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Milestones

LSG Sky Chefs has one of the longest histories in the airline catering sector. Our reputation is based on our expertise and professionalism.

2010

  • In March LSG Sky Chefs' Hong Kong based subsidiary LSG Sky Chefs In-Flight Logistics Asia Pacific Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Formia, a Hong Kong based provider of cosmetics, amenities and on-board accessories.
  • Expansion in Russia:
    • LSG Sky Chefs Russia LLC enters a Management Agreement with Sky Food Catering LLC at Vnukovo, the third largest airport in Moscow.
    • LSG Sky Chefs signs a Technical Support Agreement at Krasnodar Airport (officially named Pashkovskaya) with local catering provider Tollan Service.
    • LSG Sky Chefs start operations of two new joint venture facilities in north-western China at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (LHW) and Urumqi International Airport (URC).
  • In April LSG Sky Chefs and Ahr Service GmbH entered a strategic cooperation to provide centralized food provisioning services and meal delivery to healthcare institutions.
  • Quantum, the new lightweight trolley jointly developed by LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn, receives the TSO C175 airworthiness certification allowing it to be used onboard by airlines worldwide. It is also awarded the Crystal Cabin Award 2010 at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg as the most innovative aircraft cabin product in the Greener Cabin, Health and Safety category.
  • The US Retail division of LSG Sky Chefs expands its business through extended relationships with Trader Joe's and with Texas-based supermarket chain HEB Central Market.
  • The General Catering Division in Hong Kong secures two new business wins in the area of education catering with the Shaw College of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the newly-established campus of the Hong Kong Design Institute and Institute of Vocational Education.

2009

  • LSG Sky Chefs' leading position in the Brazilian market is expanded with the acquisition of the majority shares (70 percent) in facilities in Fortaleza, Natal and Belém.
  • Expansion in Africa:
    • In January, the company establishes LSG Sky Chefs Catering Egypt SAE in Cairo, Egypt under a joint-venture agreement with majority shareholder Egypt Air and Egyptian Aviation Services. The deal includes the building of a new state-of-the-art facility at Cairo airport, Africa’s second busiest after Johannesburg and a gateway to the Middle East.
    • In August, LSG Sky Chefs enters into a Management Services Agreement with Airline Services and Logistics Plc at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azkiwe International Airport Abuja, both in Nigeria.
    • LSG Sky Chefs signs a joint venture agreement to establish a new airline catering company in Luanda, Angola with TAAG Angola Airlines. The deal involves the building of a new 1,300 square meter facility at Luanda International Airport, which will be managed by LSG Sky Chefs.
  • In-flight equipment design awards:
    • Red Dot awards LSG Sky Chefs with the prestigious "reddot: best of the best 2009" award for the Lufthansa Economy Class equipment design.
    • The equipment design team at LSG Sky Chefs is recognized with the "Observeur du design" award for the new Corsairfly tray set design.
  • SkylogistiX, LSG Sky Chefs joint venture with Kühne + Nagel, takes over the handling of the complete in-flight equipment supply chain for TACA, El Salvador.
  • LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn enter into a partnership for the development and commercialization of light weight thermally efficient trolleys.
  • LSG Sky Chefs partners with Oakfield Farms Inc. in North America, creating a one-stop shop for innovative airline catering, packaged meals and Buy-on-Board solutions and integrating design, procurement and supply chain solutions.

2008

  • With the inaugural European flight of Singapore Airlines' A380 Airbus to and from London Heathrow on March 19, LSG Sky Chefs is a major player in the official world unveiling by catering a regularly scheduled flight of the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
  • LSG Sky Chefs Lounge GmbH is founded as a new subsidiary to pursue the international expansion strategy in the airline lounge business, which currently comprises more than 100 lounges worldwide.
  • Europe's newest, largest catering facility in Frankfurt, Germany designed to produce up to 77,000 meals for more than 50,000 passengers per day is officially opened on June 19.
  • AviaPit in Sochi, Russia, the sole airline catering company on site, is inte-grated into the LSG Sky Chefs network. The city of Sochi was selected to host the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014.
  • LSG Sky Chefs acquires the majority stake in CLS Catering Services Ltd., Canada. The joint venture with Caterwell One (Netherlands) B.V., a sub-sidiary of Cathay Pacific Catering Services, operates facilities in Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ).
  • In October, LSG Sky Chefs establishes a continuous presence in the Mid-dle East with offices in Abu Dhabi. At the same time a new Joint Venture, LSG Sky Chefs Gulf Solutions, dedicated to supply chain management so-lutions, is being founded with local partners Maskati Group in Bahrain.

