Speaking at a forum for business journalists on Thursday evening, Spohr noted that while the airline's performance in the first quarter of the year surpassed that of the previous year, forward-looking trends indicate a "levelling-off" as the year progresses.
The Lufthansa Group—which encompasses Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss, and Italy’s ITA Airways—currently operates around 60 flights daily to destinations across the United States. Despite the projected dip in Europe-to-U.S. demand, Spohr pointed to a compensating rise in demand originating from the U.S. market. Higher fares on that side of the Atlantic are also contributing positively to the group’s transatlantic business.
In response, Lufthansa plans to adjust its sales strategy by increasing the proportion of seats marketed within the United States to better capture premium-paying customers and mitigate the softer outbound European traffic.
Spohr also reaffirmed that Lufthansa's ongoing corporate restructuring is progressing as planned. The transformation initiative is expected to yield a gross profit contribution of approximately €1.5 billion ($1.73 billion) by 2026, positioning the airline for greater operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness in a dynamic global aviation market.
As airlines continue to adapt to post-pandemic travel patterns and economic headwinds, Lufthansa's strategic shifts signal a cautious yet proactive approach to maintaining momentum in one of its most vital international corridors.