Lufthansa Group celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Lufthansa with a major ceremony on Wednesday.
As part of the event, Hangar One, the new conference and visitor center of Lufthansa Group at Frankfurt Airport, was officially opened. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered the official keynote speech.
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group: “100 years ago, the founding of the first Lufthansa marked the beginning of an unprecedented success story. From it emerged our present-day Lufthansa Group. With 110,000 employees across 14 airlines today, at Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik, at six hubs in 5 home markets in the heart of Europe. As an international group, we will continue to fulfill our mission in the future: to connect people, cultures and economies in a sustainable way. Because air transport has been a growth industry for a hundred years and will remain so in the future.”
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz paid tribute to the significance of the anniversary in his speech: “Lufthansa is an integral part of the history of the Federal Republic and a key company for Germany as a business location. For a century, it has connected people and markets around the world. Lufthansa’s success is above all the merit of over 100,000 Lufthansa employees who, day after day, hour after hour, ensure that passengers and cargo arrive safely. I wish Lufthansa continued success for the next 100 years.”
Kley thanked the Chancellor for his loyalty to Lufthansa, which he had once again demonstrated with today’s visit.
Among other things, the ceremony paid tribute to the people who have shaped the Lufthansa brand over a century. For example, the youngest apprentice in the Lufthansa Group was interviewed on stage. The artistic program impressively showcased the company’s eventful history. Guests included numerous ambassadors and top political representatives from federal, state and European levels, including Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Hessian Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU), and numerous members of state governments from Hesse, Bavaria and Berlin.
Lufthansa Group today makes a significant contribution to Germany’s position among the world leaders in aviation. Around 65 percent of the group’s more than 100,000 employees work in Germany. In Frankfurt am Main alone – the company’s largest location – more than 35,000 people are employed. The Lufthansa Group Hangar One, which opened today, enables new forms of collaboration for the company’s employees. For customers, business partners and aviation enthusiasts, it is intended to be a place where Lufthansa’s pioneering spirit and the future of aviation can be experienced firsthand. The main attractions are the historic Lufthansa aircraft Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed Super Star, which have been extensively restored and are now on permanent display. Among other features, guests can explore numerous exhibits from Lufthansa’s corporate history on an open gallery, some of which are accessible to the public for the first time. Lufthansa Group Hangar One will open to the general public in early summer.