2. Lufthansa's cultural change is slow, but offers potential
In spite of the difficulties with persuading its pilots to embrace necessary change, strategic developments by the Lufthansa group in recent years demonstrate some capacity for its culture to evolve. An instinct to complain about new competitive business models as unfair (see below) suggests that it is not yet sufficiently focused on putting its own house in order, but the establishment of its new lower cost vehicles has at least given it some options in fighting this competition.
As Mr Spohr emphasised at the publication of Lufthansa's 2014 financial results, "sticking to uneconomical structures is not an option for our future". If he can persuade all labour groups of the need to accept and act upon this as a matter of urgency, Lufthansa may still have an opportunity to re-establish its competitiveness.
3. Greater Lufthansa group integration would provide greater efficiencies
The national airlines in the Lufthansa group continue to operate as distinct brands, each with its own fleet, operations and labour structures. Lufthansa itself, SWISS and Austrian (and Brussels Airlines, which is only 45% owned by Lufthansa and so strictly not part of the group) have all been part of the same group for almost six years, but the degree of integration appears to be less than seen at merged groups in North America (such as Delta after the acquisition of Northwest and the merger of United and Continental).
There are a host of historical and cultural reasons why integration within the Lufthansa group (and within other large European airline groups) has been slower. It is also true that progress has been made with the centralisation of certain administrative, financial and procurement functions. Nevertheless, a greater degree of integration would offer increased efficiency to the Lufthansa group.