This summer, German airline Lufthansa is reintroducing free drink service in economy class on short and medium-haul flights. The decision to bring back this service comes after it was discontinued three years ago on most shorter flights. Lufthansa’s CEO, Jens Ritter, has expressed hope that offering free drinks will improve customer satisfaction, which is why the airline is conducting this trial run.
As part of the trial, selected drinks such as tea or coffee will be available for free to passengers. The airline plans to monitor customer reactions and incorporate them into ongoing customer satisfaction analyses to determine the impact of this change. In 2021, Lufthansa had replaced the free drink service with paid options, except for a complimentary bottle of water and a piece of chocolate.
Lufthansa’s move to bring back free drinks on select flights reflects the airline’s efforts to enhance the passenger experience and cater to customer preferences. For those who want to purchase additional drinks, hot beverages cost between €3 and €3.50 ($3.25 to $3.80), while tomato juice is priced at €3.20.