From March 2025, Sascha Unterbarnscheidt will take over the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Accountable Manager at Discover Airlines. The experienced aviation manager succeeds Wolfgang Raebiger, who is leaving the company at his own request to pursue new professional challenges within the Lufthansa Group. Unterbarnscheidt, who most recently worked as flight operations manager at Eurowings, brings more than 25 years of experience in aviation and will use his expertise to drive the expansion and further development of Discover Airlines.
Sascha Unterbarnscheidt is taking on a responsible role: As COO and Accountable Manager, he will assume overall responsibility for the operations of the holiday airline. His tasks include ensuring operational efficiency and the strategic development of the airline. Together with CEO Bernd Bauer, he will continue to expand the airline, with a focus on stability, reliability and operational efficiency - all important factors for successfully shaping future growth.
Unterbarnscheidt brings with him extensive experience in various areas of aviation. In his more than 25-year career at Lufthansa and Eurowings, he gained valuable knowledge in the leadership and management of flight operations. As a former head of flight operations at Eurowings and in other senior positions within the Lufthansa Group, Unterbarnscheidt is very familiar with the operational and strategic requirements of a growing aviation company. His previous responsibilities have included managing the Lufthansa A320 Family Airbus fleet in Frankfurt and managing operations support for Lufthansa in Frankfurt. In his new role, he will now have a significant influence on the further development of Discover Airlines.
"We are delighted to welcome Sascha, an expert with many years of diverse experience who is particularly familiar with the special features of the holiday airline business from his time at Eurowings," said Bernd Bauer, CEO of Discover Airlines. "After the successful establishment of Discover Airlines, the signs point to continued growth. I am convinced that Sascha's expertise will help us to master the next steps successfully and sustainably."
Wolfgang Raebiger leaves the company
Sascha Unterbarnscheidt takes up his new position after Wolfgang Raebiger, who had been with the company from the beginning, decided to leave the airline of his own accord. Raebiger played a key role in building up Discover Airlines as a project manager and later as a member of the management team. Under his leadership, the airline developed from a start-up into a successful airline with a global presence in record time. During his tenure, Raebiger not only managed the constantly growing team, but also worked hard to create an open and appreciative corporate culture that continues to shape Discover Airlines to this day.
"Wolfgang has achieved outstanding results over the last four years. It is thanks to him that Discover Airlines has been able to achieve such a significant position in the market in such a short time," said Bernd Bauer. "On behalf of everyone, I would like to thank Wolfgang for his tireless efforts and the passion he has put into building up Discover Airlines. We wish him all the best for the future and are deeply grateful for his work."
Outlook on the future of Discover Airlines
With Sascha Unterbarnscheidt as COO and Accountable Manager, Discover Airlines is relying on an experienced manager who will further optimize operational processes and lead the airline through the next chapter of its growth. Unterbarnscheidt will not only be responsible for operational efficiency, but will also help shape the airline's strategic direction. The company has undergone rapid development in recent years and has established itself as a major player in the leisure flight sector.
The coming years are likely to be an exciting time for Discover Airlines. The airline is faced with the challenge of continuing its successful path and further expanding its position as a global leisure airline. Unterbarnscheidt's experience and extensive knowledge from his work in the Lufthansa Group will certainly make an important contribution to leading the airline into a successful future.