are not related to its activities on the airBaltic Board and do not affect this role,” Council Chairman Andrejs Martinovs said in a written response to the portal.
There have currently been no signals from Lufthansa about any desire to lease more aircraft than is provided for in existing agreements, he said.
“As currently planned, this summer season airBaltic will lease up to 21 aircraft to Lufthansa Group airlines – Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss,” Martinovs indicated.
As the military conflict and economic blockade unleashed by the United States in the Middle East continues, various warnings are being heard about dwindling volumes of aviation fuel reserves and concomitant rises in fuel prices. Despite the fact that airBaltic’s fleet is one of the youngest in Europe, aviation fuel prices still constitute a major cost item.
“The airBaltic fleet currently consists of 55 A220-300 aircraft, some of which are used on the airline’s flights, while others are leased to the Lufthansa group,” the airline says.
While Lufthansa is reducing its fleet by phasing out its oldest and most fuel-inefficient aircraft, airBaltic will receive a total of five new aircraft this year. Four have already been received, and one is scheduled for delivery later this year.
The next deliveries are not scheduled until 2028, when the company hopes to acquire five more A220-300 aircraft.
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