Kerosene drives up costs: Lufthansa announces significant increase in flight prices

Lufthansa increased its profit in the third quarter despite having to incur additional kerosene costs of over half a billion euros. For the coming year, CEO Carsten Spohr has announced even higher costs and therefore higher ticket prices.

Lufthansa tickets will become more expensive next year due to high fuel prices: Ticket prices would rise in the double-digit percentage range, Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr announced when presenting the quarterly figures. Lufthansa had to spend over half a billion euros more on jet fuel in the third quarter than in the same period last year. For the year as a whole, the additional costs add up to around two billion euros. The group expects fuel costs to be even higher next year.

Economically, 2026 will be a “particularly challenging year,” Spohr continued - the demand for air travel, on the other hand, has continued to rise despite conflicts and uncertainties. "The situation we find ourselves in globally would have led to business downturns and industry crises in previous years, but things have fundamentally changed." Despite the Iran war, Lufthansa's summer quarter was the highest in terms of sales in the company's entire history and, in terms of profits, "one of the best three quarters we have ever had."

Sales from July to September rose by nine percent compared to the previous year to 12.2 billion euros, while profits grew by 30 percent to 1.26 billion euros. According to Lufthansa, demand was particularly strong for premium tickets to Asia and North America. In addition, the boom in the construction of data centers for artificial intelligence has “significantly boosted” the business of the freight subsidiary Cargo, said Spohr. In addition to the core brand, the Lufthansa Group includes other companies such as Swiss, Brussels and Eurowings.

According to the group, kerosene costs for the current year are expected to amount to 9.3 billion euros. Chief Financial Officer Till Streichert said Lufthansa expects fuel bills next year to be above 2026 levels. “Of course, this can still change, and hopefully for the better, if the geopolitical situation eases,” he added.

Lufthansa slightly reduced its profit expectations for the year as a whole from 1.7 to 2.2 billion euros to 1.7 to 2.0 billion euros.