Deutsche Lufthansa AG and the entire aviation industry mourn the loss of Jürgen Weber, the company's former Chairman of the Executive Board, Supervisory Board, and Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Weber passed away yesterday at the age of 83. His career was closely linked to the history of Lufthansa, which he significantly shaped for decades. His companions and successors honored him as an outstanding personality and an architect of the modern Lufthansa.
Karl-Ludwig Kley, the current Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, paid tribute to Weber's life's work with the words: "Today's Lufthansa would be unthinkable without Jürgen Weber. In his years as Chairman of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, he shaped it like hardly anyone else. We pay tribute to the life's work of a great personality."
The current Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Carsten Spohr, also expressed his deepest sympathy on behalf of the Lufthansa Group employees. He referred to Weber as "Mr. Lufthansa" and emphasized his tireless commitment to the company throughout his career. Spohr particularly recalled Weber's role in the renewal of Lufthansa during the restructuring and privatization process in the 1990s. He emphasized that key decisions and developments at Deutsche Lufthansa AG will remain inextricably linked to Weber's name.
From engineer to the top: Weber's path at Lufthansa
Jürgen Weber began his career at Lufthansa in 1967 as a young engineer. After holding various positions in the technical department, he was appointed to the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG in 1990. From 1991 to 2003, he led the company as Chairman of the Executive Board and subsequently served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board from 2003 to 2013. He remained Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board until his death.
During his tenure as CEO, Jürgen Weber was not only responsible for the reorganization, restructuring, and privatization of the long-established airline. He also succeeded in putting Lufthansa back on a sustainable path to success. As early as the 1990s, he demonstrated strategic vision, particularly as one of the founding fathers of the Star Alliance. This alliance, which he initiated, remains the largest global airline alliance and significantly shapes international aviation. Weber's visionary leadership and commitment played a key role in shaping Lufthansa into the global player it is today. His legacy will live on within the company and throughout the industry.