October 20, 2026 (Edmonton, AB) – A new airline is coming to Edmonton International Airport (YEG), and it’s bringing the world with it. Discover Airlines, the premium leisure carrier of the Lufthansa Group, is launching non-stop service between Edmonton and Frankfurt, Germany, with connections to hundreds of destinations across Europe and beyond.
Discover Airlines is a premium leisure airline within the Lufthansa Group, offering premium economy and lie-flat business class for long-haul travel. Land in Frankfurt, and the rest of the world is one connection away, with high-frequency connections across Europe, the Mediterranean, and beyond, including India, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Kenya, and Switzerland.
“We are delighted to add Edmonton to our route network. As the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, the city will make it even easier for travelers from Europe to experience the breathtaking natural beauty of Western Canada. At the same time, we are opening up new opportunities for people in Edmonton and the surrounding region: Through our Frankfurt hub—and thanks to Discover Airlines’ seamless integration into the Lufthansa Group’s global network—they will have convenient access to numerous destinations across Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.”
— Rupert Kraus, Director Network and Partnerships, Discover Airlines
Frankfurt is a hub of culture, flavour, and innovation, with architecture, art, and cuisine shaped by visitors from across the globe. As one of Europe’s busiest economic and logistics centres, Frankfurt connects industries and ideas just as readily as it connects flights, a fitting first stop for business and leisure travellers alike.
For European travellers, the new route is also a chance to discover Edmonton, a city known for its food scene, year-round festivals, and no shortage of things to do. From there, the Rocky Mountains and the rest of Alberta are just a short trip away. As Edmonton’s international profile grows, this kind of connectivity helps attract even more visitors from around the world.
“Welcoming Discover Airlines to Edmonton gives our region a new way to reach the world. As part of the Lufthansa Group, it connects Edmonton travellers directly to Europe through Frankfurt, and the hundreds of destinations beyond it. It’s a meaningful piece of our growing international connectivity, in both directions. We’re proud to bring Discover Airlines to YEG, and to keep building the kind of network that helps the Edmonton region go further.”
— Myron Keehn, President & CEO, YEGPassengers flying Discover Airlines can earn and redeem Aeroplan points and book through Air
Canada channels, in addition to Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More program, giving Edmonton travellers flexibility across loyalty programs they may already use. The new route adds another option for Edmonton travellers looking to connect to Europe and the world.
Discover Airlines will operate three times weekly between YEG and Frankfurt Airport (FRA), from June 1 to October 30, 2027, flying an Airbus A330-300 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Inbound flights depart Frankfurt at 13:05 and arrive in Edmonton at 14:30 local time. Outbound flights depart Edmonton at 16:15 and arrive in Frankfurt at 9:05 the following morning, local time.
Discover Frankfurt, then discover where it leads. It’s a city of culture and connection, and with Discover Airlines now flying non-stop from Edmonton, the rest of the world is only one stop further.
Partner Quotes
“Discover Airlines’ new service to Frankfurt puts Edmonton within easy reach of Europe and the world. It’s a vote of confidence in our city, and it strengthens our economy by connecting local businesses to global markets , and bringing more visitors to enjoy our festivals, river valley and incredible food scene.”
— Andrew Knack, Mayor, City of Edmonton
“Germany is one of Alberta’s most important overseas markets, and Discover Airlines’ new Frankfurt–Edmonton service will make it easier for more German guests to experience Canada’s Wildside. Edmonton’s vibrant food and festival scene, paired with Jasper’s extraordinary mountain adventures, gives travellers compelling reasons to stay longer and explore more. We look forward to working with Discover, Edmonton International Airport, Explore Edmonton and our tourism partners to build demand for the service and deliver lasting value for businesses and communities.”
— Jon Mamela, SVP, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Alberta
“Strong air access is one of the most important drivers of a successful visitor economy. With $2.6 billion in visitor spend coming to Edmonton every year, the visitor economy supports businesses across our city, creates jobs, and attracts investment. Enhanced international connectivity helps grow that impact by attracting visitors who stay longer and spend more.”
— Traci Bednard, CEO, Explore Edmonton
“A direct connection to Frankfurt is an essential business route for the Edmonton Region. As our region continues to grow and attract global attention, this route opens the door to welcome European investors, customers and partners, while connecting regional companies to one of the world’s most important business hubs. It’s exactly the kind of connectivity that drives investment and trade and amplifies the momentum that is building in our region.”
— Daryn Edgar, CEO, Edmonton Global
“This is an incredibly important market for Alberta, and we see strong demand from German travellers eager to experience Jasper and the Canadian Rockies. A direct connection between Frankfurt and Edmonton makes those experiences more accessible and creates new opportunities for tourism businesses and communities across the region. We congratulate YEG and its partners on securing a route whose benefits will extend well beyond the airport, supporting jobs, local businesses and the provincial economy.”
— Tyler Riopel, CEO, Tourism Jasper
About Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is driving economic prosperity for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and beyond. It is Canada’s fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area, generating an economic output of over $5.4 billion and supporting over 22,500 jobs. As an Airport for Everyone, YEG provides a welcoming space that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion. For more information, please visit: flyyeg.com, follow @flyyeg on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
About Discover Airlines
Discover Airlines is the Lufthansa Group’s leisure airline in Germany, flying travelers from Frankfurt and Munich to the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world. A cutting-edge product tailored to the needs of leisure travelers and the crew’s welcoming service, make flying with Discover Airlines a real pleasure. Since the summer of 2021, Discover Airlines has complemented the Lufthansa Group’s offering in the growing segment of leisure travel. Guests benefit from an end-to- end booking process and seamless transfers at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs as well as at many global destinations of the Lufthansa Group and its partner airlines. Discover Airlines is headquartered in Frankfurt, currently operates a fleet of 33 aircraft and employs around 2,200 people. The flights can be booked on discover-airlines.com, via all booking channels and websites of the Lufthansa Group, and in travel agencies.
