Method for operating an elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) which can move individually between a plurality of floors, wherein a plurality of elevator cars (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) can be moved simultaneously in an elevator shaft (3, 4) of the elevator system, wherein at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) from the plurality of the elevator cars of the elevator system is assigned a predetermined travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36), wherein the travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) is defined by a sequence of stopping points (40, 42) that is fixed in advance for this at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), at which points the at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is intended to make a planned stop, and the at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is moved in accordance with the travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) assigned to this at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26); wherein at least one first elevator car and at least one second elevator car are provided as the at least one elevator car of the elevator system, wherein a first travel route is assigned to the at least one first elevator car as a travel route and a second travel route is assigned to the at least one second elevator car as a travel route, wherein the first travel route is different than the second travel route in terms of the sequence of the stopping points (40, 42), characterized in that the elevator system has vertical and horizontal elevator shafts, wherein the elevator system has shaft change units at which the elevator cars change from a first elevator shaft into a second elevator shaft, and in that the first travel route is temporarily assigned to the at least one second elevator car such that, with respect to the at least one second elevator car, a change of the assignment from the second travel route to the first travel route occurs. wherein a plurality of elevator cars (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) can be moved simultaneously in an elevator shaft (3, 4) of the elevator system, wherein at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) from the plurality of the elevator cars of the elevator system is assigned a predetermined travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36), wherein the travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) is defined by a sequence of stopping points (40, 42) that is fixed in advance for this at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), at which points the at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is intended to make a planned stop, and the at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is moved in accordance with the travel route (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) assigned to this at least one elevator car (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26); wherein at least one first elevator car and at least one second elevator car are provided as the at least one elevator car of the elevator system, wherein a first travel route is assigned to the at least one first elevator car as a travel route and a second travel route is assigned to the at least one second elevator car as a travel route, wherein the first travel route is different than the second travel route in terms of the sequence of the stopping points (40, 42), characterized in that the elevator system has vertical and horizontal elevator shafts, wherein the elevator system has shaft change units at which the elevator cars change from a first elevator shaft into a second elevator shaft, and in that the first travel route is temporarily assigned to the at least one second elevator car such that, with respect to the at least one second elevator car, a change of the assignment from the second travel route to the first travel route occurs.