Logistics entrepreneur and major Lufthansa shareholder Klaus-Michael Kühne has once again criticized the airline's management. In an interview with "Welt am Sonntag," the 87-year-old criticized what he considers to be an overly fragmented structure with too many brand names. He said it bothers him, for example, when he books a flight with Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss but then ends up on a plane belonging to another airline. Kühne sees structural problems within the company and expressed doubts about the executive board's ability to implement its policies.
The majority shareholder also called for a more decisive approach from management in the face of union resistance, citing the share price performance. Although it has increased by around six percent since the beginning of the year, putting it on par with competitor Air France-KLM, it remains significantly behind British Airways' parent company, IAG. Kühne emphasized that strikes and resistance from works councils are making management's work more difficult.
This is not the first time Kühne has publicly criticized Lufthansa management. He has previously criticized the group's strategy and its multiplicity of brands. His repeated statements underscore the largest shareholder's dissatisfaction with the current situation and the airline's direction. Observers see Kühne's words as a signal to the Executive Board to address urgent structural and operational issues in order to strengthen Lufthansa's competitiveness and sustainably increase its share price.
and 