Lufthansa arrival offers a new world of options for MSP travelers

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, Minn. — Germany’s national carrier, Lufthansa, launched its first-ever service from Minnesota on June 4 — a year-round route that adds an important new global connection between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and the airline’s Frankfurt (FRA) hub in Germany.  

Lufthansa becomes the 19th airline operating at MSP and the airport’s first new transatlantic carrier in more than four years. The new service launched just as summer travel season kicks off with high demand from MSP to European destinations.  

The service brings residents of the Upper Midwest important new connections via Lufthansa’s route structure to Europe, Africa and Asia. Lufthansa is a founding member of Star Alliance, the largest network of airlines in the world. In 2023, Lufthansa carried 60.3 million passengers on 455,000 flights. With hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, the airline flies to more than 200 destinations in 80 countries worldwide.

“We are excited to welcome Lufthansa to MSP as our newest international airline,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which owns and operates MSP. “This new service addresses growing demand for travel to Germany and other European destinations. More than 35,500 passengers are projected to travel from MSP to Germany, while nearly 365,000 are expected to fly to Europe from MSP. Lufthansa not only helps meet that demand, but also gives passengers new options for reaching other parts of the globe.”

“We are thrilled to connect the vibrant Twin Cities, and the entire state of Minnesota, with Lufthansa’s Frankfurt hub, offering a direct link for Minneapolis-St. Paul residents to Lufthansa Group's extensive network across Europe and beyond,” said Dirk Janzen, Lufthansa Group’s vice president of passenger sales for the Americas. “The launch of this route serves as a main bedrock of our summer expansion plan in the United States, the most important market outside of the Group’s home markets, and we could not be happier to add more opportunities and capacity into and out of the U.S.”

The arrival of Lufthansa is the most recent success for the MAC and the GREATER MSP Regional Air Services Partnership (RASP). This partnership of more than 30 companies and the MAC formed in 2017 to enhance globally competitive air service at MSP.

“Lufthansa is an important new addition connecting the Upper Midwest business community to markets and business hubs around the world,” said MAC Chair Rick King. “This addition is due in part to the vision and collaboration of our business community. We thank all those at the MAC and our partner organizations who helped make this possible.”

Lufthansa will service the route five days a week with a 294-seat Boeing 787-9 widebody aircraft.