The Central European Lufthansa Group of airlines have announced several changes to its leadership team. These include CEO of Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air Bernd Bauer’s decision to leave the group. As well as the incoming CEO of Lufthansa City Airlines, Michael Kircher, joining the company from Austrian Airlines.
What is Happening at Edelweiss Airlines?
Lufthansa’s leadership took the decision to announce its three major leadership changes in one single statement.
Possibly the most significant of these changes is Bauer stepping up as Edelweiss Air’s CEO Oct. 1.
Lufthansa Group’s Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx thanked Bauer for his work:
“Bauer has played a decisive role in advancing the Group’s leisure airline business.”
“He developed Edelweiss into a flagship airline within the Lufthansa Group – always demonstrating entrepreneurial vision and courage.”
Bauer will be replaced by Edi Wolfensberger, the current chief operating officer of Lufthansa’s low-cost German airline, Eurowings.
Wolfensberger’s current role will be filled by Matthias Spohr, who has been the head of Lufthansa’s Aviation Training branch since 2021, and is the brother of the group’s CEO Carsten Spohr.
What Else Has Been Announced?
As well as Bauer’s departure, Peter Albers, the CEO of Lufthansa City Airlines, a German branch of the group which specialises in short-haul and medium-haul flights, will leave his managerial role Nov. 1.
Albers will continue to work as a captain, having helped Lufthansa secure an agreement with the cockpit and cabin crew union ver.di.
The deal, agreed in April, will last until 2029, and was described by Albers as:
“proving the planning security we need for our growth and the opportunities that come with it.”
Heiko Reitz, a Lufthansa board member, stated that:
“Peter Albers has shaped Lufthansa Aviation with determination, creativity and a clear objective, he laid the foundations for strong and sustainable growth at City Airlines in the future.”
Albers will be replaced in his managerial role by Michael Kircher, the current head of training at Austrian Airlines, which is a subsidiary of Lufthansa.
What Does This Mean for Lufthansa’s Future?
The Lufthansa Group is the second-largest airline group in Europe, behind Ryanair, and had over 135 million chartered passengers in 2025.
The willingness of Lufthansa’s board to promote from within its own workforce shows that it is confident in its current business models, and believe a refreshment of its leadership team is preferable to an overhaul.
Announcing the new appointments several months in advance may also allow for a smooth transition period, providing greater job security for Lufthansa’s on the ground workforce.
Lufthansa recently submitted a bid to buy a minority stake in Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal, who Lufthansa have an ongoing codeshare agreement with.
It is understood that Air France are also interested in buying a minority stake in TAP.
Do you fly with Lufthansa regularly? Would you like to see them buy a stake in TAP? Let us know in the comments.
