Lufthansa Shakes Up Leadership Amid Restructuring Efforts

Lufthansa Group has appointed Max Kownatzki and Marcus Schnabel as CEOs of Eurowings and SunExpress, respectively, effective February 1, 2026. Kownatzki, previously CEO of SunExpress, will lead Eurowings, while Schnabel, current Head of Ground Operations for Lufthansa Airlines in Munich, will take over at SunExpress. The move follows the departure of Eurowings CEO Jens Bischof after five years. The appointments were announced by Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr, who praised Kownatzki’s experience and strategic foresight. Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat also expressed confidence in Schnabel’s leadership abilities. The changes are part of a broader restructuring effort within the Lufthansa Group.