BERLIN– Lufthansa (LH) has completed the special anniversary livery on its Airbus A321neo named “Hamm,” turning the aircraft into a flying collection of personal stories from employees who have shaped the airline over the decades. The aircraft, registered D-AIEM, now carries 12 selected designs under the motto “Made by many. Remembered by all” as part of the carrier’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
The final two designs have been added following several months of gradual work on the aircraft’s exterior. Lufthansa plans to operate the A321neo across Europe until the end of 2028, giving passengers and aviation enthusiasts an opportunity to see the employee-inspired artwork at airports throughout the network.
Twelve Employee Stories Aboard Lufthansa
The project began with an internal invitation for Lufthansa Group employees to submit personal experiences, memories and moments connected with the airline.
A jury shortlisted 20 submissions from the entries received, after which employees voted to select the final 12 designs.
The latest additions highlight two different experiences from Lufthansa’s history. One design, suggested by a flight attendant, shows two arms embracing a tail fin and recalls a repatriation flight operated on March 19, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The employee and his crew flew from Frankfurt (FRA) to Bogotá (BOG) to bring stranded passengers back home.
Some travellers had reportedly spent seven days waiting at the airport before the flight, making the journey an important example of the airline’s role in reconnecting people with their families during the travel disruption.
The second design reflects Germany’s reunification. It was proposed by a Lufthansa employee who helped establish the airline’s first sales offices in Dresden from June 1990 and later celebrated reunification in Berlin on October 3.
The illustration depicts people walking hand in hand towards a new future in front of the Brandenburg Gate, with airline tickets representing a symbol of freedom and renewed travel opportunities.
Artwork Around Crane
The 12 winning designs appear in individual framed sections arranged around Lufthansa’s oversized crane emblem, which remains the central feature of the aircraft’s anniversary design.
The airline has also included historical photographs and references to important moments from its corporate history.
One of the historical images features Nicola Lisy and Evi Hetzmannseder, recognised as Lufthansa’s first two female pilots. The inclusion of these photographs places employee experiences alongside milestones that have shaped the airline’s development.
Each framed design also has a QR code that passengers and aviation enthusiasts can scan to access additional information about the story behind the artwork.
This allows the aircraft’s exterior to serve as a starting point for exploring the people and experiences represented in the livery.
Lufthansa’s 100-year-Anniversary Fleet
The employee-designed A321neo forms part of Lufthansa’s wider centenary celebrations, although its story-focused artwork differs from the standard 100-year anniversary livery carried by other aircraft.
The airline has applied the broader design, featuring its oversized crane, to several aircraft across its fleet.
Two Airbus A320neo aircraft, an A350-900, an A380, a Boeing 747-8 and a Boeing 787-9 are already flying in the anniversary design.
Lufthansa’s first A350-1000 is expected to join the group in November 2026, bringing the number of aircraft in the special anniversary fleet to seven.
With all 12 employee stories now displayed, “Hamm” offers a different way of marking Lufthansa’s centenary.
Rather than focusing solely on aircraft and historical milestones, the livery recognises the experiences of the people whose work and personal journeys have contributed to the airline’s history.
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