Lufthansa : Changes to the Top Management of the Lufthansa Group

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The Lufthansa Group is appointing new executives to several leadership positions within its Group companies. Edelweiss Edi Wolfensberger will become the new CEO of the Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss as of 1 October 2026. He will succeed Bernd Bauer, who is leaving the Lufthansa Group. Edi Wolfensberger has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Eurowings to date. The Swiss national began his career in the aviation industry in 2008 at Swiss International Air Lines. In the years that followed, he held numerous leadership positions at various Group companies. For example, he served as Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland and as COO and Accountable Manager of Belgian airline Brussels Airlines. Eurowings Matthias Spohr will succeed Edi Wolfensberger as COO of Eurowings as of 1 October 2026. He has headed Lufthansa Aviation Training since 2021. He has held various management positions within the Lufthansa Group since 2013. Among other roles, he served as Head of Fleet at Germanwings and subsequently headed flight operations at Eurowings. Matthias Spohr holds an instructor licence for the Airbus A320 family. In addition to his management responsibilities, he currently flies as a captain for Lufthansa Airlines. A decision on the appointment of a successor at Lufthansa Aviation Training will be made as soon as possible. Lufthansa City Airlines Michael Kircher will become the new CEO and Accountable Manager of Lufthansa City Airlines as of 1 November 2026. In addition, he will assume the role of Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH. He will succeed Peter Albers, who-as planned for some time-will focus entirely on his role as a captain with Lufthansa Airlines. Michael Kircher joins Lufthansa City Airlines from Austrian Airlines, where he currently serves as Nominated Person Crew Training and Head of Training, as well as a captain on the Airbus A320 family. He also temporarily assumed the role of Accountable Manager at Austrian Airlines on an interim basis. Bernd Bauer , CEO of Edelweiss, will leave the Lufthansa Group as of 1 October 2026. He began his aviation career in 1994 at Crossair and held various leadership positions at SWISS from 2002 onwards before becoming CEO of Edelweiss in 2014. From 2022 to 2025, he also served as CEO of Lufthansa's leisure airline Discover Airlines, successfully positioning the young airline in the German private travel and tourism market. Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group , says: "Throughout his exceptional career within the Lufthansa Group, Bernd Bauer has played a decisive role in advancing the Group's leisure airline business and has thereby made a significant contribution to the success of the Group as a whole. He successfully steered Discover Airlines through a challenging period and developed Edelweiss into a flagship airline within the Lufthansa Group-always demonstrating entrepreneurial vision and courage, passion, a strong team spirit and outstanding leadership qualities. Through his excellent management, Bernd Bauer laid the foundations for sustainable-and therefore successful-growth at both airlines." Peter Albers has served as CEO of Lufthansa City Airlines since October 2024, leading the youngest airline in the Lufthansa Group. He also serves as Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH. Previously, he held numerous leadership roles within the Lufthansa Group. Among other positions, he served as Accountable Manager for Lufthansa Cargo's transport management. Heiko Reitz, Member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines , says: "Peter Albers assumed responsibility during a challenging period and, together with his team, successfully developed Lufthansa City Airlines following its establishment. From its foundation and the start of operations to the present day, he has shaped Lufthansa Aviation. With determination, creativity and a clear objective, he laid the foundations for strong and sustainable growth at City Airlines in the future. I look forward to working with Michael Kircher, who has achieved a great deal at Austrian Airlines and will use his experience and expertise to successfully develop Lufthansa City Airlines further."

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