How the world became smaller: the evolution of the route network

From Hamburg to Buenos Aires – with seven stopovers! That’s what a
long-haul Lufthansa flight looked like in the early 1960s. Today,
Frankfurt and Munich connect the world seamlessly as global hubs.
In this episode of Above and Beyond, host Anja Heyde talks with
Martina Pichura, Head of Intercontinental Network Planning, and
Magnus-Raúl Abstoß, Head of Flight Scheduling at the Frankfurt Hub.
Together, they take a fascinating look back at the pioneering days
of aviation and reveal how Lufthansa’s route network evolved from a
patchwork to a high-tech global system – with insights into data
tools, AI-driven planning, and visions for the future. Plus,
historian Dr Andreas Greiner offers a glimpse into the airline’s
early routes. A journey through 100 years of aviation – and a look
ahead to what’s next!