Munich Airport and Lufthansa have expanded their joint stopover program to five key Asian markets. Lufthansa passengers from China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand will now be able to extend their Munich layovers to explore the city and the Bavaria region.

The program was launched in Singapore and the USA in spring 2026. With the addition of new countries, it has reached seven origin markets. Passengers can stay in Munich for between 24 hours and seven days.

Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport operator FMG, stated, "Bavaria is one of Germany's most popular travel destinations. With the stopover program, together with Lufthansa, we are creating new opportunities to encourage international passengers to visit Munich and its surroundings. Tourism businesses and other companies in the region can also benefit from this. The project demonstrates how Munich Airport and Lufthansa can connect international demand with the opportunities the region offers."

12 tourism partners already participating in the program

The program targets international passengers who use Munich solely as a transfer point. By extending the time between two connecting flights, the aim is to encourage transit passengers to make short stays in Munich and Bavaria.

The program currently includes 12 partners offering services in hotels, car rentals, tourist attractions, and shopping. Passengers can create their own itineraries based on the duration of their stay in Munich.

The stopover can be booked directly through Lufthansa. Thus, Munich ceases to be merely a transfer point on a long-haul journey and transforms into a second destination added to the travel plan.

Transfer passengers will turn into tourists for Munich

With the program, Lufthansa aims to more strongly connect Munich's international hub function with the tourism opportunities of the city and Bavaria.

Heiko Reitz, Member of the Lufthansa Executive Board and Head of the Munich Hub, stated, "Many passengers want not only to transfer at our hub but also to explore Munich and Bavaria as an additional travel destination. With the Lufthansa Stopover program, we offer the opportunity to add a new destination to their air journey and experience the culture, gastronomy, and tourist attractions."

The expansion of the program to China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand creates new visitor potential for Bavarian tourism. Passengers using Munich as a transfer point on their long-haul flights will be able to include the city in their short-term travel itineraries without needing an additional journey.

New markets and tourism partners to be added

Reitz announced, "In the long term, we will expand the program with new markets and tourism partners to offer international passengers a more comprehensive and attractive proposition in Munich and Bavaria."

The program offers an opportunity for the tourism economy in and around Munich to capture a larger share of international transfer traffic. A portion of passengers who would otherwise directly connect to another flight from the airport staying in the region for a few days will create new demand for additional hotel nights, restaurant spending, excursions, and tourist services. Image: © AI-generated image