It’s a particular date for Lufthansa and a big day for all staff who formed the airline with the crane emblem: Precisely 100 years in the past right now – on April 6, 1926 – Lufthansa (then: “Luft Hansa”) took to the skies throughout its first flights. On that day, two planes took off from Berlin-Tempelhof airport with locations Zurich and Cologne. Precisely a century later, this particular date was fittingly celebrated because the chronological fruits of the anniversary 12 months on Easter Monday – together with two particular flights that adopted the historic routes of the inaugural flights.
A Boeing 787-9 and an Airbus A350-900, each in blue anniversary livery with a white XXL crane, had taken off that morning from Frankfurt and Munich. On board: tons of of Lufthansa staff with their companions, who, as fortunate winners of an inside lottery, had been invited by the corporate to participate within the anniversary flights and be personally current in Berlin on this big day. In whole, greater than 600 friends, together with passengers on the absolutely booked particular flights and invitees from the political and aviation sectors, celebrated the spotlight of the anniversary 12 months at a festive occasion in Berlin. Amongst them was the mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner. A particular spotlight: the Boeing 787-9 in its anniversary livery was formally named “Berlin” in the course of the ceremony.
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airways, emphasised in his speech: “Immediately Lufthansa celebrates its anniversary! Pushed by a pioneering spirit and keenness, it began right here in Berlin. Precisely 100 years in the past, the primary flights of the unique Lufthansa took off from right here. Immediately, Berlin is without doubt one of the largest places of our firm. About 2,000 Lufthansa staff reside and work within the capital area. Lufthansa and the Group’s subsidiaries airways will stay sturdy companions in Berlin sooner or later.”
Kai Wegner, Mayor of Berlin, emphasised in his welcome speech: “100 years of Lufthansa is a formidable anniversary. On April 6, 1926, two flights took off from Berlin to Zurich and Cologne, establishing Lufthansa’s long-term reference to Berlin. To this present day, Lufthansa stays a superb accomplice for Berlin – and I’m happy that on the event of this particular anniversary we’re naming the Boeing 787-9 ‘Berlin.'”
Routes of the inaugural flights re-enacted
Round 3:15 p.m., the Boeing 787-9, beforehand known as “Berlin”, and the Airbus A350-900 with the registration D-AIXL then departed from the capital to Zurich and Cologne. Throughout their journey, the particular flights flew over the places the place stops had been made on April 6, 1926. The Boeing 787-9 flew from Berlin through Halle, Erfurt and Stuttgart to Zurich, whereas the A350-900 flew through Magdeburg to Cologne. The flight numbers of the 2 flights, LH1926 and LH2026, additionally commemorated the particular anniversary.
Lufthansa will rejoice its a centesimal founding anniversary in 2026. Berlin performs a particular position within the historical past of the airline: the primary Lufthansa was based right here on January 6, 1926. Immediately, the Lufthansa Group is without doubt one of the 4 largest airways on this planet and the most important aviation group in Europe. The corporate is the clear market chief in Berlin. About 30 % of all flights within the capital are operated by airways throughout the group.
The ceremonial spotlight of Lufthansa’s anniversary 12 months will happen on April 15 with a ceremony in Frankfurt. On this present day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz can also be anticipated to be current at Lufthansa Group Hangar One, the brand new convention and guests heart at Frankfurt Airport.