Lufthansa to Ground CityLine Fleet and Retire A340-600s Amid Rising Costs
Lufthansa Group has announced plans to immediately remove Lufthansa CityLine's capacity and ground its last Airbus A340-600s by October. This decision is part of a broader strategy to address rising operational costs and labor disruptions affecting its German operations. The plan involves permanently removing 27 operational aircraft from Lufthansa CityLine's flight program starting April 18. Additionally, six intercontinental aircraft, including four A340-600s and two Boeing 747-400s, will be grounded by the end of the summer flight schedule. The move aligns with Lufthansa's strategy to reduce the number of different sub-fleets and accelerate the allocation of nine additional Airbus A350s to its Discover Airlines unit. The decision is driven by increased kerosene costs and ongoing labor disputes, which have significantly impacted the group's profitability. 
