Lufthansa have suspended flights from Germany to Kazakhstan amidst fleet shortages, delivery delays for aircrafts and parts, and disruptions to the supply chain. This announcement is set to impact the 2025/26 Winter season.
Lufthansa Hit by Aircraft Shortages
Last year, Carsten Spohr – Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa – stated that aircraft delivery delays are having a “brutal” impact on the airline. Though Spohr did not provide an exact figure, he claimed that the shortage in aircrafts could cost Lufthansa around five-hundred-million euros a year. In addition to the steep losses, Spohr further said that these issues would not be resolved before the end of the decade, with deliveries of new aircraft scheduled up until 2029.
In line with Spohr’s comments, aircraft and parts shortages continue to affect the airline.
Lufthansa have temporarily suspended their services to Kazakhstan from October 26, 2025 to March 29, 2026. This comes as a direct result of fleet shortages and the carrier’s careful analysis of aircraft availability, seasonal demand for flights, and economic efficiency.
Lufthansa currently operates five weekly flights to Kazakhstan. This includes direct routes from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Almaty International Airport (ALA), and Astana International Airport (NQZ).
The airline has emphasised that they are prioritising punctuality and reliability for the upcoming Winter season, despite only revealing their original schedule less than a month ago. Furthermore, the airline noted:
We are not the only victim of aircraft delivery delays and supply chain disruptions. Multiple airlines have been forced to slow down their plans to modernise and expand their fleets. This has had further impact on current flight operations, with lower efficiency and higher costs.”
About Lufthansa
Lufthansa is Germany’s flag-carrier, with its primary hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and its secondary base of operations at Munich Airport (MUC). Lufthansa is one of the five airlines who founded Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, and remains committed to global connectivity. The carrier currently operates flights to two-hundred-and-five destinations worldwide – this includes fifteen domestic terminals and one-hundred-and-eight international stops across seventy-one countries.
Has the current aircraft shortage disrupted your travel plans? Let us know.
