Lufthansa May Sell Some Of Its Aircraft

Lufthansa is looking to sell its Bombardier CRJ-900 regional fleet after it decided earlier this year to accelerate the shutdown of the CityLine division that operated the jets.

In a bid to continue simplifying the operation group-wide, and certainly within the German Lufthansa unit, the reporting flagged by aero.de, among others, would, if implemented, significantly reduce overall costs as higher fuel prices put pressure on bottom lines.

If Lufthansa were to execute the sale, not only would it relieve pressure, but it would also formally end a chapter of operations with the under-100-seat aircraft, a workhorse but a model that’s not for most, as other, more efficient jets have entered commercial service.

The Sudden Shutdown Of Lufthansa CityLine

Amid soaring fuel prices and the backdrop of further unrest in the labour sector, Lufthansa decided in April 2026 to shut down its CityLine division with immediate effect, pulling the plug more than a year early on a previously planned decision.

The German flag-carrier directly blamed the rising fuel price tied to the Iran conflict and, in the past, the many strikes it had faced in its operations, which forced contract renegotiations and spiralled expenses, thereby impacting margins.

As an immediate response, the airline grounded all of its aircraft to stem further losses and, where possible, would work with other airlines to manage the capacity loss, albeit admitting there would still be some impact.

The CRJ-900s have long formed the backbone of the CityLine operation, with over 30 jets operated, and that number was halved by the time the shutdown was confirmed.

A Lufthansa spokesperson has confirmed that a review is ongoing, and the examination of the sale of CRJ aircraft is part of the process to understand what benefits, cost advantages, or drawbacks will result. This comes as internal planning has a future without this type.

Why Say Goodbye To The CRJ-900?

Lufthansa’s decision not just to retire the CRJ-900s, seemingly, but now to seek a sale is not an isolated shutdown but rather aligns more closely with an effort at consolidation and a shift towards newer products felt right across the German flag carrier.

Carsteon Sphor, the CEO of Lufthansa, has said that the closure of CityLine, following past shutdowns, is another step in the strategy to consolidate outside Germany. Removing the CRJ-900s, which have served their purpose, ultimately saves money and reduces complexity within the business.

While the models have served the airline well, they now rank among the oldest and, from a short-haul standpoint, certainly less efficient aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet.

As fuel burn and certainly maintenance costs increase in comparison to much newer models like the inbound Airbus A220 that has been ordered for Lufthansa City Airlines, the replacement of CiyLine, the axing, makes much sense to lower costs.

Group-wide, there has been a clear push to reduce the number of aircraft types to single digits by 2030. That desire means that many aircraft families still need to be axed; with work already done, the shift isn’t over, and the latest-generation models continuing to feed in will make retirements all the easier.

The drive to simplify should mean Europe’s fleet age drops, and Lufthansa is betting on this decision to ensure its smaller subfleets make more strategic sense. Additionally, with a younger, more streamlined fleet, the improved margins should be worth it in the long run as operating cost pressures continue deep into this decade.

With the CRJ-900 value, however, declining, an analysis of storage costs, redeployment, and potential buyers is needed to determine the best outcome for the German airline.