Lufthansa is Germany's flagship carrier, flying from hubs at Frankfurt and Munich. Brussels Airlines is Belgium's flag carrier and sits in the same Lufthansa Group, with a single hub at Brussels Airport. Both belong to Star Alliance and Miles & More, so travellers often compare them on Europe routes, on trips between Europe and North America, and for connections via Brussels, Frankfurt or Munich.
Quick verdict
Both are full-service Star Alliance carriers, so the choice is mostly about network and cabins. Lufthansa suits travellers who want a large long-haul network, a Premium Economy cabin and First Class on selected aircraft. Brussels Airlines suits those starting from Brussels, especially for West and Central Africa, where it has long specialised, and those who prefer a smaller airline with a simple two-cabin A330 offering. Miles & More earns and burns across both.
Choose Lufthansa if…
- You want Premium Economy or, on selected long-haul aircraft, First Class.
- You are flying via Frankfurt or Munich and want the widest choice of connections across the group's network.
- You hold Miles & More or Star Alliance status and want access to Lufthansa's Frankfurt and Munich lounges, including its First Class lounges.
Choose Brussels Airlines if…
- You are starting from Brussels or heading to West and Central Africa, a long-standing focus of its network.
- You want a compact airline with a single hub, where short connections at Brussels Airport are straightforward.
- You are happy with a Business or Economy choice on the A330 and want to earn Miles & More and Star Alliance benefits.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Lufthansa operates two hubs, Frankfurt and Munich. The Lufthansa Group as a whole offers more than 14,000 weekly connections to 330 destinations in around 100 countries in summer 2026, though that figure covers every group airline, not just Lufthansa. Brussels Airlines has one hub, Brussels Airport, and serves 93 destinations, mainly in Europe, Africa and North America. Its West and Central African network is its signature, and it kept flying to Western Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak (Wikipedia).
Fleet and scale
Lufthansa's mainline fleet is 274 aircraft, and the group had 737 aircraft at the end of 2025 (Wikipedia). The long-haul fleet includes A350-900s, A340-600s, A380s and Boeing 747-8s. Brussels Airlines is all-Airbus with 48 aircraft: A319s, A320s, A320neos and 11 A330-300s. It received its first A320neo in November 2023, the first new aircraft in its history, and has more on order (AviTrader).
Cabins and seats
Lufthansa offers Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First, with First only on selected long-haul aircraft. Premium Economy was introduced in 2014 and has a seat pitch of about 38 inches. Its newer Allegris long-haul cabin is being rolled out, so the product depends on the aircraft. Brussels Airlines has a simpler offer: the A330-300 has Business (30 seats) and Economy, while its A319, A320 and A320neo aircraft are single-class with 141 to 180 seats. There is no First Class.
Baggage and fares
On Lufthansa, Economy and Premium Economy include one 8 kg cabin bag (55x40x23 cm). Economy Light includes no checked bag, whereas Economy Flex includes two 23 kg bags (Radical Storage, 2025). Business and First include two cabin bags. Brussels Airlines' allowances also depend on the fare and route. Check the fare conditions before booking, particularly on the cheapest tickets, which may not include a checked bag on either airline.
Lounges and loyalty
Both airlines use Miles & More and Star Alliance, so miles and status carry across. Lufthansa has Frequent Traveller (Star Alliance Silver), Senator and HON Circle (both Gold) levels. It runs lounges at Frankfurt and Munich, including First Class lounges and a First Class Terminal in Frankfurt. Access depends on cabin or status.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufthansa better than Brussels Airlines?
Lufthansa has the larger network and more cabin choice, including Premium Economy and First on selected aircraft. Brussels Airlines is the better fit from Brussels and for West and Central Africa. Both are full-service Star Alliance airlines.
Are Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines the same company?
Brussels Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group but operates separately, with its own hub at Brussels Airport. Lufthansa is the group's flagship, with hubs at Frankfurt and Munich.
Which airline has a Premium Economy cabin?
Lufthansa does; it introduced Premium Economy in 2014. Brussels Airlines' A330-300 has Business and Economy cabins, and its short-haul aircraft are single-class.
Do both airlines include checked baggage?
