Lufthansa has solidified its position as the fifth-largest airline operating between Europe and the United States, according to data from the US Department of Transportation. Between June 2024 and May 2025, the airline transported a total of 5.3 million round-trip passengers on its routes. This figure falls behind only Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and British Airways, demonstrating Lufthansa’s significant role in transatlantic travel.
The majority of Lufthansa’s transatlantic passengers originated from its primary hub at Frankfurt Airport, which is recognized as the world’s sixth-busiest airport for long-haul services. Out of the total, approximately 3.3 million passengers, or 62%, traveled via Frankfurt. This article focuses specifically on the performance of Lufthansa’s Frankfurt to US routes during this period.
High Load Factors on Key Routes
Lufthansa operated a total of 18 routes from Frankfurt to the US during the specified timeframe. These flights achieved an average seat load factor of 84.4%, indicating a strong demand for travel on these routes. Notably, this performance surpasses the 81.9% load factor recorded from its secondary hub in Munich, where the airline often utilizes the larger Airbus A380 aircraft, which can accommodate more passengers.
The following routes from Frankfurt exhibited particularly high load factors, indicating strong passenger demand:
– **Los Angeles**: 89.1% load factor with approximately 270,000 round-trip passengers
– **Miami**: 88.9% load factor with around 233,000 round-trip passengers
– **San Francisco**: 88.5% load factor with 226,000 passengers
– **Denver**: 87.4% load factor with 158,000 passengers
This success reflects Lufthansa’s strategic route planning and market responsiveness, particularly in high-demand areas.
Routes Facing Challenges
Despite strong overall performance, some routes experienced below-average loads. Several of these routes have not met the average load factor of 84.4%. The route between Frankfurt and Minneapolis notably struggled, with a load factor of just 70.5%. This route was only introduced in June 2024 and discontinued in April 2025, a decision influenced by its lower yield.
In its final months, the Minneapolis route faced particularly low demand during the winter, with load factors dropping to 49.8% in November and 42.2% in February. Subsequently, Lufthansa transferred operations to its leisure-focused subsidiary, Discover, which aims to optimize performance during the summer season with fewer flights.
Other routes with below-average load factors included:
– **Washington Dulles**: 83.9% load factor
– **Dallas/Fort Worth**: 83.4% load factor
– **New York JFK**: 82.7% load factor
While these routes may not have achieved high load factors, they often contribute significantly to the airline’s overall network and profitability.
Lufthansa made a noteworthy entry into the St. Louis market in June 2022, becoming the only long-haul operator at the airport. Over three years, the airline has maintained three weekly flights to St. Louis using the A330-300 aircraft, which accommodates 255 passengers. In the past year, Lufthansa carried around 66,000 round-trip passengers on this route, with a considerable portion connecting to other flights in Frankfurt.
The most popular connecting markets for passengers from St. Louis included Germany, Italy, India, Switzerland, and France. Due to its significant Bosnian population, Sarajevo emerged as the top destination from St. Louis, followed by Hyderabad, Zagreb, Munich, and Budapest.
In summary, Lufthansa’s operations from Frankfurt to the US demonstrate robust demand reflected in high load factors on many routes, while also highlighting the challenges faced on select services. The airline’s strategic adjustments and focus on high-demand markets will likely shape its future performance in the transatlantic market.
