Munich Airport and Lufthansa Welcome Oktoberfest Season
Munich Airport has kicked off the Oktoberfest season with an event in Terminal 2 attended by Bavarian Minister of State for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism Michaela Kaniber, Airport CEO Jost Lammers, and Lufthansa Hub Manager Heiko Reitz. Traditional costume groups from Isargau Trachtenverband e. V. and Lufthansa’s own costume crew performed, getting passengers in the mood for the 190th "Wiesn," which begins later this month.
This year’s Lufthansa traditional costume crew will fly to Shanghai on 20 September and to Seoul on 29 September. Additional flights in traditional Bavarian dress will operate to destinations across Germany and Europe. The custom of flying crews in dirndls and lederhosen started in 2006, when the first such flight took off from Munich to New York. Since then, these special flights have operated to more than 30 destinations during the festival period.
Bavarian hospitality is also part of the experience. During Oktoberfest, Lufthansa serves Bavarian specialties in business class, with similar seasonal dishes available in the lounges at Terminal 2. The airport is preparing for a very busy two weeks, with more than 16,000 take-offs and landings and around 2.3 million passengers expected – a four per cent rise compared with the same period last year.
The festivities extend beyond the aircraft. Passengers arriving at Munich Airport are greeted with gingerbread hearts and roasted almonds. Traditional groups perform both before and after security on selected days, creating a festive atmosphere. Pop-up shops by "Trachtendealer" and "Bavarian Caps" offer limited-edition Oktoberfest items, while Airbräu – the airport’s brewery – hosts weekend events including live music and the ceremonial tapping of its special beer "Gaudium."
Direct flights from Munich combined with the festive airport programme make Oktoberfest easier to experience, even for a short visit. Travellers can enjoy the lively beer tents of Theresienwiese, stroll through Viktualienmarkt, or explore nearby sights such as Nymphenburg Palace and the Bavarian Alps. This combination of smooth connections and on-site celebration shows how Munich Airport embraces local culture while making the journey part of the event itself.