Lufthansa Maintains Domestic Routes After Air Travel Tax Cut

Lufthansa, Germany's flagship carrier, has announced its decision to maintain several domestic flight routes for the upcoming summer season, a direct response to the German government's agreement to lower the air travel tax, effective July 2026. This strategic reversal ensures continued connectivity on routes previously considered vulnerable due to high operational costs, providing crucial support to the German aviation sector.

The tax reduction, a measure by the governing coalition to offer financial relief to German airlines, has prompted Lufthansa to preserve services connecting key cities. Routes such as Munich to Münster/Osnabrück will remain operational, alongside sustained service levels at Dresden, Bremen, and Hanover airports. Similarly, Lufthansa's subsidiary, Eurowings, confirms it will uphold its existing operations at Stuttgart and Hamburg airports, reinforcing its commitment to regional connectivity.

Despite this positive development, Lufthansa confirms that previously outlined reductions, including approximately 50 feeder flights per week for the summer 2026 schedule, will still proceed. However, these changes involve a decrease in flight frequency rather than complete discontinuation of service, ensuring ongoing, albeit reduced, connectivity. The airline emphasizes that while the tax cut is beneficial, it does not anticipate an immediate drop in airfares, advocating for further reductions in air traffic control and airport security fees to achieve meaningful cost savings for passengers. Lufthansa also reiterates its focus on environmental sustainability through fleet modernization and sustainable aviation fuel adoption, rather than imposing additional charges on specific customer segments.