Lufthansa is trying to see if it can get away with cleaning short haul aircraft less between flights, and that might even include not cleaning the lavatories… but only in economy!
In this post:
Lufthansa’s reduced aircraft cabin cleaning trial
aeroTELEGRAPH reports on a trial that Lufthansa is running between March 16 and March 29, 2026, on roughly 20 short haul routes from various European outstations. The idea is that Lufthansa is attempting to examine the “commercial and operational potential” of a “light cleaning” concept between flights.
Interestingly this trial is specific to economy, and not business class, even though business class on these flights just consists of economy seats with blocked middle seats. I guess Lufthansa is seeing if it can market “clean cabin” as a new feature of flying business class? 😉
With this trial, cleaning economy cabins will only happen “as needed.” For example, lavatories and seat back pockets will only be emptied “upon request,” and instead of a complete cleaning, only spot cleaning checks will be carried out. That means flight attendants will check if cleaning is necessary, and will then request it, if needed.
This trial is currently only for outstations, so it doesn’t include flights out of Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC), but instead, flights in the other direction. The trial also doesn’t apply to planes that have overnights, where they’ll still undergo a cleaning. Lufthansa is trying to examine whether time and costs can be saved by reducing cleaning on short haul flights, without it impacting passenger satisfaction levels.
As part of this trial, the airline is also trying to determine if it can use fewer cleaners, like reducing staffing at outstations from four people to two people. However, those two people would have more time to clean the aircraft (which doesn’t seem great in terms of efficiency for turn times?).
Lufthansa is already apparently making changes by the day based on this cleaning concept. For example, initially the trial included no longer crossing seat belts between flights, but negative feedback from crews caused the airline to already backtrack on that change.
Let’s see if anything comes of this cost saving trial
Of course no passenger will be happy to see an airline reduce cabin cleaning, since aircraft cabins aren’t exactly clean even when full protocols are put in place. For airlines, it’s all about trying to manage costs in ways that passengers won’t notice.
Lufthansa operates some pretty short flights, and has very little service in economy, aside from a bottle of water and the buy on board selection (which not many people buy from on short flights). So there’s not actually that much to clean, and Lufthansa’s seat back pockets are also netted, so it’s easy to spot if there’s any trash in them.
So when it comes to cutting corners with cleaning, I’d hardly consider this to be the most egregious example we’ve seen. Perhaps what bothers me most is bathrooms not even consistently being cleaned between flights, since they’re the grossest part of an aircraft, and it’s not very pleasant to have just boarded a flight, only to find the bathroom already isn’t clean.
It’ll be interesting to see what Lufthansa learns from this trial, and how it adjusts its cleaning protocols in the long run, if at all.
Bottom line
Lufthansa is trying to see if it can get away with reduced cabin cleaning between flights. The airline is currently running a trial on a small number of routes, whereby the cabin isn’t cleaned as thoroughly during “turns” at outstations.
It’s not that the planes aren’t being cleaned at all. Instead, the idea is that business class still gets cleaned, while cleaning in economy is more “on demand,” based on requests by the crew. Airlines are always looking for ways to save on costs (it’s a low margin industry), so let’s see what comes of this trial.
What do you make of Lufthansa’s reduced cabin cleaning trial?
Carsten Spohr is to Lufty what the little Irishman Alan Joyce was to Qantas. This is why premium airlines never hire Irish or German bosses.
Flying has become pretty nasty and now we have to fly in filth. Great experience
Lufthansa is quickly turning into Premium Cabin Spirit Airlines
As bad as Lufthansa is made out to be by some, it is still miles above the U.S. airline pack in the World Rankings …. Yes?
you mean Skytrax, the paid consulting-fees-for-ratings scam? Only their airport ratings are supposedly based on customer reviews — their airline ratings on based on their “audit” findings. And did they tell you they also conveniently offer consulting services? looool
Who in heaven’s name gave you that false information to publish herein?
You believe that fallacy and you will believe anything …. Yes?
Simply more U.S. propaganda spread by the U.S. airlines, in an attempt to fool the gullible home market flying public, into believing that the domestic product is acceptable …. Yes?
Clearly you have never taken a flight upon a World Class airline, therefore, your opinion matters NOT a jot …....
Who in heaven’s name gave you that false information to publish herein?
You believe that fallacy and you will believe anything …. Yes?
Simply more U.S. propaganda spread by the U.S. airlines, in an attempt to fool the gullible home market flying public, into believing that the domestic product is acceptable …. Yes?
Clearly you have never taken a flight upon a World Class airline, therefore, your opinion matters NOT a jot …. Yes?
By the way, how is life treating you in Nags Head just now sealax?
Forgot to add this change was done based on customer feedback.
Carsten Spohr promotes spores.
Nasty .
Filthy.
It’s kinda brilliant. Except for the few folks who use the lav before takeoff, everyone else will blame the mess on their fellow passengers and not the airline.
Years ago flying LH long haul biz, I used a wet wipe on the tray table…..the wet wipe turned black. Good luck in economy!
The turn at an outstation after a short European flight where they don't have to cater is 45 to 55 minutes. Between getting the passengers off the plane and the next bunch of passengers onboard again, it is not as if there is a whole lot of cleaning time to begin with.
All things considered this is a great marketing strategy! Surely nobody would notice and talk about it.
Was it Lufthansa who introduced the passenger ‘Cattle Class’ way back in the 1940’s?
The Spohring of LH continues.
Economy has been Spohred. What will they Spohr next?
Every new article I read about LuftKafka gives me another reason never to fly LuftKafka again.
Dirty, dirty, dirty. Another reason; if one were needed; to avoid Luftcaca.
Disgusting. Lufthansa is turning into Air India
I thought the same thing, literally. Great minds and all that.
Ew Will there be a call button for toilet paper?
Ah so this is their new enhanced onboard experience…. You may get customised surprise amenities at your seat like crumbs, empty crisp packets, or used tissues.
Oh! A memory from the 1980s, BRU FRA 45 min normal but C class need a full breakfast. No time for trays so LH trialled Fa’s walking through cabin handing out butter croissants on napkins with butter pats and jam. No plates, My god the mess! Lasted two weeks then cleaners threatened to revolt
Lufthansa should install toilets that do not flush. Just doodoo in bag. Throw it in garbage bin. I would pay extra to doo that!
How does this fit in with the new “FOX”passenger experience they were promoting last week!? Uncleaned toilets hardly screams a premium upgrade to the passenger experience!
Lufthansa is truly trying to become EasyJet while maintaining its already stained “premium” image. At least, EasyJet doesn’t try to cover up its penny pinching. I’m 90% sure that Lufthansa would label this move as something “eco-friendly” and “customer-oriented.”
Cutting cabin cleaning just because “passengers won’t notice the difference anyway” is a very irresponsible thing for an airline to say, even more so when it is selling its tickets for such a premium price....
Lufthansa is truly trying to become EasyJet while maintaining its already stained “premium” image. At least, EasyJet doesn’t try to cover up its penny pinching. I’m 90% sure that Lufthansa would label this move as something “eco-friendly” and “customer-oriented.”
Cutting cabin cleaning just because “passengers won’t notice the difference anyway” is a very irresponsible thing for an airline to say, even more so when it is selling its tickets for such a premium price. No wonder they are struggling!
Not sure if they struggle due to low demand, at least in the intra-EU market most flights I take are completely full. I think the main reason they struggle is because Spohr refuses to pay them for his damages to the company and instead gets payed by LH.