Lufthansa is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026 with a special “anniversary fleet” of aircraft in commemorative liveries, but I cannot help but feel this project is putting fresh paint on deeper unresolved problems within the airline.
On one level, this is fun. I like special liveries. I like the crane. I like the nod to history. British Airways did an excellent job with its 100th anniversary, rolling out several retro schemes that tapped into genuine nostalgia in a way that felt both respectful and deliberate. Lufthansa already has a couple of retro jets flying around that look fantastic and actually tell a story about the airline’s visual identity over time. It could easily have leaned more heavily into that heritage. Instead, we are getting a new graphic treatment that, while attractive enough, feels more like a new branding than a true celebration of history. But the design is actually just fine…
The bigger issue for me is timing. Lufthansa is talking up this anniversary fleet while its long-haul product strategy remains a mess. Allegris, the supposed next-generation cabin concept, has been repeatedly delayed, introduced in fits and starts, and still leaves many passengers confused about what they will actually get when they step on board. Business class is wildly inconsistent across the fleet. First class remains a niche product on a handful of aircraft with no clear long-term roadmap. For a premium European flag carrier, the gap between the marketing story and the onboard reality is striking, and it has only gotten worse over the last few years.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
