Eurowings does not plan to introduce short-time work in its German flight operations during winter 2026/27, following a review with Germany’s Federal Employment Agency. The Lufthansa Group airline said the conditions are not fully met under current circumstances. The decision does not alter its plan to cut winter capacity by about 5%, with reductions expected to focus mainly on individual frequencies rather than entire routes.
The review began after Eurowings told employees in October that it was assessing short-time work alongside the planned schedule reductions. The airline has already removed Cologne and Stuttgart–Dubai from its winter plans, while Berlin–Dubai is due to continue. Higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict, as well as rising German aviation taxes and fees, have contributed to the pressure on the carrier’s point-to-point business.
Lufthansa Group’s point-to-point segment, which includes Eurowings and its stake in SunExpress, recorded an adjusted operating loss of €38 million in the first nine months of 2026, despite a €214 million profit in the summer. Eurowings’ position on short-time work applies “as things stand”; the airline has not ruled out a change if conditions develop differently over the winter.