Germany’s largest airline, Lufthansa, plans to cancel around 100 domestic flights per week in Germany by the summer of 2026 due to rising taxes and operating fees. The announcement was made by Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr, according to Die Welt.

Spohr noted that since 2019, operating costs in Germany have doubled. “We now generate more than three-quarters of our revenue abroad,” he said. “If domestic costs do not come down, further flight cancellations will be inevitable.”

Routes such as Munich–Münster/Osnabrück and Munich–Dresden are among those under close scrutiny. “We operate these routes at a daily loss,” Spohr admitted, adding that Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings has already eliminated over 80 percent of its domestic services because they are no longer profitable under the current tax and fee structure.

“In total, around 100 domestic flights per week could be cut again next summer,” Spohr said, emphasizing that such measures would be “a serious blow” to the affected regions.

Lufthansa also confirmed plans to reduce its administrative workforce by 4,000 positions by 2030 through automation and the introduction of digital technologies. The restructuring aims to improve profitability and streamline operations.

“This is primarily about achieving a significant increase in productivity,” Spohr explained. “In the future, our aircraft will spend less time on the ground—where they do not generate profit—and more time in the air.”