Summary

  • Lufthansa’s shortest international routes are under 200 miles, primarily from Munich (MUC) and Frankfurt (FRA).
  • Routes to Prague and Zurich are popular with multiple daily flights operated by Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine.
  • Lufthansa CityLine operates shorter routes using smaller aircraft like the Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet.

Lufthansa Group is the second largest airline in Europe, having served 123 million passengers in 2023, second only to its low-cost competitor Ryanair, as per CAPA data. As the German flag carrier, Lufthansa operates numerous subsidiaries that manage both regional and international routes.

This analysis will take a closer look at Lufthansa’s shortest international routes using July 2024 data from an aviation analytics company Cirium. These routes primarily span the central part of Europe, taking off from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Munich Airport (MUC), the airline’s main hubs. As it stands, the carrier’s shortest international routes don’t extend beyond 200 miles.

6

Lufthansa: Munich (MUC) to Prague (PRG)

Flight distance: 165 miles (265 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 1,482,360
  • Seats: 8,984
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 62

Starting the list is Lufthansa’s route between Munich Airport (MUC) and Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport (PRG). Covering 165 miles, this route is one of the most popular short international routes in Lufthansa’s July 2024 schedule, with 62 scheduled flights for the month.

The MUC to PRG route

Photo: Great Circle Mapper

The flight between the two cities takes just half an hour, according to Flightradar24.com. Lufthansa typically deploys its fleet of Airbus A319 aircraft on this route.

5

Lufthansa CityLine: Munich (MUC) to Prague (PRG)

Flight distance: 165 miles (265 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 522,720
  • Seats: 3,168
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 25

Fifth on the list is the airline group’s route between Munich and Prague once again. However, the difference is that this same short international route is operated by Lufthansa’s regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine.

A Lufthansa CityLine Bombardier CRJ-900 taking off

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

This route, operated by CityLine, covers fewer available seat miles (ASMs), totaling 522,720, and offers fewer flights, with just 25 scheduled in July 2024. In addition to its Airbus A319s, Lufthansa’s regional arm also often deploys its Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet between the two cities.

4

Lufthansa: Munich (MUC) to Zurich (ZRH)

Flight distance: 162 miles (260 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 131,544
  • Seats: 812
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 5

The Munich Airport (MUC) to Zurich Airport (ZRH) route comes as Lufthansa’s fourth shortest international route, covering just 162 miles (260 kilometers). In July 2024, the German carrier has scheduled just five flights and will offer 812 seats.

A Lufthansa Airbus A319 taking off

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

As it stands, Lufthansa operates its Airbus A319s on this route. The airline’s Airbus A319 aircraft can accommodate a total of 126 passengers in a two-class cabin: 24 in business and 102 in economy, as per ch-aviation data.

3

Lufthansa CityLine: Munich (MUC) to Zurich (ZRH)

Flight distance: 162 miles (260 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 2,090,772
  • Seats: 12,906
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 112

In the middle of the list is the route between Munich and Zurich once again. This route is operated by Lufthansa’s regional carrier, CityLine, and is one of the most popular short international routes in its schedule. The airline has 112 flights lined up for July 2024, covering 2,090,772 ASMs.

The MUC to ZRH route

Photo: Great Circle Mapper

Not surprisingly, the German regional carrier typically deploys its fleet of Bombardier CRJ-900 jets on this route. The carrier’s CRJ-900s can accommodate a total of 90 passengers in a single-class cabin, according to ch-aviation data.

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2

Lufthansa: Frankfurt (FRA) to Strasbourg (SXB)

Flight distance: 112 miles (180 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 15,456
  • Seats: 138
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 1

The least popular route on Lufthansa’s July 2024 schedule is also one of the shortest, as per Cirium data. The German national airline offers just one flight between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Strasbourg Airport (SXB). Covering a distance of only 112 miles (180 kilometers), the flight typically takes just 40 minutes.

The FRA to SXB route

Photo: Great Circle Mapper

Lufthansa usually deploys its Airbus A319s on this route. According to ch-aviation data, the carrier currently has a total of 35 A319s in its fleet. It is worth noting that Lufthansa’s regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, has 12 A319s in its fleet, which are also commonly used for short-haul regional routes.

1

Lufthansa CityLine: Frankfurt (FRA) to Luxembourg (LUX)

Flight distance: 109 miles (175 kilometers)

  • Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 305,200
  • Seats: 2,800
  • Number of flights in July 2024: 31

Lufthansa’s shorter international route is between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Luxembourg Findel Airport (LUX), covering just 109 miles (175 kilometers). This international route is operated by Lufthansa CityLine.

The FRA to LUX route

Photo: Great Circle Mapper

The airline will offer a relatively busy schedule with 31 flights during the peak of summer travel in July 2024. With these 31 planned flights, the German carrier will offer 2,800 seats and cover 305,200 ASMs. Notably, Lufthansa’s regional arm uses both its fleet of Bombardier CRJ-900s and Embraer E190 regional jets, as per Flightradar24.com.

The carrier’s Embraer E190 jets can seat up to 100 passengers in a two-class cabin: eight in business and 92 in economy.

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What are your thoughts on Lufthansa’s shortest international routes? Have you ever flown on one of these routes? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below.


  • Tom Boon-169

    Lufthansa

    Region:
    Europe

    Loyalty Program:
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