Lufthansa is once again swapping corporate navy for Bavarian tradition, and this year's edition comes with a freshly designed costume collection. To mark both Oktoberfest 2026 and two decades of its costumed flying tradition, the airline has commissioned new outfits from Spieth & Wensky, a traditional clothing maker based in Lower Bavaria.

The designs are a genuine collaboration between regional dress and airline branding rather than a quick costume job. Lufthansa's crane logo shows up on the buttons of the knitwear worn by male and female crew, while the carrier's signature "Wing Pattern" is woven into the skirts and waistcoats. The airline's heritage here is real: the first long-haul crew in Bavarian dress flew from Munich to New York on 1 September 2006, and the tradition has run every festival season since. Heiko Reitz, Executive Board Member and Hub Manager Munich, noted that the new design carries that 20-year story forward.

The 2026 outfits took to the skies on 19 September, opening day of the festival, on two intercontinental routes out of Munich: flight LH764 to Bangalore and LH722 to Beijing. A third themed departure, LH768 to Singapore, follows on 27 September.

You don't need to be on one of those three flights to taste the season. Through September, selected intercontinental services from Munich and Frankfurt are serving Bavarian menus in every cabin — think white-sausage terrine with pretzels, plus Wiesn roast duck, fried chicken and apple strudel. On continental European routes, Business Class gets an Oktoberfest menu from 17 September until 6 October.

The theme runs through the ground experience too. Lufthansa lounges across Germany are pouring Bavarian beers and serving regional dishes amid festival decorations for the duration. And if you're flying long-haul in First, Business or Premium Economy from Germany before the end of September, your amenity kit arrives in a felt pouch designed to double as an Oktoberfest accessory — a souvenir you can actually use.

For travellers, this is one of the more charming examples of an airline leaning into local identity. If your autumn plans involve any long-haul departure from Munich or Frankfurt, late September is the window to catch the themed menus, costumed crews and lounge spreads. Anyone who can time their booking around 27 September gets the full experience on the Munich–Singapore flight, and economy passengers aren't left out of the food offerings on long-haul routes.

Credit: Travel Tomorrow