Lufthansa to Launch and Restore Five Long-Haul Routes
The airline will add new connections to Columbus and Phoenix while restoring flights to Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Air Travel
Live Poll
Should local airports offer financial incentives to attract international airline routes?
Starting March 28, 2027, Lufthansa will expand its international network by launching or resuming five long-haul routes from its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The airline also confirmed that it will discontinue its existing service to Seattle.
Why it matters
The expansion reflects the airline's strategic shift toward new North American markets supported by financial incentives, while its return to Tokyo Narita addresses capacity constraints at Tokyo Haneda Airport.
The new Columbus route is supported by approximately $47 million in incentives and is expected to carry 930 round-trip passengers daily. Flights to Phoenix will cover 5,060 nautical miles using a 293-seat Airbus A350-900.
The players
Lufthansa
Lufthansa is a major German airline and one of the largest carriers in Europe that operates an extensive global network from hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.
The details
Lufthansa will deploy 287-seat Boeing 787-9 aircraft for its three-times-weekly service to Columbus. The carrier last operated the route to Nagoya in 2020 and is now re-establishing service to both Tokyo Narita and Chubu Centrair International Airport.
Timeline
Lufthansa resumes Frankfurt to Tokyo Narita service on March 28, 2027.
Lufthansa resumes Frankfurt to Nagoya service on March 29, 2027.
Lufthansa begins Frankfurt to Columbus service on May 5, 2027.
Lufthansa begins Munich to Phoenix service on August 3, 2027.
Travel Outlook
The resumption of the Frankfurt to Nagoya connection follows the 2020 suspension of the route, reflecting a broader normalization of long-haul flight schedules. This trend signals that airlines are now focusing on restoring legacy links while simultaneously securing new growth markets through incentives.
Travelers looking to book these new routes should anticipate three-times-weekly flight frequencies on the Columbus and Phoenix segments. Passengers should note that while new North American options are launching, service to Seattle will be phased out as part of this network adjustment.
The takeaway
Lufthansa is prioritizing a mix of new incentives-backed destinations and the restoration of key Japanese hubs to optimize its long-haul capacity. Travelers should review their existing bookings to Seattle, as those services will be discontinued under the new schedule.
Further reading
For more updates on airline network strategies, visit Air Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Simple Flying.
Live Poll
Should local airports offer financial incentives to attract international airline routes?