It depends on the fare. Lufthansa's Economy Light excludes a checked bag, while Economy Flex includes two 23 kg bags. Brussels Airlines' allowances also vary by fare and route, so check before booking.
About Lufthansa Read more
Overview
Lufthansa is Germany's largest airline and the flagship carrier of Lufthansa Group. According to Wikipedia, it traces its history to Deutsche Luft Hansa, founded on 6 January 1926, and was re-established in 1953. It is headquartered in Cologne, operates hubs at Frankfurt and Munich, and is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its frequent-flyer programme is Miles & More. The airline is still operating passenger services in 2026, its centenary year.
Network and hubs
Frankfurt and Munich are the main hubs. For summer 2026, Aviation Outlook reports that Lufthansa Group offers more than 14,000 weekly connections to 330 destinations in around 100 countries. That figure covers the whole group, not only the Lufthansa brand, and the same source describes a shift away from loss-making short-haul feeder flying towards long-haul growth. Lufthansa has also taken a stake in ITA Airways, with an option to acquire the remainder later.
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a mainline fleet of 274 aircraft and 229 destinations (retrieved September 2026; some infobox data may lag). Lufthansa Group as a whole had 737 aircraft at the end of 2025, with 219 more on order, according to Aviation Outlook. The long-haul fleet includes Airbus A350-900s, and Wikipedia also covers A340-600s, A380s and Boeing 747-8s, some of which are being refitted.
On board
- Cabins: Economy, Premium Economy, Business and, on selected aircraft, First Class.
- Premium Economy: introduced in 2014, with a seat pitch of about 38 inches, according to Wikipedia.
- Allegris: the airline's newer long-haul cabin product, which is being introduced across the long-haul fleet. Availability varies by aircraft.
- Meal, entertainment and Wi-Fi details vary by route and cabin. Check the airline's website before booking.
Good to know
- Baggage: a third-party guide (2025) says Economy and Premium Economy include one 8 kg cabin bag (55x40x23 cm). Economy Light includes no checked bag, while Economy Flex includes two 23 kg bags. Business and First include two cabin bags. Rules change, so confirm on lufthansa.com.
- Lounges: Lufthansa operates lounges at Frankfurt and Munich, including First Class lounges and a First Class Terminal in Frankfurt.
- Loyalty: Miles & More has Frequent Traveller (Star Alliance Silver), Senator and HON Circle (both Star Alliance Gold) levels, with lounge access at the higher tiers.
About Brussels Airlines Read more
Overview
Brussels Airlines is the flag carrier of Belgium. It was formed by an amalgamation on 7 November 2006 and began operations on 25 March 2007. It is part of the Lufthansa Group, is a member of Star Alliance and is headquartered at Brussels Airport. Its IATA code SN is inherited from Sabena and SN Brussels Airlines. Its ICAO code is BEL and its call sign is BEE-LINE. The code DAT, supplied in the request, does not match the Wikipedia entry.
Network and hubs
The only hub is Brussels Airport. According to Wikipedia, the airline serves 93 destinations, mainly in Europe, Africa and North America. It has long been known for its West and Central African network, and it kept flying to Western Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. It has interline agreements with other carriers, including Africa World Airlines, which connects Accra and Brussels.
Fleet
The fleet is all-Airbus. Wikipedia lists 48 aircraft, with 5 more on order (retrieved October 2026):
- 13 Airbus A319-100, 141 seats, to be replaced by the A320neo
- 16 Airbus A320-200, 180 seats
- 8 Airbus A320neo, 180 seats; 5 more on order
- 11 Airbus A330-300, 293 seats, including 30 in Business
The airline received its first A320neo in November 2023. These were the first new aircraft in its history. It planned to have eight by summer 2026.
On board
Long-haul A330-300 aircraft have a Business cabin and an Economy cabin. Short- and medium-haul aircraft have a single-class layout with 141 to 180 seats. Seat pitch, meal, entertainment and Wi-Fi details were not confirmed from sources for this profile. Check the airline's website for the fare and route being booked.
Good to know
- Loyalty programme: Miles & More, shared with the Lufthansa Group, and Star Alliance benefits apply.
- Baggage allowances and change fees depend on fare and route. See the airline's website for current rules.
- The airline has about 4,000 employees and its CEO is Lorenza Maggio, per Wikipedia.
Sources (4)
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