SINGAPORE, 5 November 2026: Lufthansa Group increased operating profit and reported strong demand and cost discipline that offset higher fuel costs in the third quarter of 2026.
Lufthansa Group revenue increased 9% year‑on‑year to 12.2 billion euros (previous year: EUR11.2 billion). The company recorded an operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) of EUR1.4 billion, up 6% (previous year: EUR1.3 billion).
Despite a significant increase in fuel costs of EUR543 million, the company succeeded in more than compensating for the cost increase through strong operating revenues and cost discipline
Deutsche Lufthansa AG Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO Carsten Spohr said: “The past quarter was the strongest in terms of revenue in the history of the Lufthansa Group. We increased operating profit by 6% compared to the previous year. With rising revenues amid consistently high demand and strict cost discipline, we more than offset the increase in fuel costs of approximately half a billion euros. Our investments in modernising our fleet and in-flight products are increasingly paying off. The focus remains on Lufthansa Airlines. Following the successful turnaround in reliability and customer satisfaction, we must now accelerate the financial turnaround of our core brand through both previously planned and additional measures, to restore it to its position as the flagship and benchmark of the Lufthansa Group in terms of value creation as well.”
Third-quarter result improved despite higher fuel costs
Lufthansa Group revenue increased 9% year‑on‑year to EUR12.2 billion (previous year: EUR11.2 billion). The company recorded an operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) of EUR1.4 billion, up 6% (previous year: EUR1.3 billion), despite a significant increase in fuel costs of EUR543 million. The company more than offset the cost increase through strong operating revenues and cost discipline.
Demand developed robustly across all segments in the third quarter. At the network airlines, average yields rose 7%, driven by strong demand for premium tickets and on the routes to Asia and North America.
Eurowings also benefited from strong demand in European point‑to‑point traffic and achieved yields 8% higher than in the previous year.
The Adjusted EBIT margin fell slightly to 11.5% (previous year: 11.9%). Net income rose by around EUR300 million due to the improved operating result, positive valuation effects and a negative tax effect in the prior‑year period, to EUR1.3 billion (previous year: EUR966 million). Adjusted free cash flow reached EUR793 million.
Network airlines report strong demand
The group’s network airlines expanded their capacity for the first time this year in the third quarter compared with the prior year. Available seat capacity increased by 1.6%, primarily on long-haul routes. Growth was concentrated mainly in South America and Africa as well as selected routes to Asia. Yields rose 6.8% while load factor declined by 1.3 percentage points. Combined, these two metrics resulted in unit revenue growth of 5.27%. This demand strength was driven notably by the premium segment as well as by traffic to Asia and North America.
Due to sharply higher jet fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East, fuel costs for the network airlines rose by more than EUR400 million. Unit costs excluding fuel and emissions expenses increased by 0.5% compared with the previous year and were therefore well below the current inflation rate.
Overall, the network airlines generated an Adjusted EBIT of EUR853 million. SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines outperformed their prior-year results in the third quarter. Lufthansa Airlines, however, was burdened not only by rising fuel prices but also by costs of approximately EUR65 million resulting from the strikes in the first half of the year.
Point-to-point airlines see strong intra-European demand
Eurowings reduced its capacity in the third quarter by 3.5% compared with the previous year, as flights to the Gulf region were initially suspended amid the crisis in the Middle East and then replaced primarily by shorter routes to Southern Europe. Unit revenues rose 10.0%, also driven by strong demand for premium offerings on European routes and additional revenue from ancillary services.
(Source: Lufthansa Group)
