DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Their core work

Deutsche Lufthansa is Germany's flagship airline and one of Europe's largest aviation groups, operating a fleet serving hundreds of destinations worldwide. In H2020, Lufthansa contributes deep operational expertise as an airspace user — testing and validating air traffic management solutions, airport ground operations, and flight efficiency improvements in real airline environments. Their role bridges the gap between aviation research concepts and daily airline operations, providing the end-user perspective that makes R&D results practically deployable. They bring real flight data, pilot crews, and operational infrastructure that no research lab can replicate.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Lufthansa's early H2020 work (2015-2018) centered on aviation safety fundamentals — managing risks, aircraft fire safety, organizational safety culture, and human performance in flight operations. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward operational efficiency and sustainability: airport ground operations, green trajectories, CO2 reduction, and flight efficiency optimization. This mirrors the broader aviation industry pivot from safety-as-primary-concern toward decarbonization as the defining challenge of the next decade.

Lufthansa is moving firmly toward sustainable aviation operations — expect future engagement in fuel-efficient flight paths, CO2 reduction technologies, and digitalized airport processes.

How they like to work

Lufthansa operates primarily as an active partner (5 of 8 projects), but has proven coordination capability, leading two SESAR projects focused on airspace user needs. With 67 unique consortium partners across 17 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a fixed circle. Their role is typically that of the demanding end-user — the airline that validates whether research solutions actually work in daily operations.

Lufthansa has collaborated with 67 distinct partners across 17 countries, reflecting a wide pan-European network typical of SESAR and Clean Sky joint undertakings. Their partnerships span air navigation service providers, avionics manufacturers, airports, and research institutions across the EU aviation ecosystem.

What sets them apart

Lufthansa is one of very few major airlines actively participating in EU aviation research — most H2020 transport projects involve technology developers and research institutes, not the airlines that ultimately use the results. This makes them an irreplaceable partner for any consortium that needs real-world airline validation, operational data, or pilot involvement. If your project aims to change how airlines fly, land, or taxi, Lufthansa is the partner who can test it at scale.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Airline Team xStream
  Largest single grant (EUR 890K) and coordinator role — Lufthansa leading arrival management research as the primary airspace user voice.
• ALBATROSS
  Most recent project (2020-2023) focused on green flight and CO2 reduction, signaling Lufthansa's strategic pivot toward sustainable aviation research.
• Future Sky Safety
  Large-scale pan-European safety research program covering six risk areas from fire to human performance — Lufthansa's entry point into H2020 aviation research.