"Deutsche Lufthansa" redirects here. For the East German airline, see Interflug. Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ISIN: DE0008232125) (pronounced [ˈdɔɪtʃə ˈlʊfthanza]) is the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried (second is Air France – KLM), and the flag carrier of Germany. The name of the company is derived from Luft (the German word for "air"), and Hansa (after Hanseatic League, the powerful medieval trading group).
The airline is the world's fifth largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating services to 209 destinations in 81 countries. Together with its partners Lufthansa services over 410 destinations.[1] It has the second-largest passenger airline fleet in the world, when combined with Lufthansa CityLine, Air Dolomiti, Eurowings, Germanwings, Augsburg Airways, Contact Air, and SWISS, operating 529 aircraft.
Lufthansa corporate headquarters is in Cologne, whereas its main base and primary traffic hub is at Frankfurt International Airport in Frankfurt am Main with a second hub at Munich International Airport.[1]
Lufthansa is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance. Star Alliance was formed in 1997 together with Thai Airways, United Airlines, Air Canada and Scandinavian Airlines System. Star Alliance has now 20 member airlines and 3 regional members. The Lufthansa Group operates more than 400 aircraft and employs 105,261 people worldwide. In 2007, 83.1 million passengers flew with Lufthansa including all subsidiaries.
History
The company was founded on 6 January 1926 in Berlin, following a merger between "Deutsche Aero Lloyd" (DAL) and "Junkers Luftverkehr".[2] The company's original name was Deutsche Luft Hansa Aktiengesellschaft. Lufthansa in one word has been used since 1933. On December 9, 1927, Deutsche Luft Hansa, on behalf of the German government, established an agreement with the Spanish government authorizing an air service between the two countries. This included a capital investment to establish an air company that would eventually become Iberia.
In the years prior to World War II, the company pioneered routes to the Far East and across the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, using a large fleet of mostly Dornier, Junkers, Heinkel, Focke-Wulf and other German-designed aircraft. After the outbreak of war in 1939, Lufthansa was only able to maintain service to neutral countries. Early in the war, along with the Italian Transcontinental Airline (Linee Aeree Transcontinentali Italiane, or LATI), the company competed vigorously in South America.[3] However, all service was suspended by Lufthansa following Germany's defeat in 1945.
Lufthansa was recreated on 6 January 1953 as Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf (Luftag) and was renamed Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft on August 6, 1954. The "new" Lufthansa of 1953 is not the legal successor of the Lufthansa founded in 1926 and which existed during and before World War II. On 1 April 1955 Lufthansa resumed scheduled service within Germany. International operations started on 15 May 1955, with flights to points in Europe, followed by service to New York on 8 June using Lockheed Super Constellations. South Atlantic routes were resumed in August 1956.
East Germany attempted to establish its own airline in the 1950s using the Lufthansa name, but this resulted in a dispute with West Germany, where the airline was already in operation. East Germany renamed its national airline to Interflug, which ceased operations in 1991. Lufthansa was banned from flying into West Berlin until the demise of the SED regime.
In 1958, Lufthansa placed an order for four Boeing 707s, used to start jet services from Frankfurt to New York in March of 1960. Boeing 720s were later bought to back up the 707 fleet. In February of 1961, Far East routes were extended beyond Bangkok, Thailand to Hong Kong and Tokyo. The cities of Lagos, Nigeria and Johannesburg, South Africa were added in 1962.
Lufthansa introduced the Boeing 727 into service in 1964 and in May of that same year they began the Polar route from Frankfurt to Tokyo. In February of 1965, the company placed an order for twenty-one Boeing 737 medium-haul jets, which were introduced into service in 1968.
Lufthansa was the first customer to purchase and also bought the largest number of Boeing 737 aircraft, and was one of only four buyers of the new 737-100s (the others were NASA, Malaysia-Singapore Airlines and Avianca – while the NASA airframe was technically the first constructed, it was the last delivered and originally intended for delivery to Lufthansa). In doing so, Lufthansa became the first foreign launch customer for a Boeing commercial plane.
