Sustainability
Developing countries:
air transport plays a key role
The economy has been growing for years in emerging and developing countries at an above average rate. The driver is increasing global exchange - in tourism as well as in trade. This would not be conceivable without a strong air transport industry which makes fast and efficient connections possible.
Africa is a high-growth region for the Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group is expanding its involvement in Africa:
- Brussels Airlines: The Lufthansa Group’s airline has traditionally been strong in African air transport. The airline serves 24 airports on the continent.
- Logistics: Lufthansa Cargo also focuses on growth in Africa. The freight subsidiary offers a comprehensive air freight network via the African connections of the German airline company, as well as the freighters on main routes to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Cairo.
- LSG Sky Chefs: Lufthansa’s catering company alone employs approximately 1,300 staff in Africa. Tens of thousands of meals per day are prepared in South Africa alone.
- Technik: Lufthansa Technik has long-standing partners in Africa such as Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways. In addition, Lufthansa Technik also supports the training of local aviation experts.
Development through tourism
Almost 90 percent of travellers get to their destinations in emerging and developing countries thanks to attractive flight connections. And the travel industry is growing: the World Tourism Organization UNWTO expects another record year. Millions of people will benefit from this locally:
- Social impact: Travel also promotes the development of society in holiday destinations. According to a study done by the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Tourismuswirtschaft, BTW), tourists support access to education in a measurable way and with the literacy of the local population.
- Job market: The spending of 15 tourists secures one job in emerging and developing countries, according to the BTW study. Over 11 million holiday-makers from Germany annually travel to the holiday regions. Employment effect: 740,000 jobs.
- Public infrastructure: In peripheral regions, the revenue from the travel industry facilitates expensive but important infrastructure projects. These include, for example, road construction or electricity and water supplies. These are important factors in boosting regional economic cycles.
15 German tourists create one job in developing countries
Connection to world trade
In addition to tourism, many developing countries are increasingly benefiting from the international exchange of goods. Air freight is of considerable importance for integration into global trade. For example cut flowers: Kenya exports 120,000 tonnes of cut flowers per year all over the world by air freight. In the EU, every second rose comes from this country on the equator, for example. This secures nearly 100,000 jobs in Kenya and also contributes to the quality of the jobs. Background: consumers in Germany and Europe are increasingly supporting sustainably produced goods - one in every six Kenyan flower farm is producing today using fair trade initiatives.
Aviation is therefore a strong partner for development policy. Lufthansa Group plays an important role in this. See Africa: the airlines Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines currently fly 630 flights to Africa every month and carry around 120,000 passengers on these routes.
Africa is a high-growth region for the Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group is expanding its involvement in Africa:
- Brussels Airlines: The Lufthansa Group’s airline has traditionally been strong in African air transport. The airline serves 24 airports on the continent.
- Logistics: Lufthansa Cargo also focuses on growth in Africa. The freight subsidiary offers a comprehensive air freight network via the African connections of the German airline company, as well as the freighters on main routes to Johannesburg, Nairobi and Cairo.
- LSG Sky Chefs: Lufthansa’s catering company alone employs approximately 1,300 staff in Africa. Tens of thousands of meals per day are prepared in South Africa alone.
- Technik: Lufthansa Technik has long-standing partners in Africa such as Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways. In addition, Lufthansa Technik also supports the training of local aviation experts.
Further content on the topic
Development Factor Tourism
The study “Development Factor Tourism”, commissioned by the German Tourism Association (Bundesverband der Deutschen Tourismuswirtschaft, BTW) and substantially financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, explores the economic impact of German tourism expenses in developing countries.
