Lufthansa (LH)

Lufthansa Group is changing the online check-in process for its customers. Travel ID is gradually becoming mandatory on the websites and apps of Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss and Discover Airlines.

Travelers will therefore have to log in to their account, or create one, before continuing with their digital check-in. The group specifies that this rule concerns access to the online service, not the journey itself.

Travel ID remains a customer account. It does not replace a passport or a document required to enter a country. Travel information must still be provided according to the destination’s requirements.

Lufthansa also continues to offer other check-in options, including airport kiosks. For the group’s regular passengers, this change centralizes bookings and personal data in a single profile.

Lufthansa Group is rolling out a very extensive summer 2027 program, running from March to October. Bookings have been open since October 20. The group is highlighting its hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome-Fiumicino.

From Frankfurt, Lufthansa will connect to Columbus, Ohio, starting May 5, 2027. The route will operate three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft with Allegris cabins. The group says this will be the only direct service to Columbus operated by a European airline.

From Munich, Lufthansa will launch service to Phoenix on August 3, 2027. Three weekly flights are planned, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

In France, SWISS will launch a seasonal Zurich–Toulouse route. The airline will also increase its services to Paris and Nice. Further new routes and frequency increases are planned across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

The Lufthansa Group has announced the purchase of 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft. The airline now has a total of 60 MAX narrow-body aircraft on order, including 40 737-8s and 20 737 MAX 10s.

These aircraft will enter service at the beginning of the 2030s. Lufthansa has not yet specified which subsidiary will operate them. The group only states that they will gradually replace the oldest Airbus A320 aircraft.

The 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 MAX family. It will offer more seats on the busiest European routes. Lufthansa also highlights fuel consumption around 30% lower than that of the older aircraft it will replace.

For passengers, this modernisation heralds a newer fleet on the group’s short- and medium-haul flights.

Lufthansa Group is changing its baggage rules for short- and medium-haul flights. The airline and its subsidiaries will charge for certain items of Cabin baggage that had previously been included at no extra cost. This change directly affects Travellers who book a ticket at the lowest fare. The initially displayed price may therefore increase if Cabin baggage is added. Passengers will need to check the ticket conditions more carefully before purchasing. The German group is thus following a trend already visible among several European airlines. Passengers travelling light will retain a simpler option. However, those departing with an extra bag will need to compare fares more closely. This new rule applies to the Lufthansa group's short- and medium-haul routes.