During his first business trip to China in 2006, Wolfgang Mayrhuber had one key message: Europe takes the development of the Chinese airline industry very seriously.
China has become the standout performer in the Asia-Pacific region for Lufthansa, accounting for 50 percent of the airline's regional business and replacing Japan as its most important market.
China is both a revenue generator for Lufthansa's passenger airline business and a goldmine for the German carrier's other business arms including cargo, aircraft MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), catering, leisure travel and aviation information technology services.
"Our aim is to grow all of them," Mayrhuber says. "All of our businesses have come to China. I hope all of them will be in a leading position in this country."