The beginning of the wide-body era for Lufthansa was marked with the inaugural Boeing 747 flight on April 26, 1970. In 1971 Lufthansa began service to South America. In 1979, Lufthansa and Swissair were launch customers for the advanced new Airbus A310, with an order for twenty-five aircraft.
The company's major fleet renovation and modernization programme for the 1990s began on June 29, 1985 with an order for fifteen Airbus A320s and seven Airbus A300-600s. Ten Boeing 737-300s were ordered a few days later. All of the aircraft were delivered between 1987 and 1992. Lufthansa also bought Airbus A321, Airbus A340 and the Boeing 747-400.
Lufthansa adopted a new corporate identity in 1988. The fleet was given a new livery while cabins, city offices and airport lounges were redesigned.
On 28 October 1990, 25 days after reunification, Berlin became a Lufthansa destination again. On 18 May 1997 Lufthansa, Air Canada, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways and United Airlines formed the Star Alliance, the world's first multilateral airline alliance.
In 2000 Air One became partner airline of Lufthansa and nearly all Air One flights are code-shared with Lufthansa. In June 2003, Lufthansa opened Terminal 2 at Munich's Franz Josef Strauß International Airport to relieve its main hub, Frankfurt, which was suffering from capacity constraints. It is one of the first terminals in Europe partially owned by an airline.
On 17 May 2004, Lufthansa became the launch customer for the Connexion by Boeing in-flight online connectivity service.
On 22 March 2005 SWISS merged with Lufthansa Airlines. The merger included the provision that the majority shareholders (the Swiss government and large Swiss companies) be offered payment if Lufthansa's share price outperforms an airline index during the years following the merger. The two companies will continue to be run separately.
On 6 December 2006, Lufthansa placed an order for 20 Boeing 747-8 airliners, becoming the launch customer of the type. The airline will also be the first European airline to operate the Airbus A380, expected in service in 2009.
Lufthansa is owned by private investors (88.52%), MGL Gesellschaft für Luftverkehrswerte (10.05%), Deutsche Postbank (1.03%) and Deutsche Bank (0.4%) and has 37,042 employees (at March 2007).[1]
On December 14th Lufthansa and American low-cost airline Jetblue announced the beginning of a partnership initiated through the 19% stake purchase in Jetblue shares by Lufthansa. This is the first major ownership investment by a European carrier in an American carrier since the EU-US openskies agreement was announced last year and could trigger further investment by European airlines in the troubled US airline industry.
Lufthansa is currently looking into further consolidation of the European aviation sector by considering the purchase of the Polish government's majority stake in Polish flag carrier LOT while also keeping an option on bidding for the Spanish flag carrier Iberia.
Subsidiaries
In addition to its main operation, Lufthansa has subsidiaries. The most important are:
- SunExpress, Airline based in Antalya, Turkey; 50% owned by Lufthansa (50% Turkish Airlines)
- Swiss International Air Lines, an airline based in Zurich, Switzerland owned by Lufthansa
- Lufthansa Cargo, flight logistics company
- Lufthansa Technik, aircraft maintenance providers
- Lufthansa Systems, largest European aviation IT provider
- Lufthansa Regional, a brand operated by an alliance of several small regional airlines, including Lufthansa CityLine
- Lufthansa CityLine, a regional carrier, wholly owned by Lufthansa
- Air Dolomiti, an airline based in Trieste, Italy
- Delvag, an insurance company specializing in air transport
- LSG Sky Chefs, the world's largest airline caterer, which accounts for one third of the world's airline meals
- Lufthansa Flight Training, a provider of flight crew training services to various airlines and the main training arm for the Airline's own pilots
- Condor, a charter carrier, of which Lufthansa holds 24.9%
- Lufthansa holds 13% of Luxair.
