Writing stories, moving worlds
Travel is part of life: We are constantly on the move – going to work, on vacation, visiting family and friends, or simply heading into the unknown. On every journey, we gather new impressions, meet people, grow from our experiences, and discover new perspectives. As a result, some places become iconic destinations for us – cities that shape us and with which we forever associate special events.
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Some cities have been associated with us for decades: with inaugural flights, new routes, special moments on board and on the ground. In this way, they become iconic destinations that reflect our development – from our early propeller planes to today’s global route network.
Rediscover these places with us and experience why they have a very special meaning for Lufthansa – yesterday, today and in the future too.
Berlin – it is one of the great iconic destinations and very special to us. After all, it was here in 1926 that the first Lufthansa was founded, still called Luft Hansa at the time. And even though we weren't allowed to fly to Berlin after World War II until reunification, the city on the Spree always remained in our hearts. Chancellor Willy Brandt christened one of our Boeing 707s "Berlin" in 1960, and many more aircraft followed.
Since 1990, Berlin has finally been part of our route network again. And you should definitely visit Berlin sometime – this city offers iconic moments in abundance.
Rio de Janeiro: Party like World Cup winners
Rio de Janeiro not only attracts visitors with its impressive sights – this spectacular city, which has rhythm in its blood, encourages you to celebrate life at every opportunity, whether during Carnival or in everyday life. The first Lufthansa was already part of the early airmail routes to South America in the 1930s, before the second Lufthansa began flying passengers from Germany to South America from 1956 onwards.
Zurich: The power of beginnings
Zurich has never been particularly loud – but always of great importance. Here, elegant calm meets lakes, mountains, and design festivals; you can be in nature in minutes and yet still be in the heart of an international city with a high quality of life.
For us, Zurich represents part of our history: Luft Hansa's very first regular scheduled flight landed here in 1926, bringing Europe a little closer together. An important starting point for our now global route network and an iconic destination, innovative and stylish, to which we still love to fly you 100 years later.
Cologne: “What will be, will be”
Cologne may be old, but it's anything but old-fashioned – quite the opposite: This friendly city warmly invites you to celebrate the Rhineland way of life and to be open to the future every single day. An attitude we share!
Full of optimism and drive, Luftag was founded here in 1953. One year later, it became the new Lufthansa, whose headquarters were located directly on the beautiful banks of the Rhine from 1970 to 2007, with a view of Cologne Cathedral. Now that's an iconic birthplace that deserves a toast with a glass of Kölsch!
While in the 1930s Luft Hansa was still exploring routes across the North Atlantic with test flights, the dream of a permanent connection became a reality in 1955: The first transatlantic flight of the new Lufthansa to the Big Apple was, in a sense, Germany's rapprochement to the world. A 20-hour flight on a Lockheed Super Constellation, guests of honor on board, and a special gift: roses from the garden of West German Chancellor Adenauer to US President Eisenhower as a symbol of gratitude and peace. In the following years, we regularly crossed “the pond” again with long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 707. And today? We fly you to the city that never sleeps several times a day.
Vancouver: Adventure calls
Surrounded by mountains, Vancouver deftly combines nature and urban life – an outdoor city between ocean, skyline, and rainforest, where you can be on your board in the morning and dine in the city in the evening. A city that is forward-looking and open-minded, as demonstrated in 1986 with the Expo 86 World Fair; its status as a world city was reaffirmed in 2010 when it hosted the Winter Olympics.
And, again and again, Lufthansa is right in the middle of it all. For us, Vancouver is an iconic city where spectacular scenery, top sporting achievements, and our long-haul network come together.
Paris: Love at first sight
Strolling through the streets, head over heels in love – where better to do that than in Paris? The city embodies everything the heart desires – be that art or cuisine, music or fashion. The French capital has shaped Europe for centuries, and of course, in the last 100 years it has also shaped us.
