What happened
Lufthansa has announced the immediate and permanent shutdown of its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, with all planes being removed from the flight program as of Saturday, April 18, 2026. This accelerates the previously planned 2027 end of operations. The decision is driven by significantly increased kerosene prices (more than doubled since the Iran war) and ongoing labor disputes that have grounded the main carrier. CityLine's CRJ-900s are nearing the end of their technical operational capability and have high operating costs. While the group originally planned to replace CityLine with a new feeder airline, Lufthansa City Airlines, the immediate shutdown means Lufthansa Group may not have enough capacity to cover all existing service, leading to expected flight cancellations, route cuts, and frequency reductions. All CityLine employees will be laid off, with offers for jobs at other Lufthansa subsidiaries