Lufthansa Opens New Conference and Visitor Center, Marking 100 Years of Flight
- Joe Breitfeller
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Lufthansa Group has announced the official opening of ‘Hangar One,’ their new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport. At Wednesday’s opening ceremony, the keynote address was delivered by German Federal Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
On Wednesday (April 15, 2026), Lufthansa Group celebrated their 100th anniversary with a major ceremony. As part of the event, Hangar One, the company’s new conference and visitor at Frankfurt Airport, was officially opened, with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivering the official keynote speech. Wednesday’s ceremony paid tribute to the people who have shaped the Lufthansa brand over a century. For example, the youngest apprentice in the Lufthansa Group was interviewed on stage. The program also impressively showcased the company’s rich history. Guests included numerous ambassadors and top political representatives from federal, state and European levels, including Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Hessian Minister-President Boris Rhein (CDU), and numerous members of state governments from Hesse, Bavaria and Berlin.
Speaking at Wednesday’s ceremony, Lufthansa Group’s CEO, Carsten Spohr, said,
“100 years ago, the founding of the first Lufthansa marked the beginning of an unprecedented success story. From it emerged our present-day Lufthansa Group. With 110,000 employees across 14 airlines today, at Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik, at six hubs in 5 home markets in the heart of Europe. As an international group, we will continue to fulfill our mission in the future: to connect people, cultures and economies in a sustainable way. Because air transport has been a growth industry for a hundred years and will remain so in the future.”
Wednesday’s keynote address was delivered by German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said,
“Lufthansa is an integral part of the history of the Federal Republic and a key company for Germany as a business location. For a century, it has connected people and markets around the world. Lufthansa's success is above all the merit of over 100,000 Lufthansa employees who, day after day, hour after hour, ensure that passengers and cargo arrive safely. I wish Lufthansa continued success for the next 100 years.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chairman, Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, said,
“We are ready for the future. And we want the future. We are prepared to contribute to prosperity and growth in Europe. To do so, we are focusing on innovation. On new technologies in aviation. On artificial intelligence and digitalization. On further internationalization. Civil aviation is more important today than ever before. For people all over the world, it means connectivity beyond their own borders. It means economic growth and jobs. We at Lufthansa are ready for the future.”
Approximately 65 percent of Lufthansa Group’s over 100,000 team members work in Germany. In Frankfurt am Main alone, the company employs more than 35,000 people. The Lufthansa Group Hangar One, which opened on Wednesday, will enable new forms of collaboration for the company’s employees. For customers, business partners and aviation enthusiasts, it is intended to be a place where Lufthansa’s pioneering spirit and the future of aviation can be experienced firsthand. The main attractions are the historic Lufthansa aircraft Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed Super Star, which have been extensively restored and are now on permanent display. Guests can also explore numerous exhibits from Lufthansa’s corporate history on an open gallery, some of which are accessible to the public for the first time. Lufthansa Group Hangar One will open to the general public in early summer.
Source: Lufthansa Group