After our founding in 1955, the scheduled flight to Paris brought us back to the European stage now and again and thus into a new era – after the first Lufthansa had already connected the “City of Love” to Germany in the 1920s. Since then, we have certainly played our part in one or two iconic city breaks with a touch of romance.
Cape Town holds a very iconic importance for us. For 60 years now, we have connected Germany with South Africa. We began operating long-haul flights early on with modern aircraft like the A340, and now also with the new Lufthansa Allegris cabin in the A350-900. This allows you to reach your longed-for destination in comfort and to experience iconic moments for yourself.
London: All the world’s a stage
How about a cup of Earl Grey to start the day? After all, it's the best way to begin the day and get in the right mood in London. Between pubs and royal palaces, you’ll encounter all worlds at once here – especially on the stages of the West End theaters.
Rome: Ah, la dolce vita!
If Rome wasn't built in a day, then obviously a day isn't enough to discover all the icons of this city: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain... the list is endless. A story that has shaped humanity is told at every turn.
The year 1958 was particularly significant for us, as that was when we were able to offer our first scheduled flight to Rome. Decades later, even the Pope entrusted us with taking him home after his visits to Germany. But whoever boards our aircraft: it is always an honor for us to fly you to the Italian capital.
It’s all the more wonderful then, that we have been a part of this future since 1961 when Lufthansa landed in Tokyo with a Boeing 707. This continued an interesting story: As early as 1938, a spectacular record flight by Luft Hansa from Berlin to Tokyo took place in just 46 hours – with a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor. An impressive flight time for conditions in those days. And we’re still certain of one thing: We would like to fly you to Tokyo in the next 100 years as well, although we’ve got somewhat faster since then.
Beijing: Incomparable, unforgettable
Beijing combines millennia of history with electrifying modernity. Magnificent temples meet avant-garde architecture, quiet hutong alleyways meet vibrant boulevards. To experience Beijing is to experience China: powerful, imposing, unforgettable.
A look into our past reveals a long history with this iconic city: As early as 1926, Luft Hansa explored a connection from Berlin to what was then Peking on its legendary East Asia expedition.
Frankfurt: The sky’s the limit
Financial metropolis, the city of Goethe, “Mainhattan” – and far more than just an airport. The heart of our airline beats here. Since the dawn of the Jet Age, we have been taking off from Frankfurt into the world and taking you to your dream destinations.
"Super Stars" with propellers or later "wonder birds" such as the Boeing 707 and the Boeing 747 "Queen of the Skies" – its location in the heart of Europe makes Frankfurt, with its iconic home base code FRA, the perfect transit point between North America, Asia, Africa, and all of Europe.
Munich: In a great mood
Munich sometimes seems like a Bavarian paradox: Lederhosen and laptops, beer gardens and business parks – “ja mei!” ("oh my!"), as the locals say. At least the Bavarian capital always manages to unite all these apparent contradictions perfectly with joie de vivre and charm. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Alps, it’s little wonder: here, every ray of sunshine reflects directly onto the city, putting everyone in a good mood.
Furthermore, this is where our second largest hub is located: While Frankfurt serves as a global mega-hub, Munich is our second home – a 5-star airport with a special service focus. Here, Bavarian hospitality meets precisely timed transfers, short distances to the gates meet spacious, light-flooded terminals. Thanks to our close partnership, the airport has developed into one of the most important European hubs, from which numerous direct flights depart to destinations all over the world. Passengers who fly via Munich experience a particularly personal side of Lufthansa: with attentive staff, short distances, and a relaxed atmosphere. Thus, the city becomes a stage on which we write new, iconic Lufthansa stories with you every day.
Where would you like to experience your iconic moment?
Plenty of room for your iconic moments
For 100 years we have been connecting cities, continents, and people – but our destinations only become truly iconic through the stories you experience there. Each marker on this map represents a special moment: the first glimpse of a skyline, the sound of the sea, a reunion at the gate, or the start of a new chapter. With every flight, we continue writing on this world map of memories together – destination by destination, moment by moment. Choose your next point on the map and join us in saying “Yes” – to your next iconic moment.
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