Lufthansa has announced it will no longer use the greeting "ladies and gentlemen".
Air Canada and EasyJet introduced a new way of greeting passengers in 2019, while Japan Airlines did it in 2020. But Lufthansa is by far the largest carrier to make the change yet.
As well as the airline of the same name, Lufthansa Group also owns Eurowings and Brussels Airlines, all of which until now have referred to guests as "ladies and gentlemen".
In a statement, Lufthansa Group said on future flights travelers will be referred to as "guests" or simply greeted with: "Good morning here onboard."
"Diversity and equality are core values for our company and our corporate culture. From now on, we want to express this attitude in our language as well - and show that diversity is not just a phrase, but a lived reality," the Lufthansa statement said.
Case of the X
In many countries, including Aotearoa, residents can choose to put down X as their gender.
Lufthansa says it has been using gender-neutral language in company internal communication since the beginning of June 2021, including in contracts and documents.
"We have not banned addressing our guests as 'Dear Sir or Madam', our aim is to welcome everyone on board on an equal basis," the Lufthansa statement said.
Cabin crew can choose the exact wording "depending on the context and situation".
