Lufthansa Industry Solutions (LHIND) has partnered with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to explore how quantum computing can transform strategic and tactical planning in the airline industry. Lufthansa said the partnership, part of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI), aims to use quantum algorithms to tackle complex aviation challenges, from flight planning to crew […]
Lufthansa Industry Solutions (LHIND) has partnered with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to explore how quantum computing can transform strategic and tactical planning in the airline industry.
Lufthansa said the partnership, part of the DLR Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI), aims to use quantum algorithms to tackle complex aviation challenges, from flight planning to crew scheduling.
In a news statement on its website, the German airline’s IT consulting and systems integration subsidiary said that aviation was a prime candidate for quantum computing applications due to its intricate planning processes.
As part of the QCI QCMobility project, LHIND has been awarded two key sub-projects: “Strategic Planning Processes” and “Tactical Planning Processes.”
The company is working closely with the DLR Institute of Air Transport and the DLR Institute of Quantum Technologies on both contracts.
Quantum-powered airline planning
In the Strategic Planning Processes project, LHIND has enlisted its low-cost carrier, Eurowings, as a subcontractor.
The airline will provide real-world data from its planning systems to help model quantum computing applications. With over 100 aircraft operating from 13 locations, Lufthansa said Eurowings presented a highly complex environment where quantum algorithms could offer significant advantages.
LHIND is collaborating with Kipu Quantum, a quantum computing startup, to develop mathematical problem formulations that can be evaluated on both traditional and quantum hardware.
Meanwhile, the Tactical Planning Processes project focuses on optimising short-term airline operations. This includes real-time decisions such as reassigning aircraft and crews in response to unexpected disruptions.
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In collaboration with the DLR Institute of Air Transport, LHIND will explore quantum algorithms that could outperform conventional optimisation techniques in these scenarios. Lufthansa will provide flight operations data to support the research.
“The efficient use of resources is essential for the economic success of an airline,” said Dr Joseph Doetsch, quantum computing lead at LHIND.
“This applies to long-term considerations, such as the annual flight schedule, as well as to the challenges of day-to-day operations, such as when flight routes have to be changed at short notice due to airspace closures or bad weather or when a crew member is unable to work due to illness. Not to mention compliance with mandatory maintenance intervals.”
Expanding quantum research in aviation
LHIND has long explored how quantum computing can be applied to real-world airline operations.
In addition to this DLR partnership, the company launched a joint project last year with the Institute for Quantum Physics (IQP) at the University of Hamburg to develop quantum algorithms for airport handling optimisation.
One of the key challenges in this domain is the “gate assignment problem,” where flights must be efficiently assigned to available gates while balancing passenger convenience and operational efficiency.
Traditional computers struggle with large-scale optimisation problems, such as dynamically adjusting flight routes in response to airspace closures or weather disruptions.
Quantum computing, with its ability to process multiple possibilities simultaneously, offers the potential for more efficient solutions in real time, said LHIND.