Danish airline DAT and the Lufthansa Group have intensified their cooperation through a comprehensive code-share agreement. This agreement ensures seamless connections between Linz Airport and the international hub in Frankfurt and has been operational since the start of the summer flight schedule on March 29, 2026.
The agreement allows connecting flights from Upper Austria to be marketed under Lufthansa flight numbers. This gives passengers access to Lufthansa's global route network at through fares. Baggage is checked through from Linz to the final destination, and boarding passes for connecting flights can be issued at the departure airport.
The rapid implementation of the agreement is considered exceptional in industry circles, as such negotiations typically take several months. Regional Minister for Economic Affairs Markus Achleitner emphasized the Lufthansa Group's prioritization of the project, which enabled the swift reconnection of Linz as a business location. While purely point-to-point connections will continue to operate under DAT flight numbers, business travelers and long-haul passengers in particular will benefit from the integration into the booking systems of the German market leader. The use of DAT's regional aircraft ensures sufficient capacity for feeder flights.
According to airport management, the operational launch of the service in the first few weeks proceeded smoothly and without disruption. Reliability and punctuality are crucial factors for the route's success, enabling it to meet the often tight connection times at Frankfurt Airport. DAT operates aircraft on the route that are specifically optimized for short-haul and regional feeder services. This cooperation strengthens Linz Airport's competitiveness compared to neighboring airports, as the connection to global markets, critical for Upper Austria's export sector, is now operationally on par with that of a network airline.
Additional market observations indicate that the collaboration represents a strategic milestone for the Danish airline DAT, enabling it to be perceived as a partner of a major alliance such as Star Alliance. For the Lufthansa Group, the agreement means efficiently securing passenger flows from a region with high purchasing power, without having to station its own aircraft on the route. Connecting flights worldwide are now bookable through all common sales channels and travel agencies, significantly increasing the route's visibility in the international market.