AI in the sky: Lufthansa to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 using while expanding fleet

Lufthansa Group announced Monday it will eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030 through artificial intelligence implementation, digitalization, and operational consolidation across its member airlines. The German aviation giant is leveraging AI to streamline administrative functions while simultaneously planning its largest fleet expansion in company history, targeting significantly increased profitability amid strong travel demand and constrained aircraft supply.

What you should know: The job cuts will primarily affect administrative roles in Germany rather than operational positions, as Lufthansa integrates operations across its airline portfolio.
• Most eliminated positions will result from removing duplicated work across Lufthansa’s member airlines, which include Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, and others.
• The company cited “profound changes brought about by digitalization and artificial intelligence” as key drivers for increased efficiency across business areas.

The big picture: Lufthansa is positioning itself to capitalize on a tight aviation market where supply chain constraints for planes and engines are keeping aircraft full and boosting revenue.
• Strong travel demand combined with limited flight offerings due to stretched supply chains creates favorable market conditions for airlines.
• The company expects “significantly increased profitability” by the decade’s end while managing operational efficiency through AI integration.

Fleet expansion plans: Lufthansa is preparing what it calls the largest fleet modernization in company history, adding more than 230 new aircraft by 2030.
• The expansion includes 100 long-haul aircraft as part of the comprehensive fleet upgrade.
• This modernization strategy runs parallel to workforce optimization efforts, suggesting the airline is betting on technology-driven growth.

Company context: Lufthansa Group operates as a globally integrated aviation conglomerate with diverse business units and substantial scale.
• The company employed 101,709 people in 2024 and generated revenue of 37.6 billion euros ($44 billion).
• Its portfolio includes network airlines, point-to-point carrier Eurowings, and various service companies, with headquarters in Cologne and operational offices in Frankfurt.