Record summer operations and cost control drive performance; employee satisfaction hits all-time high
The Lufthansa Group reported an operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) of €1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2025, matching last year’s result and marking another strong performance. Revenues rose 4% year-on-year to €11.2 billion, making it the highest-revenue quarter in the company’s history.
For the first nine months of the year, Adjusted EBIT climbed by €300 million to €1.5 billion, supported by improved cost discipline and strong summer demand. The Group also generated €1.8 billion in adjusted free cash flow, nearly double last year’s level, while net debt fell to €5.1 billion.
CEO Carsten Spohr said the third quarter reflected a “turning point” for the Group:
“We had our best operational summer in a decade, with over 99% schedule regularity and a double-digit improvement in punctuality. Passenger and employee satisfaction both reached record highs, and our cost measures are clearly paying off.”
Passenger airlines carried 42 million travellers, up from 40 million last year, with an average load factor of 87.5%. Lower fuel costs, improved efficiency, and the absence of strike-related disruptions helped lift results, despite competitive pricing in Europe and softer North Atlantic demand.
Lufthansa Cargo maintained its positive trend, posting an operating profit of €49 million for the quarter. Meanwhile, Lufthansa Technik saw a decline in profit to €130 million due to tariffs and currency effects.
CFO Till Streichert reaffirmed the Group’s full-year guidance, noting strong advance bookings for Q4 and ongoing cost improvements under the Lufthansa Airlines Turnaround Programme:
“We remain on track for a significant increase in earnings this year, with further disciplined capacity growth and long-haul focus in 2026.”
Employee engagement also reached record levels, with the Group-wide satisfaction index hitting 3.9, the highest since its introduction a decade ago.
Lufthansa expects full-year operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) to significantly exceed last year’s €1.6 billion, with capacity growth around 4% and adjusted free cash flow in line with 2024 levels.