- 49% of Eurowings a regional carrier, which in turn has a full stake in Germanwings, a low-cost subsidiary operating short-haul point-to-point flights from a number of bases in Germany
- 30%, minus 1 share, of BMI, a UK airline
- Lufthansa has a 19% stake in JetBlue.[4]
- Lufthansa Commercial Holding, containing over 400 service and finance companies of which Lufthansa holds shares
History of the brand
The Lufthansa logo, an encircled crane in flight, was created in 1918. It was part of the livery of the first German airline, Deutsche Luftreederei GmbH (DLR), which began air service on 5 February 1919. The stylised crane was designed by Professor Otto Firle. In 1926 Lufthansa adopted this symbol from Aero Lloyd AG, which merged with DLR in 1923. The original creator of the name Lufthansa is believed to be F.A. Fischer von Puturzyn. In 1925 he published a book entitled "Luft-Hansa" which examined the options open to aviation policymakers at the time. Luft Hansa was the name given to the new airline which resulted from the merger of Junkers Luftverkehr AG and Deutscher Aero Lloyd[2].
Destinations
- Further information: Lufthansa destinations
Fleet
Lufthansa and Luthansa Cityline (other subsidiaries are not included) operates the following aircraft as of 14 July 2008:[5]
Lufthansa Fleet
| Aircraft |
Total |
Passengers
(First/Business*/Economy) |
Routes |
Notes |
| Airbus A300-600R |
14 |
280* |
Germany, Europe, Africa, Kazakhstan and Pakistan |
|
| Airbus A319-100 |
20
(11 orders) |
126* |
Germany, Europe, North Africa |
|
| Airbus A320-200 |
36
(14 orders)
(30 options)
For the entire A320 Family |
150* |
Germany, Europe |
|
| Airbus A321-100/200 |
31
(30 orders) |
182* |
Germany, Europe, Egypt, Jordania |
Largest operator of the Airbus A321 |
| Airbus A330-300 |
14
(3 orders) |
221 (8/48/165) |
Frankfurt and Munich into North America, Africa,
Middle East and Asia, also used on several flights Frankfurt-Munich |
|
| Airbus A340-300 |
28 |
247 (8/42/197) |
Frankfurt to North America, Africa, South America, Middle East and Asia, Munich to North America and Asia, Dusseldorf to New York, Chicago and Toronto |
Largest operator of the Airbus A340-300 |
| Airbus A340-600 |
20
(4 orders) |
306 (8/60/238) |
Frankfurt and Munich into North America, Asia,
also used on several flights Frankfurt-Munich |
Largest operator of the Airbus A340-600 |
| Airbus A380-800 |
(15 orders)
(10 options) |
555 |
Probably Frankurt into North America, Asia |
Entry into service: 2009 |
| Avro RJ85 |
18 |
93* |
Germany, Europe |
Operated by Cityline |
| Boeing 737-300 |
33 |
127* |
Germany, Europe |
Exit from service: 2012
Replacement aircraft: Airbus A320 Family |
| Boeing 737-500 |
30 |
111* |
Germany, Europe and North Africa |
Exit from service: 2010
Replacement aircraft: Airbus A320 Family, Embraer 190 |
| Boeing 747-400 |
30 |
344 (16/66/270) |
Frankfurt into North America, South America, Middle East and Asia |
Exit from Service: 2010-2012
Replacement aircraft: Boeing 747-8, A340-600 and A380 |
| Boeing 747-8 |
(20 orders)
(20 options) |
|
Probably Frankfurt into North America, South American, Middle East, Asia |
Launch customer
Entry into service: 2010 |
| Bombardier CRJ-100/200 |
26 |
50* |
Germany, Europe |
Operated by Lufthansa Cityline |
| Bombardier CRJ-700 |
22 |
70* |
Germany, Europe |
Operated by Lufthansa Cityline and Eurowings (Lufthansa Regional) |
| Bombardier CRJ-900 |
12
(15 orders) |
84* |
Germany, Europe |
Operated by Lufthansa Cityline |
| Bombardier CSeries |
0
(30 orders)
(30 options)
|
100, 130 |
Germany, Europe |
No firm order yet (LOI only) Entry into service: 2013 - Launch customer |
|
| Embraer 190 |
(30 orders) |
|
Germany, Europe |
Entry into service: 2009 |
*First Class is offered aboard some international flights.
