Lufthansa Innovation Hub

The Lufthansa Innovation Hub is the leading digitalization unit of the Lufthansa Group and connects the world’s largest airline group with relevant players in the global Travel and Mobility Tech ecosystem. LIH's ambition is to expand Lufthansa Group‘s footprint along the travel chain and to develop new digital business beyond flying.

It was established in 2014 in response to the rapid developments of the global Travel & Mobility Tech scene. Several thousand startups have emerged along the travel chain, raising consistently high venture capital investments globally in recent years (see the infographic on global VC investments attached). They are a key driver of the digitization of travel and are leveraging digital technologies to make the travel experience seamless across all steps of the journey.

This poses new challenges for aviation. Customers no longer just expect excellent service around their flight but are increasingly looking for end-to-end services around their entire journey. Digital innovations in the travel context can no longer be achieved by silo-like initiatives of individual players, but are most promising when realized across the industry.

Our team in Berlin consists of experts from the startup world. It systematically screens relevant developments in the Travel & Mobility Tech ecosystem and identifies and validates new business opportunities.

Founded: September of 2014

Management: Christine Wang

Locations: Berlin, Singapore, Shanghai

Capabilities Discover – The LIH’s Research & Intelligence analysts explore and evaluate developments in the global Travel & Mobility tech ecosystem.

Build – LIH develops and validates business model innovations using prototypes and transfers them into full-fledged solutions within LHG or spins them off as independent startups in the market.

Partner – The LIH initiates partnerships between the Lufthansa Group and innovative Travel & Mobility Tech startups.

Invest – The LIH supports the Lufthansa Group by strategically investing in tech players in the global startup scene.

Transform – The LIH helps the Lufthansa Group to embody ways of thinking and methods of successful tech companies in its own innovation culture.