Lufthansa Marks 100 Years with Special Anniversary Flights on 6 April

Historic Routes Recreated Between Berlin, Zurich and Cologne

Lufthansa is marking 100 years since its first flights with a series of commemorative operations on 6 April 2026, coinciding with Easter Monday.

The date reflects the airline’s early history, when the first flights of “Luft Hansa” departed from Berlin on 6 April 1926. A century later, the airline is recreating elements of those original journeys through special flights and events.

Anniversary Flights and Event in Berlin

On Monday morning, two long-haul aircraft departed from Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich to Berlin. A Boeing 787-9 operated from Frankfurt, while an Airbus A350-900 departed from Munich.

More than 400 passengers were on board, including Lufthansa Group employees, invited guests, and media representatives. Both aircraft featured a blue livery with a white crane motif to mark the anniversary.

A separate event is being held at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, where over 600 guests are expected to attend the commemorative programme.

Recreating the 1926 Routes

The original flights on 6 April 1926 included a service from Berlin-Tempelhof to Zurich and another from Berlin to Cologne. The Zurich flight carried a newly married couple, while the Cologne service had one passenger.

To mark the centenary, Lufthansa is recreating these routes with two modern aircraft departing Berlin at approximately 3:00 p.m. The Boeing 787 (flight LH1926) is operating to Zurich, while the Airbus A350 (flight LH2026) is flying to Cologne.

The flights will follow similar paths to the original routes, passing over cities such as Halle, Erfurt and Stuttgart en route to Zurich, and Magdeburg on the way to Cologne. Unlike in 1926, these are direct flights, with intermediate locations serving only as aerial waypoints.

Public Interest and Participation

Spectators are expected at the airport’s visitor terrace in Berlin to observe the parallel departures. Additional interest is anticipated in Zurich and Cologne as the aircraft arrive.

Tickets for the commemorative flights were made available in advance and sold out shortly after release, reflecting public interest in the anniversary event.