German Airways
Product brand
UnclaimedGerman Airways, formerly Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter, was a German regional airline that operated scheduled services and aircraft wet leases before ceasing flight operations in 2020.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
German Airways Fluggesellschaft GmbH was a German regional airline brand headquartered in Cologne and historically known as Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter, commonly abbreviated as LGW. The business began in 1980 when Bernd Walter, who owned a flying school at Dortmund Airport, established Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter to provide on-demand charter and air-taxi services. Its early operation was based on relatively small aircraft and low-volume regional demand rather than large-scale mainline aviation. In 1992, LGW expanded into scheduled domestic passenger services. Its initial network connected Dortmund, Erfurt and Hamburg, with seasonal services to Rostock and Sylt/Westerland. The carrier later added a broader group of German cities, including Berlin, Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. During this period, the airline operated as an independent regional carrier, with the 19-seat Dornier 228 serving as its largest aircraft in the early scheduled fleet. LGW entered a strategic relationship with Air Berlin in 2007. From October that year, selected LGW services were distributed through Air Berlin's booking system, and the partnership subsequently developed into a much deeper operational and corporate relationship. Air Berlin placed De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprops with LGW from 2008 and increasingly used LGW as a regional operating platform. LGW progressively abandoned its own commercial identity, stopped offering independent charter services and operated scheduled flights using Air Berlin flight numbers and branding. Its website was replaced by a redirect to Air Berlin's online presence. Air Berlin became LGW's controlling shareholder in 2009 and planned to acquire the company outright in 2017. The relationship enabled Air Berlin to operate a sizeable regional fleet, while LGW became an important employer and operating unit within the wider group. Its workforce grew substantially during the partnership, and the airline also briefly operated Embraer 190 aircraft after aircraft were transferred from Niki. By spring 2015, its Dash 8-400 fleet had reached 17 aircraft. Following Air Berlin's insolvency and the end of its operations in October 2017, Lufthansa acquired LGW as part of the restructuring and sale of Air Berlin assets. LGW then became a wet-lease operator for Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Eurowings. It initially retained Dash 8-Q400 aircraft and also received Airbus A320-family aircraft, with additional crews recruited for the expanded operation. The Airbus aircraft were later transferred to other carriers within the Eurowings partnership. Lufthansa sold LGW to Zeitfracht Group on 1 April 2019. The transaction placed the airline within the same broader corporate group as WDL Aviation, another German aviation business later associated with the German Airways name. Zeitfracht planned to modernize LGW's regional fleet by replacing its Dash 8-400 aircraft with Embraer 190 jets for operation under a long-term Eurowings wet-lease arrangement. In 2020, Zeitfracht announced that LGW would be rebranded German Airways. The commercial plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of Eurowings' wet-lease contract covering LGW's turboprop fleet. LGW filed for insolvency in April 2020, and all of its flight operations stopped on 22 April 2020. The German Airways name continued to be used by a related aviation business, but the former LGW airline itself ceased operating as an independent flying carrier.
History
Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter GmbH was founded in 1980 by Bernd Walter, the owner of a flying school at Dortmund Airport. It initially served the local and regional aviation market through on-demand charter flights and air-taxi services. The company moved into scheduled passenger aviation in 1992, establishing a domestic network linking Dortmund, Erfurt and Hamburg and adding seasonal destinations such as Rostock and Sylt/Westerland. Its early fleet was small; the 19-seat Dornier 228 was the largest aircraft used during the first scheduled period. During the first half of the 2000s, LGW expanded its scheduled network to include major German cities such as Berlin, Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. The airline's development changed significantly after it entered a partnership with Air Berlin in 2007. LGW flights to Düsseldorf and Berlin Tegel were made available through Air Berlin's sales system, and Air Berlin subsequently supplied De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft for regional operations. The partnership evolved into operational dependence. LGW discontinued its independent charter activity and ceased presenting itself as a separately marketed airline, instead flying scheduled services with Air Berlin flight numbers and the Air Berlin brand. Its own website was closed and redirected to Air Berlin's website. Air Berlin notified the Federal Cartel Office in 2009 that it would take control of LGW. The company became a significant regional operating platform within the group, with its workforce increasing from 110 employees at the end of 2011 to approximately 480 by early 2013. It also briefly operated Embraer 190 aircraft transferred from Niki, while its Dash 8-400 fleet grew to 17 aircraft by spring 2015. Air Berlin announced in 2017 that it intended to acquire LGW outright. Air Berlin subsequently entered insolvency proceedings and stopped flying on 27 October 2017. Lufthansa acquired LGW as part of the asset transactions associated with the collapse. In the post-acquisition structure, LGW supplied wet-lease operations to Eurowings. It retained Dash 8-Q400 aircraft and added 13 Airbus A320-family aircraft, recruiting crews in November 2017. The acquisition received European Commission approval on 21 December 2017 and closed in January 2018. By the end of 2018, the Airbus aircraft operated by LGW had been moved to other airlines in the Eurowings partnership. Zeitfracht Group announced plans to purchase LGW from Lufthansa in January 2019, and the transaction was completed on 1 April 2019 after regulatory approval and satisfaction of customary conditions. The sale was accompanied by a longer-term lease relationship with Eurowings. Zeitfracht planned to replace LGW's Dash 8-400 aircraft with Embraer 190 jets beginning in late 2019. In March 2020, Zeitfracht announced the rebranding of LGW as German Airways, aligning it with the group's aviation portfolio and related WDL Aviation business. The plan was undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eurowings cancelled the wet-lease contract for LGW's Bombardier DHC-8-400 fleet, removing the airline's principal operating assignment. LGW filed for insolvency in April 2020 and stopped all flight operations on 22 April. Although the German Airways name continued to be associated with a related aviation operation, the former LGW airline no longer operated as a flying carrier.
