Research and development
The Lufthansa Group and its companies work continuously – both individually and across segments – on innovative services and products. Most of these activities are run separately in the individual segments since they focus on different areas. Internal measures are supported by a wide range of external cooperation arrangements.
↗ Business segments
Passenger Airlines focus on improving the travel experience and sustainability activities
The Lufthansa Group Passenger Airlines are focusing on further improvements to the customer’s travel experience along the entire travel chain and on expanding their sustainability activities.
For instance, through its refit with Lufthansa Allegris and SWISS Senses product generation seating, Lufthansa Airlines and SWISS offer their passengers a new travel experience in every class on long-haul routes. Further examples are expanded digital service channels such as the chatbot and automated customer services. The digital customer portal enables customers to access all relevant information and resolve issues quickly and easily thanks to new, interactive self-service options.
In addition, in the reporting year the passenger airlines expanded their more climate-friendly flight options. The introduction of “green fares”, which include carbon offsets in the price, for European flights was followed by a trial roll-out to selected long-haul routes in the reporting year. All passengers also have the option of offsetting or reducing their carbon emissions in the course of the booking process by means of high-quality offset programmes and the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The Lufthansa Group again collaborated with several companies and research institutes in the reporting year that research, promote and produce sustainable fuels.
↗ Combined non-financial declaration/Climate protection
Aviation Services expand digital products and services
Lufthansa Cargo introduced a new product speed in the reporting year. Time-critical freight can now be transported even faster to its destination with td.Zoom. Its digital services have also been expanded. A direct API-connection to the Lufthansa Cargo systems was introduced for key accounts, for instance, and the eCommerce sector was developed further. With its “Sustainable Choice” service, Lufthansa Cargo also offers its customers a carbon-neutral transport option for their freight.
The independent platform AVIATAR developed by Lufthansa Technik supports customers worldwide in real time with the management of complex fleet operations and helps to diagnose errors in individual components, thus supporting the digital transformation of aviation. At the end of the reporting year, the data from some 3,300 aircraft were already connected to the AVIATAR platform.
In addition, together with BASF, Lufthansa Technik started regular use of the fuel-saving surface technology “AeroSHARK”. By the end of the reporting year, 15 Boeing 777 aircraft at Lufthansa Cargo and SWISS had been equipped with this new type of surface.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Lufthansa Technik started to prepare an Airbus A320 previously used by Lufthansa Airlines as a real-life laboratory for testing maintenance and ground processes for hydrogen-powered aircraft of the future. The Hydrogen Aviation Lab will enable early research to be carried out under realistic conditions into the safe use of a potential energy source for future aviation.
Lufthansa Aviation Training presented an innovative virtual reality system for pilot training in cooperation with Airbus in the reporting year. The Virtual Procedure Trainer consists of VR goggles and a laptop, and creates an authentic 3D view of an aircraft cockpit in which standard procedures can be trained.
Innovation and digitalisation driven by various platforms
Innovation and digitalisation are being advanced by the Lufthansa Group as well as in close collaboration with the Lufthansa Innovation Hub. It works on new digital business models, partnerships and strategic investments along the entire travel and mobility chain. The Uptrip app was launched in the reporting year. It enables passengers to obtain trading cards for their used boarding passes, which can then be swapped for rewards, such as access to Lufthansa Group lounges or status miles.
The Lufthansa Group Digital Hangar brings together the digital talents in the Lufthansa Group and pools know-how, innovation and processes in agile structure. It aims to set new technological trends and standards and to create real value for customers. By delivering digital products faster and in high quality, the aim is to significantly improve customer satisfaction and the digital user experience. The Lufthansa Group Digital Hangar is intended to position the Lufthansa Group as a digital trendsetter.
In addition, via the Lufthansa Group CleanTech Hub the latest climate-related technologies are being pooled and sustainable innovations developed. These relate to the following five core areas: Alternative Fuels and Emissions, Aircraft-Related Hardware, Digital Solutions and Processes, Waste and Circular Economy, and Transport of Tomorrow and Beyond.