Lufthansa's 100th anniversary celebrations begin: here's what's happening in Berlin

Lufthansa is celebrating today 100 years since its first flight, took off on April 6, 1926, and for such an iconic European aviation brand it is inevitable to turn the occasion into a celebration in grand style.

It is one of those birthdays that weighs: not only because of the longevity of the name, the crane logo and all the imagery built up over a century, but because it tells the story of how Lufthansa has managed to remain, for better or worse, one of the most recognizable symbols of continental flight. It is no coincidence that today the group is also celebrating the anniversary by evoking the inaugural routes of a century ago, as if to ideally close a circle that began in the pioneering 1920s.

That said, to be fair, the story was not linear: today's Lufthansa claims the legacy of the carrier born in 1926, but after the war that history was interrupted and the company did not become operational again until the 1950s, with the re-founding of the new Lufthansa and the resumption of flights in 1955.

In short, 100 years, yes, but with a long forced pause in between that makes this birthday more complex than a simple "century always in the air." And this is perhaps what makes the anniversary all the more interesting: not only a celebration for a historic brand, but also the balance sheet of a company that has been through the brightest and the most uncomfortable parts of European history, and that today tries to tell the story of both.

Two flights celebrating what were the first two original flights depart from Berlin, with the special feature that on the Berlin/Cologne flight there was only one passenger, while today it will be an A350/900 completely sold out.

I will be on board, as a paying passenger, of the Berlin/Zurich flight, 100 years on from 6 passengers and little comfort to a brand new Dreamliner outfitted with Allegris cabins.

The desire to celebrate is noticeable ovuneque, commemorative tickets, the 100 is scattered everywhere in the airport, lounges and on planes with special liveries designed by LH.

The arrival at BER of the two cars from Frankfurt and Munich with guests and LH staff on board made a spectacular parallel landing, then received a water cannon and parked under the gates where the 100th anniversary celebration was underway.

Lh has also thought of a "special" gift for all passengers who fly on board the airline today, April 6: 100 Miles&More miles for free!!!, the proverbial Teutonic generosity will not be denied, but maybe there will also be some surprises on Uptrip, we'll see.

For everything else now I just have to get on board and see what's in store!