- 2020
Rebranding, insolvency and cessation of flights
[1]LGW is announced as German Airways, then files for insolvency after the loss of its Eurowings wet-lease work and stops flying on 22 April.
- 2019
Zeitfracht completes the acquisition
[1]Zeitfracht Group acquires LGW from Lufthansa on 1 April.
- 2017
Lufthansa acquires LGW
[1]Lufthansa purchases LGW during the breakup of Air Berlin and places it into the Eurowings operating structure.
- 2009
Air Berlin takes control
[1]Air Berlin notifies the Federal Cartel Office of its controlling position in LGW.
- 2008
Dash 8-400 aircraft enter the operation
[1]Air Berlin places ten De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft with LGW for regional flying.
- 2007
Air Berlin partnership starts
[1]LGW flights begin appearing in Air Berlin's booking system, initiating a partnership that later becomes an ownership relationship.
- 1992
Scheduled domestic services begin
[1]LGW launches scheduled routes linking Dortmund, Erfurt and Hamburg, with seasonal services to Rostock and Sylt/Westerland.
- 1980
Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter is founded
[1]Bernd Walter establishes LGW at Dortmund Airport, initially focusing on charter and air-taxi services.
Products and positioning
A regional German airline and contract operator focused on short-haul passenger services, initially under its own brand and later primarily operating aircraft and crews for larger airline partners.
Passenger airline services · 1992
Scheduled regional passenger services
LGW's original commercial offering consisted of scheduled domestic passenger flights linking German regional and metropolitan airports. The network expanded from Dortmund, Erfurt and Hamburg to destinations including Berlin, Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Stuttgart, with seasonal services to selected leisure destinations.
Aviation services · 1980
Charter and air-taxi services
Before becoming primarily a scheduled and contract operator, LGW provided on-demand charter flights and air-taxi services. These activities reflected its origins as a small aviation company associated with a flying school at Dortmund Airport.
Airline operations · 2007
Regional wet-lease operations
LGW operated aircraft and crews for larger airline partners, first within the Air Berlin group and later for Eurowings. This became its principal commercial role after it stopped marketing an independent corporate identity.
Brand decisions
2020
Rebrand LGW as German AirwaysStrategyBackground
Zeitfracht sought to align LGW with its broader German aviation portfolio and related airline operations.
Action taken
The company announced that LGW would operate under the German Airways name.
Aftermath
The rebranding coincided with the loss of the Eurowings wet-lease contract, insolvency proceedings and the cessation of LGW flight operations.
2019
Sell LGW to Zeitfracht GroupM&ABackground
Lufthansa planned to dispose of LGW while Zeitfracht was expanding its German aviation portfolio.
Action taken
Zeitfracht completed the purchase on 1 April 2019 after supervisory approvals and other transaction conditions were satisfied.
Aftermath
LGW remained connected to Eurowings through a longer-term wet-lease arrangement and was prepared for a fleet transition.
2019
Plan the replacement of Dash 8-400 aircraftGeneration changeBackground
Zeitfracht sought to renew the regional fleet used for contracted Eurowings flying.
Action taken
LGW announced plans to replace its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft with Embraer 190 jets from late 2019.
Aftermath
The planned transition was overtaken by the termination of the Eurowings contract and LGW's insolvency in 2020.
2017
Lufthansa acquires LGW during Air Berlin restructuringM&ABackground
Air Berlin's insolvency created a process for transferring aircraft, operations and related businesses to other aviation groups.
Action taken
Lufthansa acquired LGW and used it for wet-lease operations supporting Eurowings.
Aftermath
LGW expanded its fleet temporarily with Airbus A320-family aircraft and became part of the Eurowings operating arrangement.
2007
Adopt an Air Berlin distribution and operating partnershipStrategyBackground
LGW sought greater access to passengers and regional operating opportunities through cooperation with Air Berlin.
Action taken
Flights were sold through Air Berlin's booking platform, followed by the integration of Air Berlin aircraft and flight-number arrangements.
Aftermath
LGW gradually stopped operating as an independently marketed airline and became a regional platform within the Air Berlin group.
Sources1 sources
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