Deutsche Lufthansa AG is preparing legal action to reclaim previously paid US tariffs. Chief Financial Officer Till Streichert confirmed on the sidelines of a financial conference that the company will seize every opportunity to recover the corresponding amounts from the US Treasury Department. This development stems from a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court on February 20, 2026.
The court declared the special tariffs imposed on European goods during President Donald Trump's first term unlawful. The judges based their decision on the president's exceeding of executive powers in applying Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which provides national security interests as justification for trade barriers.
Since the verdict was announced, a wave of lawsuits has been filed, with an estimated 500 international companies already participating. For the Lufthansa Group, the focus is primarily on tariffs levied on imported aircraft components and technical parts for its maintenance division, Lufthansa Technik. These special duties burdened operating costs for years in transatlantic flights and engine maintenance at US facilities. Experts anticipate that the total compensation claims from the affected industries could reach tens of billions of euros, with Lufthansa claiming a significant share to improve its balance sheet for the current fiscal year.
The legal dispute is now focused on the statute of limitations and the precise definition of the refundable goods categories. While the US Department of Commerce is attempting to limit repayments through administrative hurdles, the lawyers for the affected companies point to the illegality of the measures under international law. Lufthansa emphasizes in this context that a refund would not only represent a financial correction but would also strengthen its competitiveness against US airlines that were not affected by these tariffs to the same extent. Chief Financial Officer Streichert indicated that the company is cooperating closely with European business associations to increase pressure on US customs authorities.
Industry analysts view Lufthansa's actions as a necessary step to safeguard capital in a volatile market environment. Should the claims be successful, the extraordinary proceeds could be used to accelerate ongoing fleet modernization or to pay down pandemic-related debt more quickly. However, since the current US administration must officially recognize the court's decision, the timeframe for the actual payouts remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the ruling represents a historic turning point in transatlantic trade relations and ends years of legal uncertainty for export-oriented European corporations.