Lufthansa has officially withdrawn its nonstop Berlin-New York service, citing operational challenges and inefficient scheduling, as reported by leading industry sources.
This transatlantic route, originally launched in response to AirBerlin’s insolvency in late 2017, featured five weekly Airbus A330 flights connecting Berlin Tegel Airport with New York JFK. The service was introduced to fill a significant gap in direct connectivity between the two cities after the exit of a major competitor.
According to Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr, the flight timings did not align with passenger demand, resulting in unsatisfactory load factors and financial performance. Despite investing in premium onboard amenities, the airline struggled to achieve sustainable yields on this route.
Lufthansa had explored the possibility of transferring the Berlin-New York connection to its low-cost arm, Eurowings, but was unable to secure the necessary landing slots at JFK to make the transfer commercially viable.