Lufthansa is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, marking a century since the founding of the original Luft Hansa on 6 January 1926, followed by its first flight a few months later. The milestone reflects not only Lufthansa’s longevity as one of aviation’s most recognisable brands but also its ongoing ambitions as it enters its second century of operations under the anniversary motto “We are the Journey.”
The centennial year is designed as both a celebration of Lufthansa’s heritage and a forward-looking statement. Lufthansa is commemorating its pioneering role in global aviation by reflecting on its achievements and challenges over the decades, including confronting its history during the Nazi era through historical research and transparency. The celebrations span experiences for customers, employees, and aviation enthusiasts worldwide, reinforcing the airline’s identity and role in connecting people and cultures.
A central, visible component of the centennial celebrations is Lufthansa’s special 100th-anniversary liveries applied to key aircraft across its fleet. The liveries are dominated by a deep blue fuselage featuring an enlarged white crane motif, Lufthansa’s historic emblem created in 1918, whose wings visually merge with the aircraft’s own wing structure. The design incorporates “100” branding on the left side of the fuselage, the years “1926 / 2026” on the right, and another “100” on the underside, visible from below. Rather than a one-off exceptional paint job, Lufthansa is rolling out an entire “anniversary fleet.” One aircraft from each of six major sub-fleets is to be repainted during 2026:
- Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (first delivered and repainted)
- Airbus A380
- Airbus A350-1000
- Airbus A350-900
- Airbus A320 family aircraft
- Boeing 747-8
This broad representation ensures the centenary design appears across both long-haul flagships and core network equipment.
The first aircraft to wear the new centenary livery, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (registration D-ABPU) named “Berlin”, arrived at Frankfurt Airport in late December 2025 and is expected to enter scheduled service in early 2026. Enthusiasts, passengers, and Lufthansa staff greeted the aircraft’s arrival, underscoring its role as a symbolic ambassador for the airline’s centenary year.
The anniversary design was developed to reflect both Lufthansa’s tradition and future aspirations: The crane motif, historically part of Lufthansa’s identity, has been reinterpreted to create a visually striking, modern aesthetic that still evokes the brand’s heritage and values of reliability, freedom, and global connectivity. By extending the special livery across multiple major aircraft types, Lufthansa maximises visibility of the centennial brand message worldwide and creates a unified visual narrative for the anniversary year.
As 2026 unfolds, additional anniversary-liveried aircraft are expected to enter service, becoming flying symbols of Lufthansa’s century-long journey while supporting broader marketing, customer engagement, and heritage storytelling throughout the year.
Image: Lufthansa Group