Collections: Lufthansa
The history of Deutsche Lufthansa reflects the transformation of aviation throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The first Lufthansa was founded in 1926 and quickly became one of Europe’s leading airlines. After World War II, operations ceased, and the company was dissolved. A new Deutsche Lufthansa AG was established in 1953, and flights resumed in 1955, marking the beginning of a new era of reconstruction and international growth. In the decades that followed, Lufthansa became a symbol of German engineering, service excellence, and global mobility. Today, the Lufthansa Group operates as one of the world’s leading aviation companies, focusing on sustainability, innovation, and worldwide connectivity.
|
Period |
Event / Development |
|---|---|
|
1926 |
Founding of the first Deutsche Lufthansa AG through the merger of Deutscher Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr. |
|
1930s |
Expansion of the route network, including international connections; technical innovations but growing involvement in Nazi policies. |
|
1945 |
Suspension of flight operations after World War II; dissolution of the company. |
|
1953–1955 |
Re-establishment of Deutsche Lufthansa AG in the Federal Republic of Germany. |
|
1955 |
Resumption of flight operations on April 1 – first domestic, then international routes. |
|
1960s–1980s |
Expansion into a global network carrier; introduction of jet aircraft; development of a modern service culture. |
|
1990 |
Resumption of flights to eastern Germany after reunification. |
|
1990s–2000s |
Establishment of Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik; corporate restructuring; founding member of the Star Alliance (1997). |
|
2010s–2020s |
Focus on digitalization, fleet modernization, and sustainability; major challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
Today |
Lufthansa Group ranks among the world’s largest airline groups, emphasizing efficiency, sustainability, and customer experience. |
