Munich Airport and Lufthansa have launched Oktoberfest celebrations ahead of the 190th edition of the festival, welcoming passengers with traditional costumes, Bavarian specialties, and themed events.
The program, presented on September 18 in Terminal 2, featured Bavarian Minister of State for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism Michaela Kaniber, Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers, and Lufthansa Hub Manager Heiko Reitz.
The initiative is part of a long-standing tradition to mark Oktoberfest for international and domestic travelers passing through Munich, one of Europe’s busiest hubs during the festival season. Visitors arriving and departing during the 16-day event are greeted with performances, culinary offers, and the return of Lufthansa’s popular traditional costume flights.
Lufthansa’s Traditional Costume Flights
This year, Lufthansa’s traditional costume crew will fly to Shanghai on September 20 and to Seoul on September 29, in addition to other destinations across Germany and Europe. The practice began in 2006 when the first crew in Bavarian attire flew from Munich to New York. Since then, the tradition has extended to more than 30 destinations worldwide, reviving an idea that was first introduced on Lufthansa flights in 1957.
Passengers on board these special flights are served Bavarian dishes in business class, while Lufthansa lounges in Terminal 2 also offer regional delicacies during the Oktoberfest period. The airline has made the costume flights a distinctive feature of its seasonal programming, aligning aviation with one of Bavaria’s best-known cultural traditions.
Airport Festivities and Passenger Traffic
Munich Airport is preparing for heavy traffic during Oktoberfest, with more than 16,000 takeoffs and landings expected and approximately 2.3 million passengers projected to pass through over the 16 days. The figure represents a 4 percent increase in passenger numbers compared with the same period in 2024. Airport officials have urged travelers to plan ahead, allowing extra time for check-in, baggage handling, and security clearance due to the high demand.
Terminal 2 has been decorated to reflect the festival atmosphere, with gingerbread hearts and roasted almonds distributed to arriving guests. Traditional costume groups from the Isargau Trachtenverband e. V. perform both in public areas and in secured zones on selected days, adding to the authentic Bavarian welcome.
Pop-up stores from local brands including Trachtendealer and Bavarian Caps have opened within the airport, offering themed merchandise for visitors. Starting September 20, Munich Airport’s on-site brewery, Airbräu, will host weekend celebrations with live music, alongside the 20th annual tapping of its festival beer “Gaudium.”
According to organizers, the combination of aviation, hospitality, and cultural programming is intended to give travelers a sense of Bavarian tradition even before they reach the city center. Munich Airport and Lufthansa have built the Oktoberfest celebrations into their seasonal calendar as a way of connecting the region’s cultural identity with international travel.
The Oktoberfest season remains one of Munich’s most significant travel periods, attracting millions of visitors from across the world. The airport’s expanded passenger capacity, Lufthansa’s themed flights, and cultural events at Terminal 2 demonstrate how transportation and tourism industries continue to integrate Bavarian heritage into the international travel experience.
