Skift Forum Europe Preview: Lufthansa Group’s Innovation Hub Is Its Hedge Against Disruptors

The world's airlines are not know for innovation. They run complex 24-7 operations, often across many countries, and they don't have the time, or enthusiasm, to rethink how they operate. And since they're relatively insulated from new competition – barriers to entry are high — they often can get away with it. But that may not last forever. While it's not likely a bunch of new global airlines will spring up, some airline executives are concerned others might disrupt their businesses. Forward-thinkers sometimes fear airlines might become mere transportation providers, with a more nimble company — perhaps Amazon, Google, or a company that doesn't exist yet — handling all the retailing. No one knows what might happen. But at Lufthansa Group, a small team based in Berlin — away from the mammoth headquarters in Frankfurt — has been working for more than three years to help the company monitor tech trends. Lufthansa wants this division, called the Lufthansa Innovation Hub, t