Lufthansa strengthens its ties with Swiss

To win back frustrated passengers, the Lufthansa Group recently added additional buffers to its flight schedule. This resulted in increased punctuality and better ratings – albeit at the expense of fleet productivity. While competitors like IAG and Air France-KLM were able to increase their profits in the first half of the year, the Lufthansa Group's premium airlines, with the exception of Swiss, slipped into the red.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is now drawing the necessary conclusions. Under the project name «Matrix Next Level», key responsibilities are to be transferred to the company headquarters starting in early 2026, according to the German newspaper «Handelsblatt» (subscription). The plan is for decisions regarding network planning, sales, and frequent flyer programs to be made in Frankfurt in the future. Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines will remain in charge of their onboard experience — from the cabin layout to the level of service.

Criticism of centralization

The proposal has drawn skepticism. Aviation analyst Gerald Wissel told «Handelsblatt» that holding group airline CEOs accountable for profit while stripping them of control over fleets, flight schedules, and pricing «simply doesn’t make sense.» He warned the plan could relegate the subsidiaries to little more than 'production platforms.

The changes are particularly sensitive for Swiss. The airline is considered a stable profit generator for the group – unlike many of its sister airlines. In a statement, Swiss emphasized that it will actively shape the new structure: «However, it is important for us to emphasize that Swiss will remain a strong airline. In the future, it should continue to be able to make its own decisions regarding its services.»

At the same time, Swiss emphasizes the benefits of being part of the group: Thanks to group synergies, it can invest around one billion Swiss francs annually – a volume that would be virtually impossible to achieve alone. The Lufthansa Group is expected to make a final decision on the redistribution of responsibilities in September. Only then will it become clear whether headquarters in Frankfurt will push through its centralization plans — and how much autonomy Swiss will actually retain.