Lufthansa Group Appoints New Leaders at Edelweiss, Eurowings and City Airlines in 2026

Germany & Switzerland – European aviation group Lufthansa Group has appointed new executives to lead Edelweiss, Eurowings, and Lufthansa City Airlines starting October and November 2026.

• Edi Wolfensberger will become Chief Executive Officer of Edelweiss on October 1, 2026; Matthias Spohr will become Chief Operating Officer of Eurowings on the same date; and Michael Kircher will become CEO and Accountable Manager of Lufthansa City Airlines on November 1.
• Wolfensberger will succeed Bernd Bauer, who will leave the Lufthansa Group after leading Edelweiss since 2014 and serving concurrently as CEO of Discover Airlines between 2022 and 2025. Wolfensberger is currently Eurowings COO and previously served as Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland and as COO and Accountable Manager of Brussels Airlines.
• Spohr will succeed Wolfensberger at Eurowings after heading Lufthansa Aviation Training since 2021.
• Spohr previously served as Head of Fleet at Germanwings and led flight operations at Eurowings. He holds an Airbus A320-family instructor qualification and continues to operate as a Lufthansa Airlines captain alongside his management responsibilities.
• Kircher will join Lufthansa City Airlines from Austrian Airlines, where he serves as Nominated Person Crew Training, Head of Training and an Airbus A320-family captain. He has also temporarily served as Austrian Airlines’ Accountable Manager.
• Kircher will additionally become Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH. He will succeed Peter Albers, who will return to concentrating fully on his role as a Lufthansa Airlines captain after leading Lufthansa City Airlines since October 2024.
• Edelweiss operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A320-family aircraft, three A340-300s and four A350-900s. Two additional A350s are expected by the end of 2026, while six A320neos are being introduced between 2026 and 2028.
• Eurowings operates Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321 and A321neo aircraft. The airline is scheduled to introduce 40 Boeing 737-8s from 2027.
• Lufthansa City Airlines operates Airbus A319 and A320neo aircraft. Lufthansa Group’s June 2026 investor presentation said City Airlines, Discover Airlines and other platforms would receive 14 additional aircraft during 2026 as the group shifts a larger proportion of narrowbody operations to newer airline structures.

Statements

• “Throughout his exceptional career within the Lufthansa Group, Bernd Bauer has played a decisive role in advancing the Group’s leisure airline business and has thereby made a significant contribution to the success of the Group as a whole. He successfully steered Discover Airlines through a challenging period and developed Edelweiss into a flagship airline within the Lufthansa Group—always demonstrating entrepreneurial vision and courage, passion, a strong team spirit and outstanding leadership qualities. Through his excellent management, Bernd Bauer laid the foundations for sustainable—and therefore successful—growth at both airlines.” - Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group
• “Peter Albers assumed responsibility during a challenging period and, together with his team, successfully developed Lufthansa City Airlines following its establishment. From its foundation and the start of operations to the present day, he has shaped Lufthansa Aviation. With determination, creativity and a clear objective, he laid the foundations for strong and sustainable growth at City Airlines in the future. I look forward to working with Michael Kircher, who has achieved a great deal at Austrian Airlines and will use his experience and expertise to successfully develop Lufthansa City Airlines further.” - Heiko Reitz, Member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines

Source: Lufthansa Group