Lufthansa has announced the immediate closure of its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine, triggering widespread disruption across its European network at the start of the busy travel season.

The airline confirmed that all 27 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft operated by CityLine will be withdrawn from service from tomorrow, as part of urgent cost-cutting measures aimed at halting ongoing financial losses.

The decision has already had a visible impact, with hundreds of flights disappearing overnight from booking systems, particularly on routes connecting Munich with cities across south-eastern Europe.

Balkan routes among the hardest hit

The most significant disruption is centered around Munich Airport, one of Lufthansa’s key hubs.

All flights between Munich and Ljubljana have been removed between April 18 and June 1. Connections to Belgrade have also been sharply reduced, with only limited services remaining, mainly concentrated on weekends.

Several popular summer destinations along the Adriatic coast are also affected. Routes to Dubrovnik, Split, Pula and Zadar will continue but with adjustments, as Lufthansa attempts to replace some services using its mainline fleet.

However, all flights to Rijeka have been completely withdrawn, leaving the destination without Lufthansa service for now.

Flights scheduled beyond June 1 are still visible in booking systems, suggesting that further updates and cancellations may follow as the airline continues to restructure its schedule.

Limited capacity to replace cancelled flights

Industry analysts say replacing the capacity lost from 27 regional jets will be a major challenge, especially during the peak summer period.

While Lufthansa may redeploy larger aircraft on key routes, doing so across the entire affected network is considered unlikely. The result could be reduced frequencies, fewer seat options and higher fares on remaining flights, particularly on high-demand leisure routes.

The abrupt nature of the decision has also raised concerns about short-term operational stability, as passengers and travel agents scramble to adjust bookings.

Long-haul cuts signal deeper restructuring

The changes are not limited to short-haul operations. Lufthansa has also confirmed plans to reduce long-haul capacity later this year, indicating a broader restructuring strategy.

Six wide-body aircraft are expected to be withdrawn after the summer season. This includes the retirement of the remaining Airbus A340-600 fleet in October, as well as the grounding of two Boeing 747-400 aircraft during the winter schedule.

These moves reflect ongoing pressure on airline profitability, as carriers across Europe continue to balance rising operational costs with fluctuating demand.

Uncertainty for passengers ahead of summer

Lufthansa has not yet provided detailed guidance on how the cancellations will affect individual bookings, leaving uncertainty for travelers with upcoming plans.

With peak summer demand approaching, the closure of CityLine marks one of the most significant network disruptions in Europe this year, and could reshape travel options across the continent in the months ahead.