6 Innovative Ways Lufthansa Group is Redefining Air Travel Today

As a leader in the travel industry, Lufthansa Group has recently launched a comprehensive suite of digital initiatives aimed at simplifying air travel during the Coronavirus pandemic. These cutting-edge online tools, which follow the establishment of their Innovation Hub in 2014 to streamline travel experiences, assist travelers in navigating the constantly shifting global regulations and facilitate the uploading of essential travel documents for pre-approval and contactless check-in.

The airline group is continuously monitoring evolving travel trends and adding new routes to better serve passengers, all while actively pursuing environmentally friendly travel practices through Sustainable Aviation Fuel and commitments to achieving CO2-neutral air travel in the future. Given the industry's dynamic nature and ongoing uncertainties, these innovations empower travel advisors to craft dependable flight plans for their clients, minimizing hassle and anxiety.

1. Interactive Map of Travel Restrictions and Requirements

Among the many digital advancements rolled out by Lufthansa Group over the past year, their interactive world map stands out as particularly beneficial for travelers looking to regain control over their journeys. This tool keeps you informed about entry regulations specific to your passport, vaccination status, and both flight origin and destination. It offers immediate insights into COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements, quarantine rules, visa mandates, necessary documentation, and general health screening and masking policies at your destination.

You can also access global entry regulations by selecting your departure and arrival airports. Once you choose your airports, the site provides the latest information on flight requirements, including testing protocols and available test centers. Additionally, it gives instant access to current travel regulations in various countries, based on data from the International Air Transport Association.

2. Downloadable COVID Travel Checklist For extra reassurance during uncertain travel times, Lufthansa Group offers a pre-travel checklist that can be downloaded and printed as a PDF. This checklist includes items like digital document verification and information regarding Coronavirus testing, helping travelers feel more at ease while navigating the extra steps of pandemic travel.

3. Digitally Pre-check Documents

Before your flight, boost your confidence by having all your documents verified online. Lufthansa Group’s Health Entry Support Centers will digitally check all necessary travel documents prior to departure. If everything is in order, travelers will receive pre-approval and a digital boarding pass once check-in opens.

Should any documents require action, you’ll be notified with specific instructions on what is needed. Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, and Austrian Airlines all provide support centers for digital document checks, ensuring travelers arrive at the airport fully prepared to fly.

4. Contactless Check-In For flights within the Schengen Zone (the 26 European countries without passport controls), passengers of Lufthansa Group airlines can scan the QR codes of their COVID vaccination certificates and test results during online check-in to receive their boarding passes directly on their smartphones. This instant document verification means passengers won’t need to check in at the airport counter, though they must still carry physical copies of all documents while traveling.

5. Routes Tailored to Evolving Travel Needs

Lufthansa Group closely monitors country-specific travel regulations and shifting trends during the COVID era, continually updating and optimizing routes to ensure passengers reach their desired destinations. With over 260 destinations across 102 countries, Lufthansa Group airlines connect travelers to a vast array of locations worldwide. Their extensive and reliable international network offers convenient connections for long-distance journeys, allowing swift adjustments to schedules and aircraft to meet changing demands.

This adaptability bodes well for business travel. As demand for traditional business hubs rises with easing travel restrictions, they have expanded routes across Europe and globally, emphasizing off-peak flight options to key international cities such as New York, Toronto, Mexico City, and Sāo Paulo, among many others.

6. Commitment to Sustainability As Europe's top purchaser of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a key element in achieving CO2-neutral air travel, Lufthansa Group is already operating the majority of its business flights at carbon-neutral levels. In November 2021, they made a significant investment of a quarter of a billion dollars in sustainable kerosene, marking the largest sustainability investment in the company's history. Additionally, they are focused on enhancing the availability of Sustainable Aviation Fuel by leveraging renewable energy for its production.

In line with Lufthansa Group's ambitious sustainability objectives, they aim to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050. By introducing newer aircraft and enhancing operational efficiency, along with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Lufthansa Group's emissions are set to steadily decline, in accordance with the United Nations Paris Climate Change Agreement.