Lufthansa says it will cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 as recession and AI reshape aviation sector

German airline group Lufthansa will cut 4,000 jobs by 2030, mostly in Germany, as it seeks to reduce costs and adapt to new technologies, AFP reported.

The cuts will mainly hit administrative staff. Lufthansa currently employs around 103,000 people worldwide and operates airlines including Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, which it recently acquired as Italy’s new flagship carrier.

Decision comes amid economic backdrop

The decision comes as Germany endures its second consecutive year of recession, with unemployment at its highest level in a decade. Companies are grappling with rising energy costs, competition from China, and slow progress in digital transformation.

Just days earlier, Bosch said it would slash 13,000 jobs worldwide, equal to 3 per cent of its workforce.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence

Lufthansa said in a statement, “The Lufthansa Group is reviewing which activities will no longer be necessary in the future, for example due to duplication of work.”

It added, “The profound changes brought about by digitalisation and the increased use of artificial intelligence will lead to greater efficiency in many areas and processes.”

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Future targets

The company has also set new financial goals for 2028 to 2030, aiming for an adjusted operating margin of 8 per cent to 10 per cent. The cuts reflect its effort to remain competitive in a rapidly changing aviation industry while bracing for tough economic conditions in Germany and Europe.