Lufthansa, a German airline group, has announced plans to cut around 4,000 administrative jobs by 2030, citing duplication of work and a drive towards digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence.
The move, unveiled on Monday during the company’s first group-wide Capital Markets Day in six years, will primarily affect roles in Germany. Crucially, pilots, cabin crew and other frontline staff will not be impacted. Lufthansa stressed that the reductions will be made in close consultation with employee representatives and in line with Germany’s labour laws.
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“The Lufthansa Group is reviewing which activities will no longer be necessary in the future, for example due to duplication of work,” the company said in a statement. “In particular, the profound changes brought about by digitalisation and the increased use of artificial intelligence will lead to greater efficiency in many areas and processes.”
The job cuts amount to nearly 20 percent of Lufthansa’s non-operational workforce, according to Reuters. The airline employs about 103,000 people across its subsidiaries, which include SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, and the recently acquired ITA Airways, the Italian flag carrier.
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At the investor event, Lufthansa’s management outlined plans to deepen cooperation among its “Network Airlines” to simplify decision-making and improve the management of short- and medium-haul routes. The group hopes to sharpen responsibilities across its sprawling structure, integrating systems and processes that currently overlap.
Lufthansa also set new financial targets for 2028 to 2030, including an adjusted operating margin of between 8 and 10 percent, signalling confidence that the cuts will help strengthen profitability in the longer term.
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Analysts have warned, however, that aggressive workforce reductions could carry risks. Delays in aircraft deliveries and cabin upgrades, some say, may undermine the airline’s modernisation plans and affect service quality.
