Lufthansa Group has highlighted a series of senior executive appointments across its airline businesses, with leadership changes at Edelweiss, Eurowings and Lufthansa City Airlines set to take effect between October and November 2026. The appointments form part of the Group’s ongoing leadership succession strategy to support future growth and operational excellence.
Edi Wolfensberger named CEO of Edelweiss
Edi Wolfensberger will take over as CEO of Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss from 1st October 2026, succeeding Bernd Bauer, who will depart the Lufthansa Group after a long aviation career.
Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer of Eurowings, Wolfensberger joined the aviation sector in 2008 with Swiss International Air Lines and has since held several leadership positions within the Lufthansa Group. His previous assignments include Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland and COO and Accountable Manager at Brussels Airlines.
Matthias Spohr to become Eurowings COO
Matthias Spohr has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Eurowings, from 1st October 2026, replacing Wolfensberger.
Spohr has led Lufthansa Aviation Training since 2021 and has held a range of management roles within the Lufthansa Group since 2013. His career includes serving as Head of Fleet at Germanwings and overseeing flight operations at Eurowings. In addition to his executive responsibilities, he is an Airbus A320 family instructor and serves as a Lufthansa Airlines captain. The Group said a successor at Lufthansa Aviation Training will be announced in due course.
Michael Kircher to lead Lufthansa City Airlines
From 1 November 2026, Michael Kircher will take over as CEO and Accountable Manager of Lufthansa City Airlines and become Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH.
Kircher joins from Austrian Airlines, where he currently serves as Head of Training and Nominated Person Crew Training while flying as an Airbus A320 family captain. He has also held the role of interim Accountable Manager at Austrian Airlines.
He succeeds Peter Albers, who will step down from the executive position to focus on his duties as a Lufthansa Airlines captain. Since October 2024, Albers has led Lufthansa City Airlines through its launch and early expansion while serving as Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH.
Bernd Bauer concludes long Lufthansa Group career
Bernd Bauer will leave the Lufthansa Group from 1st October 2026 after more than three decades in aviation. He began his career at Crossair in 1994 before taking on several leadership positions at SWISS and becoming CEO of Edelweiss in 2014. Between 2022 and 2025, he also served as CEO of Discover Airlines, helping establish Lufthansa Group’s leisure airline operations.
Commenting on Bauer’s contribution, Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said; “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.”
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Building on future growth
Welcoming Michael Kircher to Lufthansa City Airlines, Heiko Reitz, Member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines, also acknowledged Peter Albers’ role in establishing the carrier.
“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 develop Lufthansa City Airlines further successfully.”
The executive appointments underline Lufthansa Group’s commitment to leadership continuity, operational excellence and the continued development of its airline portfolio as it pursues long-term growth.
