February 23, 2026, 4:02 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
There used to be more frills in air travel—at least with traditional airlines like Lufthansa. What might now be just a vague memory: Passengers once enjoyed a small snack and a drink of their choice included in the ticket price. Extras that have always been paid for on budget airlines. However, in recent years, Lufthansa has also gradually reduced its services. According to media reports, the airline is now even planning an ultra-budget fare that would include only the basic transportation. TRAVELBOOK inquired with the airline.
Flying is becoming more expensive overall due to rising regulatory costs. Stricter environmental regulations in the EU, in particular, are driving up costs in European air travel. Added to this are the expanded emissions trading and the mandatory blending of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). By 2025, the Lufthansa Group had therefore introduced an environmental surcharge on flight tickets to cover at least part of the additional cost.
In addition, due to increasing competitive pressure, the Lufthansa Group has been working with a differentiated fare structure for some time. It offers different economy options, such as the classic economy fare with baggage, meals, and miles, to the economy light. Here, many additional services are omitted, but a bottle of water, carry-on baggage, and miles are still included. This tiering allows customers to choose a suitable offer according to their needs, and the airline continues to maintain a presence in the downward price competition. And now the airline seems to be considering the next step.
Is Lufthansa Planning an Ultra-Budget Fare?
According to a report by “Aerotelegraph,” which is said to be based on insider information, Lufthansa is considering introducing a new ultra-basic fare. This would be positioned below the current economy light fare and thus include even fewer services. Specifically, only basic transportation with a small carry-on bag would be included.
This could mean that travelers in this booking class would no longer be entitled to meals, checked baggage, or miles in the frequent flyer program—all of which would have to be booked and paid for separately. This concept would align with offerings from low-cost carriers like Ryanair or EasyJet. In fact, a corresponding trend is already emerging in the market: Even with traditional network airlines, the cheapest fares often do not include in-flight meals or checked baggage, but offer these only as paid add-ons. The goal of the airlines is to monetize additional services more individually while offering the lowest possible entry price.
Lufthansa Confirms Nothing Concrete
In response to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry, a spokesperson for the Lufthansa Group stated that existing fares are continuously reviewed and adjusted as needed. However, the company remains tight-lipped about the details of a possible ultra-basic fare: “Which new fares will be introduced and when is still open at this time.” At least officially, no concrete decisions or timelines are yet available.