Lufthansa Plans Significant Job Cuts in Administration

Lufthansa is set to implement major job reductions within its administrative sector, with plans to cut approximately 20% of its administrative positions. The specifics of this decision, including the total number of affected roles, are expected to be disclosed during the company's Capital Markets Day scheduled for September 29.

According to sources within the company, the proposed layoffs could potentially impact between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs. The airline has not provided any official statements regarding these reports. Currently, Lufthansa employs around 103,000 individuals across its global operations.

This announcement comes in the wake of previous job cuts that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when the airline reduced its workforce by approximately 20,000 positions. Furthermore, just last month, Lufthansa revealed plans to consolidate key operations across its various airlines, including Swiss, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines, to streamline its short and medium-haul flight networks starting in January 2026. The company also intends to centralize the IT functions of its hub airlines.

Despite recent economic challenges, Lufthansa has expressed optimism about its financial performance. In its second-quarter report, the company indicated that it expects to exceed the previous year's operational profit of EUR1.6 billion, citing strong ticket demand and lower fuel costs as contributing factors. The performance of the critical summer season will be further clarified when Lufthansa releases its third-quarter financial results on November 3.

The timing of the job cut announcement coincides with ongoing labor disputes involving the airline's cabin crew and pilots. A vote on potential industrial action is currently underway among the members of the pilots' union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), following unsuccessful negotiations that have taken place over the last several months. Additionally, the cabin crew union, Ufo, has declared its discussions with the airline's management regarding a comprehensive pay agreement unsuccessful, leading to separate negotiations for cabin staff across different airlines within the Lufthansa group.

As the situation develops, stakeholders and employees will be closely monitoring the outcomes of these labor negotiations and the company's financial performance amid these significant changes.