Lufthansa criticizes lack of modernization at Munich Airport

German airline Lufthansa has complained about a lack of innovation at the Munich Airport, the second-largest hub for the flagship carrier, reported dpa.

Lufthansa Airline's chief operating officer, Karl Brandes, said on Tuesday evening that management at Munich Airport has not made the same kind of progress in recruiting personnel and modernizing processes as Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport.

Brandes acknowledged the current difficulty in hiring new staff, saying Lufthansa itself faces similar challenges, but that the airline has tried to support partners at hub airports in their search for workers.

In addition, however, the processes involved in aircraft handling must also be modernized, Brandes said. In order to counteract the shortage of labour, digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence must be driven forward.

"The whole topic of innovation must be brought forward significantly. Handling today is like it was 30 years ago," he said.

Munich Airport plans to switch handling service providers in the spring.

For years, Lufthansa managers have criticized its major Frankfurt base for a lack of punctuality and efficiency.

However, the company believes that progress is now being made in Frankfurt, which is Germany's largest airport and among the busiest in Europe.