*Short haul aircraft base Business Class seating amounts by demand.
As of March 2008, the average age of the Lufthansa fleet was 12.8 years.
Lufthansa Cityline
The Lufthansa Cityline fleet consists of the following aircraft:
Lufthansa Cargo
The Lufthansa Cargo fleet consists of the following aircraft:
The Lufthansa group holds the third biggest fleet of aircraft in the world and is the largest non-American aircraft operator.
Lufthansa's Vintage Aircraft Restoration
Because Lufthansa has been consistently profitable, the company has been able to fund the restoration of its antique passenger planes. Decades ago, many airlines maintained a few examples of their antiques for marketing and public relations purposes, but years of losses forced them to abandon this activity, leaving it to luxury goods makers such as Breitling, or caffeine drink purveyor Red Bull, to restore aircraft as flying billboards.
Lufthansa Technik, the airline's maintenance arm, restored a Junkers JU-52 originally built in 1936, to airworthiness; this aircraft was a Lufthansa workhorse on the 10-hour Berlin to Rome route, across the Alps, in the 1930s. Lufthansa is now restoring a Lockheed Super Constellation,using parts from three such aircraft bought at auction. Lufthansa's Super Constellation "Starliners" used to serve routes such as Hamburg-Madrid-Dakar-Caracas-Santiago. Lufthansa Technik recruits retired employees and volunteers for skilled labor.[6][7]Lufthansa sells air buffs rides on the restored airplanes. (See also List of airworthy Ju 52)
Cabin
All Lufthansa long haul First and Business Class have personal televisions. All Lufthansa Airbus A330-300 and A340-600 aircraft are equipped with personal Audio-Video-On-Demand (AVOD) screens in Economy Class. Lufthansa is currently fitting personal AVOD screens in the Economy seats of its remaining long haul aircraft.[8]
Lufthansa does not offer in-flight entertainment on its short haul aircraft.
Codeshare agreements
Lufthansa has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[9]
Accidents and incidents
- Hull-loss Accidents: 61 with a total of 282 fatalities[10]
- 11 January 1959 – a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation enroute from Hamburg, Germany crashed into the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil while descending in heavy rain. 36 people died, 3 survived.
- 28 January 1966 – Lufhansa Flight 005, a Convair CV 440 crashed on landing after an approach in bad weather and low visibility in Bremen, Germany. All 46 passengers and crew on board lost their lives.
- 20 November 1974 – Lufthansa Flight 540, a Boeing 747-130 crashed shortly after take-off in Nairobi. 59 of 157 on board lost their lives. It was the first crash of a Boeing 747.
- 26 July 1979 – Lufthansa Cargo Flight 527, a Boeing 707-330C crashed after take-off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, killing 3 crew members.
- 14 September 1993 – Flight 2904, an Airbus A320 coming from Frankfurt am Main to Warsaw, Poland with 70 people, overran ruway 11 and crashed into an earth embankment located 90 m beyond the end of the runway. The copilot and a passenger died. [1]
- 7 July 1999 – Lufthansa Cargo India Flight 8533, a Boeing 727-200F, crashed after take-off in Kathmandu, killing 5 crew members.
- Hijackings
- Other occurrences
Accessibility
Organisations for people with handicaps blame the Deutsche Lufthansa not to care enough for persons with reduced mobility. On Europan flights the Deutsche Lufthansa AG does not provide on-board wheelchairs in order to enable PRM's the transfer to the toilets. Neither can the toilets be reached, nor can they be accessed due to narrow toilet cabins. [12]
The company points out that they would be better equipped then competitors. Economical reasons cause airlines not to make toilets accessible says the speaker of the Deutsche Lufthansa Jan Bärwalde. [13]
See also
References
External links
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China and North Asia regional office |
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Latin America and the Caribbean regional office |
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Middle East and North Africa regional office |
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North America regional office |
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Russia and the CIS regional office |
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Coordinates: 50°56′15″N 6°58′11″E / 50.9375, 6.96972
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