Lufthansa confirms €3 bn upgrade to India-bound fleet; Germany a preferred tourist destination for Indians, says GNTO

With India emerging as one of its strongest growth markets, the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) has unveiled its four campaign themes for this year and Germany’s national carrier Lufthansa confirmed a €3 billion investment to lift its India-bound fleet, including doubling the capacity in its Mumbai-Munich route by upgrading it with an Airbus A380.

The Lufthansa group is also expanding its India network through Swiss International Air Lines, which will begin flying Zurich to Bangalore, its newest India route.

These announcements came alongside GNTO’s unveiling of four campaign themes for 2026 — culture, city life, cuisine and nature — even as Lufthansa, marking its 100th year of operations.

Confirming its €3 billion investment to upgrade its India-bound fleet with new-generation seating and cabin technology; Kevin Markette, Senior Director, Sales, South Asia, Lufthansa Group, said the airline’s immediate focus was on stabilising its newest aircraft in the market, including upgrading the Mumbai-Munich route to an Airbus A380, “effectively doubling the capacity”, with the aircraft seating 571 passengers. 

Speaking at a press briefing, he said “one of the clearest demonstrations of Lufthansa’s commitment to India is that we are bringing our newest technology and product to the market.” Fuel efficiency remained a priority as sustainability concerns shape airline investment decisions industry-wide, Mr. Markette added.

Overnight stays by Indian travellers in Germany rose to 350,488 in the  January-May 2026 period, up marginally from a year earlier, according to GNTO India, which also said 61% of Indian travellers named Germany as a destination they are likely to visit in the future. 

The briefing also highlighted a policy shift with significant commercial implications. Germany has scrapped its transit visa requirement, a move officials said could strengthen the country’s appeal not only as a destination but also as a key transfer hub for Indian travellers connecting to the rest of Europe

On the cultural front, GNTO’s 2026 campaign centres on the 150th anniversary of the Bayreuth Festival, the storied Wagner opera venue, alongside Berlin’s expanding calendar of exhibitions and entertainment. 

Romit Theophilus, GNTO India’s Director, said Indian travellers were increasingly “going deeper into a region” rather than passing through, a shift the 2026 strategy is built around.