Reopens First Class Lounge in Munich
Lufthansa has introduced a new complimentary messaging service for passengers on all its intercontinental flights, as the global airline intensifies efforts to improve in-flight connectivity and enhance the overall passenger experience. This includes WhatsApp and other popular social messaging platforms.
As of June 3, 2025, travellers in all Lufthansa classes can now send and receive unlimited text messages and images using their personal devices, regardless of their seating location.
The service, launched with support from Mastercard, enables Lufthansa passengers to access popular messaging apps via their smartphones or tablets throughout the duration of long-haul flights. Users must log in to the FlyNet portal either with their Miles & More loyalty account or a Lufthansa Group Travel ID email address. New users can register during the flight itself to begin chatting instantly.
Lufthansa said the feature responds to strong customer demand, particularly from those wanting to maintain contact with friends and family while in the air. The ability to exchange messages freely while flying enhances travel comfort and connectivity, particularly during long journeys that cross multiple time zones and continents.
The initiative comes as part of the German flag carrier’s broader digital strategy, designed to transform the in-flight experience and align with evolving passenger expectations. The messaging service aims to position Lufthansa as a leader in digital innovation within the airline industry, while reinforcing customer loyalty and satisfaction through high-value services.
None of the large Arabian Gulf carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, or Gulf Air, which pride themselves on an enhanced passenger experience, currently offer a free messaging service for passengers on all their international flights, especially long-haul ones.
First Class Lounge at Munich Airport
Simultaneously, Lufthansa has reopened its First Class Lounge in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport, following an extensive renovation. The refurbished lounge, spanning 1,000 square metres, features a modern and minimalist design, complemented by new amenities that elevate the premium travel experience.
Lufthansa travellers flying First Class can now enjoy a new gastronomic concept, featuring an à la carte restaurant, a live cooking buffet, and a redesigned bar serving premium beverages. The lounge also features private rest areas, high-spec workspaces equipped with printers and copiers, as well as curated entertainment zones offering televisions, newspapers, and magazines in multiple languages.
Open daily from 05:00 to 22:00, the revamped lounge is part of Lufthansa’s ongoing premium service overhaul. The enhancements are intended to attract high-end travellers and underscore Lufthansa’s commitment to maintaining premium standards in one of Europe’s most important aviation hubs.
Lufthansa also announced that its new Allegris First Class product will debut this summer on its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, flying from Munich to major global destinations including Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Shanghai and Bengaluru. The Allegris cabins will feature fully enclosed suites, including the innovative “Suite Plus,” designed for couples or solo passengers seeking the highest levels of comfort and privacy in the air.
The product rollout and lounge reopening are seen as key elements of Lufthansa’s premium offensive, as it competes with Gulf carriers and global rivals for affluent customers in the long-haul market. The Munich upgrades are expected to boost the city’s status as a central European aviation hub, reinforcing Lufthansa’s dual-hub strategy alongside Frankfurt.
Jürgen Weber mourned
Meanwhile, the airline is mourning the loss of Jürgen Weber, the former CEO and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, who passed away on May 12, 2025, at the age of 83.
Weber, widely regarded as the architect of Lufthansa’s modern transformation, joined the company as an engineer in 1967 and rose swiftly through the ranks. He served as CEO from 1991 to 2003, overseeing a critical period of restructuring, privatisation, and strategic repositioning during a time of intense global competition. He later chaired the Supervisory Board until 2013 and remained Honorary Chairman until his death.
Under Weber’s leadership, Lufthansa became a founding member of the Star Alliance, now the world’s largest global airline network. He also championed the expansion of Frankfurt Airport and was instrumental in steering the airline through financial turbulence in the early 1990s, restoring its competitiveness and securing its long-term future.
Karl Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, hailed Weber’s legacy, stating that Lufthansa’s current position would not be possible without his vision and leadership. “He understood the unifying power of air travel,” Kley said, adding that Weber shaped both the business and the culture of the airline.
Current Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr also paid tribute, calling him “Mr Lufthansa.” Spohr noted that Weber’s decisions in the 1990s continue to influence the company’s direction and strategy. “We at Lufthansa owe Jürgen Weber a debt of gratitude,” Spohr said. “Our thoughts are now with his family.”
Image: Travellers in all Lufthansa classes can now send and receive unlimited text messages and images using their personal devices, regardless of their seating location. Credit: Lufthansa
