Lufthansa City Airlines is the newest airline in the Lufthansa Group. The airline was founded in Munich in spring 2022 and was created to strengthen Lufthansa’s short- and medium-haul network in Europe. It is connected to Lufthansa’s main hubs in Munich and Frankfurt and mainly operates flights that connect passengers to the wider Lufthansa network. The airline started its flight operations in June 2024 and is now becoming an important part of the Lufthansa Group’s
The Fleet
The A220 order is quite large compared with the size of the young airline. Lufthansa City Airlines did not start with A220s, however. When operations began in 2024, the airline initially used aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, especially the A319 and A320neo. By April 2025, its fleet had grown to eight aircraft: four A319s and four A320neos. Lufthansa planned to increase the fleet to 15 aircraft by the end of 2025.
The airline has continued to grow. In February 2026, Lufthansa City Airlines opened its new base at Frankfurt Airport. At that time, it operated 13 aircraft at its Munich base and planned to increase the Frankfurt fleet to seven A320neos by September 2026. This shows that the A220s are part of a much larger fleet expansion rather than replacing existing aircraft.
Airbus A220 orders
One of the most important parts of Lufthansa City Airlines’ future is the Airbus A220-300. In December 2023, the Lufthansa Group announced an order for 40 Airbus A220-300 aircraft for Lufthansa City Airlines. In addition, the Group added 20 purchase options to the order, which means that it could order another 20 aircraft in the future. The first A220s were originally planned to be delivered in 2026.
The order is part of a larger fleet modernization program by the Lufthansa Group. Lufthansa chose the A220 because it is designed for short and medium-haul flights and offers relatively low fuel consumption. According to Lufthansa, the aircraft in its planned City Airlines configuration will have 148 seats. It is also intended to operate from both Munich and Frankfurt and to support the Lufthansa Group’s feeder network.
When will the A220 enter service?
The first A220s are not being used on Lufthansa City Airlines routes yet. Lufthansa’s current information says that the Airbus A220-300 will strengthen the fleet in Frankfurt from the beginning of 2027. The first routes from Frankfurt will lead to Brussels, Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Hannover, and Hamburg
The airline has not yet announced a complete list of the first A220 routes. However, Lufthansa has stated that the aircraft will be used for short- and medium-haul flights and will support the network from Frankfurt and Munich. Its relatively long range also gives Lufthansa City Airlines flexibility when choosing European routes. The aircraft has a published range of up to 6,300 kilometers.
The future of Lufthansa City Airlines
The Airbus A220-300 will play an important role in the next stage of Lufthansa City Airlines’ development. With 40 aircraft ordered and 20 additional options, the airline has a clear plan for future growth. The A220 offers 148 seats, modern engines, and improved fuel efficiency. Lufthansa City Airlines says that the aircraft can use up to 25% less fuel per seat than previous-generation aircraft and can produce up to 25% fewer CO₂ emissions.
With its growing fleet, new Frankfurt base, and planned A220 deliveries, Lufthansa City Airlines is being developed as a modern European short- and medium-haul airline within the Lufthansa Group. The A220 is expected to become an important part of this strategy from 2027 onwards.
