Lufthansa is expanding paid seat selection across more cabins as it pushes to grow revenue beyond ticket sales.

The German airline group is introducing new seat categories and changing the rules for how passengers reserve them. For the first time, some premium seats in European business class will carry an extra charge.

The move covers both economy class and European business class, as Lufthansa continues to refine its ancillary revenue strategy. The change means travellers booking certain seats will no longer get them as part of the standard fare.

Lufthansa has not presented the move as a temporary measure. Instead, it forms part of a broader shift in how the airline prices cabin products and optional extras, a strategy already used widely across the global aviation industry.

Ancillary income has become one of the most important profit drivers for major airlines, especially as carriers seek to offset fuel costs, airport charges and competitive fares. Seat selection, baggage fees and other add-ons now account for a significant share of revenue at many full-service airlines.

By extending paid seat choice into more cabins, Lufthansa is following a trend that has long been common among low-cost carriers but is increasingly visible at network airlines too. The change is likely to be most noticeable for passengers who want specific seats, extra space or more comfort without moving into a higher fare class.

For travellers, the practical effect is straightforward: booking a ticket may now come with more separate decisions and higher total costs if they want to secure preferred seats. That could affect families, business travellers and frequent flyers alike, particularly on short-haul European routes where seat choice has often been bundled into the fare.

The airline has not said in the source material exactly when the new rules take effect or how much the additional seat charges will be. But the direction is clear: Lufthansa is making more of the cabin available as a paid product, rather than a feature included automatically with the ticket.

That approach reflects a wider transformation in aviation pricing. Airlines are no longer relying only on fares to drive earnings, and passengers increasingly pay separately for services that were once standard. Lufthansa’s latest move shows that even premium cabins are not exempt from that shift.