Lufthansa Celebrates Milestone 100th Anniversary

This year, Lufthansa will be celebrating their 100th anniversary.  On January 6, 1926, the first ‘Luft Hansa’ was founded, and on April 6th of the same year started revenue passenger service.

Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Featuring Special 100th Anniversary Livery - Courtesy Lufthansa

On Friday (January 2, 2026), Lufthansa announced the start of celebrations marking the carrier’s milestone 100th anniversary.  On January 6, 1926, the first 'Luft Hansa 'founded, and by April 6th of the same year, it had its maiden flight. This anniversary is not only a reflection on the history of one of aviation’s most iconic brands but also a significant step into the future.  It honors the pioneering spirit, innovation, and connection of people, cultures, and economies that Lufthansa has shaped for a century.  The anniversary will be celebrated under the motto 'We are the Journey' – a message that highlights the shared journey of employees, passengers, and fans of the brand.

The first Lufthansa was formed through the merger of Junkers Luftverkehr and Deutsche Aero Lloyd.  With the re-establishment of the ‘second Lufthansa’ in 1953, the legal foundation of today’s Lufthansa was created.  In 1955, flight operations resumed, and the journey of the newly founded Deutsche Lufthansa AG began.  The anniversary is a tribute to the guests who have accompanied Lufthansa through a century of challenges, changes, and progress.

Today, 40,000 people from 122 nations work for the Lufthansa brand, and 100,000 people from over 160 nations are part of the Group.  During Lufthansa’s anniversary year, the airline plans on organizing a variety of activities and events to honor the history and future of the aviation group. These include a permanent exhibition at the Lufthansa Group Hangar One, special events, a history book, film and video productions, employee celebrations, customer events, as well as marketing and product campaigns.

Throughout 2026, Lufthansa Will be Celebrating 100 Years of Aviation Innovation

Starting this month, the anniversary year will be visible and tangible for Lufthansa customers starting in January.  The special ‘100 Years of Lufthansa’ emblem will appear on boarding passes, at airports, and onboard Lufthansa flights in many places.  Outside of airports, a poster campaign will tell Lufthansa’s story through iconic images and messages.

A highlight of the celebrations will be the special aircraft liveries: the key sub-fleets of Lufthansa’s core brand will feature one aircraft with the new 100-year special livery. The Lufthansa anniversary fleet consists of six aircraft: an Airbus A380, an Airbus A350-1000, an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A320, and a Boeing 747-8. Leading the anniversary fleet is the Boeing 787-9 named ‘Berlin,’ which was delivered from Boeing’s factory in Washington State, USA, to Germany shortly before Christmas and landed at its new home airport in Frankfurt.  Additionally, there will be two retro liveries. These designs combine tradition and progress, making each aircraft a unique flying ambassador of the brand.  The iconic crane, designed by Otto Firle in 1918, remains Lufthansa’s global symbol.

Source: Lufthansa