As of early 2026, the most significant "new" airline in Germany is City Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. While it was technically founded in 2022, it only began its full-scale flight operations in the summer of 2024. City Airlines was created to serve as a more cost-effective feeder carrier for Lufthansa's major hubs in Munich and Frankfurt, operating short and medium-haul European routes. It utilizes a modern fleet, including Airbus A319neo and A220 aircraft, and is designed to compete with low-cost carriers while maintaining the service standards of a "legacy" brand. Another notable "newcomer" in the German market is Lufthansa City Airlines (a slight rebranding for clarity), which specifically focuses on "point-to-point" travel within the EU. Additionally, in 2026, the market has seen the growth of Universal Air, which although based in Malta, has significantly expanded its German "city-pair" routes. The launch of these carriers reflects a broader shift in the German aviation industry toward "unbundled" services, where passengers can choose "Basic" fares while still flying under the umbrella of a trusted national brand like Lufthansa.