Research and development
The Lufthansa Group and its companies continuously work 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 making further improvements to the customer’s travel experience along the entire travel chain and on expanding their sustainability activities.
For instance, through their 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. At the end of the reporting year, seven A350 aircraft fitted with the new Allegris interior were already in service at Lufthansa Airlines. A further improvement at Lufthansa Airlines is the availability of its Wi-Fi portal “FlyNet” free of charge, which enables passengers to access free magazines and podcasts. Digital service channels and automated customer services have also been expanded, in particular for justified compensation claims. In October 2024, the World Aviation Festival rated the Lufthansa Group’s app the world’s best airline app. This 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 for European flights, which include carbon offsets in the price, was followed by a roll-out of this offering to all long-haul flights in the reporting year. ↗ Passenger Airlines.
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.
Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik are continuing to expand their innovative and digital products and services and developing sustainable solutions for the airline industry
In the reporting year, Lufthansa Cargo reached a milestone in the digitalisation of the airfreight industry with the IATA initiative ONE Record. Since March 2024, shipment details have been exchanged with all of the parties involved in the airfreight transport chain in the open source solution ONE Record.
In addition, in July 2024 Lufthansa Cargo joined the Smart Freight Centre Community and is thus continuing to actively work towards reducing its greenhouse gases caused by aviation as well as processes on the ground.
In the reporting year, Lufthansa Cargo also participated in a 100-flight test aimed at improving the prediction of climate-relevant contrails. ↗ Logistics business segment.
The independent platform AVIATAR developed by Lufthansa Technik support 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 4,400 aircraft were already connected to the AVIATAR platform. Within the scope of its Ambition 2030 programme, Lufthansa Technik aims to achieve its goal of becoming a fully digitalised MRO provider by 2030.
In addition, Lufthansa Technik has expanded its use of the fuel-saving surface technology “AeroSHARK” developed in partnership with BASF to additional Lufthansa Group aircraft types. At the end of the reporting year, 21 Boeing 777 aircraft at Lufthansa Cargo, SWISS and Austrian Airlines had already been equipped with this new type of surface.
In 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 into the safe use of a potential energy source for future aviation to be carried out under realistic conditions. Further progress was made with the gradual integration and operation of the necessary components in the reporting year. ↗ MRO business segment.
Together with ETH Zurich, Lufthansa Aviation Training launched a three-year research project in the reporting year to explore the use of virtual reality for future training content.
Innovation and digitalisation driven by various platforms
The Lufthansa Innovation Hub is also driving innovation and digitalisation. The hub is working on new digital business models, partnerships and strategic investments throughout the travel and mobility chain.
The Lufthansa Group Digital Hangar brings together the digital talents in the Lufthansa Group and pools expertise, innovation and processes in one agile structure. It aims to set new technological trends and standards, and to create genuine added value for customers. By delivering digital products faster and with a high level of 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.