Restructuring events
European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
German airline Lufthansa announced plans to cut around 4,000 administrative jobs globally, with most of the jobs being shed in Germany. The company wants to carry out the job reduction scheme by 2030.
The job cuts are being carried out to reduce costs and to increase revenues. Eliminated positions will partially be replaced by artificial intelligence. Operations will be streamlined across the group with the goal to avoid double structures. Lufthansa will enter negotiations with the social partners regarding the job reduction scheme.
Lufthansa currently employs around 103,000 people worldwide.
The recent as well as previous global restructuring events of Lufthansa are also recorded in the ERM events database: Lufthansa 2025 - WO Lufthansa 2020-WO (39,000 jobs cut); Lufthansa 2022-WO (10,000 jobs cut); Lufthansa 2023-WO (8,000 jobs cut).
Updated, 06/08/2026
Lufthansa began implementing its announced job cuts in July 2026. A total of 550 positions at its core brand, Lufthansa Airlines, as well as in central functions of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, are being eliminated. Under the voluntary exit programme "New Ways" employees are offered settlement agreements with severance packages or paid leave to facilitate a move into external employment.
The programme is based on the principle of mutual consent, meaning that both the employee and the line manager must agree to the arrangement. However, employees are initially approached by their line managers and invited to consider participating in the programme.
Eurofound (2025), Lufthansa, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 203481, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/203481.
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