Integrated co-operation a success factor

All around the world, we are seeing major network airlines co-operating more and more intensively with their home hubs: Atlanta and Delta Airlines, Istanbul and Turkish Airlines, as well as Amsterdam, Paris and Air France/KLM. Germany also has its own positive example with Munich and the Lufthansa Group. The partners have worked together to develop Terminal 2, which processes all customers of Lufthansa and Star Alliance partners, as a transit terminal, finance it, and operate it for 14 years. In 2016, the terminal was expanded to include a new building with a capacity of eleven million passengers, costing around 700 million euros. Both companies have a 60 percent (FMG) and 40 percent (LH) share in T2 GmbH respectively, making them true system partners.

The aim of airlines and airport operators is to jointly recognize passenger wishes. Terminal 2 lives off this, and is tailored precisely to guest needs and expectations. Munich boasts short distances, both to gates and the numerous Lufthansa lounges. And transit time is an outstanding 40 minutes. Guests can use the saved time wisely: it’s all about “visitor attractiveness”. So it is no coincidence that Terminal 2 was named the world’s best terminal at the Skytrax World Airport Awards – the “Oscars” for airports – in March. And the airport overall as number one in Europe.

Developing joint business models

Munich has shown that a lot can be achieved when working together. What’s on the agenda for a real system partnership in Frankfurt now?

• Joint sources of revenue: Leases and rentals at the airport are playing an increasingly important role in financing aviation. Lufthansa wants to contribute its know-how to increase income – for the benefit of the airport and the airline.
• Joint growth strategy:Lufthansa wants to keep growing in Frankfurt. But that can only be done in co-operation with Fraport – jeopardizing transit quality by making dumping offers to competitors is counterproductive.
• Joint quality standards: Travellers departing from Germany have access to numerous hubs, enabling them to fly all over the world. Airport quality is a key criterion – Lufthansa and Fraport must increasingly tackle the future together here.