Lufthansa is preparing to shrink its administrative workforce by about one fifth as it looks for ways to tighten spending. According to reports, the cuts will not touch mechanics, cabin crew, or ground staff. Instead, they will mainly affect office and support roles across the group.
The move is part of a wider plan to get the airline back on track after a difficult year. Lufthansa has struggled with falling profits and slimmer margins, and management is now under pressure to bring costs under control.
The airline continues to face several challenges. Aircraft deliveries have been delayed, making it harder to expand as planned. Booking patterns remain unpredictable, which complicates revenue forecasts. On top of that, higher taxes and airport fees are adding to the financial strain.
The decision also marks a big change from Lufthansa’s approach just a short time ago. After the pandemic, the company went on a hiring spree, adding at least 30,000 workers and even announcing plans to bring in 10,000 more as travel demand bounced back. Now, instead of expansion, the focus has shifted to efficiency and cost discipline.
The planned job cuts signal Lufthansa’s effort to stabilize operations and reassure investors that it can adapt to a tougher market environment. How smoothly the reductions are carried out, and whether they are enough to restore profitability, will become clearer in the months ahead.