Lufthansa Airlines

Lufthansa is the flagship carrier of Germany and one of the world's most prominent aviation groups. The brand's lineage dates back to the original Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G., founded in 1926 in Berlin. Following World War II, the pre-war company was liquidated, and the modern incarnation, originally known as Luftag, was established in 1953 in Cologne. By 1954, it reclaimed the iconic crane logo and name, resuming international operations in 1955.

For much of its history, Lufthansa was a state-controlled entity. However, a transition toward privatization began in the 1960s, culminating in full privatization in 1997. Today, Deutsche Lufthansa AG is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. While it remains a quintessentially German brand, its shareholder base is global, dominated by institutional investors. A notable private anchor shareholder is Klaus-Michael Kuehne, who holds a significant minority stake through his holding company.

As an airline group, its 'manufacturing' or operations are global. While headquartered in Cologne and maintaining its primary operational hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, the group provides services across all continents. The Lufthansa Group has also expanded significantly through acquisitions, now owning major carriers such as Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and an increasing stake in Italy's ITA Airways, making it a pivotal leader in European and international aviation.