2007

  • LSG Sky Chefs expands its frozen-food and equipment logistics divisions into Asia and North America:
    • Start of construction of a new frozen-food plant in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
    • Establishment of a frozen-food facility in the U.S. in one of the existing customer service centers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
    • Opening of a new equipment sourcing subsidiary in Hong Kong.
  • The growth in China continues:
    • New joint venture agreement with Eastern Air Catering Investment and Kunming Air Traffic Control Bureau to build a new customer ser-vice center in Kunming and operate two existing units in Lijiang and Zhongdian, all located in the Yunnan Province.
    • Another long-term joint venture is formed with HNA Air Catering Holding Co. to establish a new catering facility at Lanzhou
      Zhongchuan Airport and manage a smaller customer service center in Dunhuang, also located in Gansu province.
  • In October, LSG Sky Chefs acquires the outstanding 46 percent of the shares in AIRO Catering Services Sweden AB (AIRO) from the investment company Oresa Ventures group. AIRO operates four customer service cen-ters in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe: Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Kiev (Ukraine).
  • LSG Sky Chefs and Kuehne + Nagel establish "SkylogistiX," a new joint venture representing the most extensive partnership between an in-flight service provider and a logistics company. This collaboration significantly improves the company’s speed-to-market when setting up new warehous-ing and distribution models for customers around the world.
  • In December, LSG Sky Chefs signs a management agreement contract with Abu Dhabi Airports Company for the management of its in-flight catering facilities at Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain International Airports.
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2006

  • Win and extension of important businesses: New major contracts in Scan-dinavia (Sterling) and in 22 airports throughout the UK (Thomsonfly); extension of Cathay pacific contract for various European locations and Johannesburg; seven-year extension of the comprehensive catering agreement with Air New Zealand at its home base.
  • Strengthening of the market presence in growth markets:
    • Eastern Europe: In February, a new joint venture forms in Vilnius, Lithuania – already the third location for LSG Sky Chefs in the Baltics.
    • India: LSG Sky Chefs signs longterm license agreements with two major airports in India: the new airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad are due to open in 2008.
    • Thailand: In September, a state-of-the-art customer service center opens in Thailand, in tandem with the new Asian mega-hub Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi.
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2005

  • Further global expansion continues:
    • Russia: Cooperation with DAS (Domodedovo Air Service) at Moscow-Domodedovo airport. LSG Sky Chefs will support DAS, subsidiary of EAST LINE, with management services and personnel.
    • China: Joint venture contract with HNA Air Catering Holding Co Ltd to establish a new catering facility in Urumqi, China.
  • In April, a 75 percent stake in LSG-Hygiene Institute is sold to the TÜV Süd, Germany. With this transaction and with the sale of LPS Event Catering GmbH (Lufthansa Party Service/LPS) in October, LSG Sky Chefs further emphasizes its strategic focus on its core business, airline catering.
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2004

  • China: The new customer service center at Sanya, Hainan airport starts operations on Jan 15 under the name "Sanya LSG Air Catering Co Ltd."
  • Nepal: LSG Sky Chefs signs a franchise agreement with Soaltee Hostel Limited to operate Nepal’s only in-flight catering facility.
  • Thailand: LSG Sky Chefs signs a concession agreement for a 20-year catering license at the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, due to open in June 2006. The longtime joint venture with two local shareholders will continue at the new airport, with LSG Sky Chefs’ stake increased to 64.3 percent and will therefore operate under the new name "LSG Sky Chefs (Thailand) Limited."
  • China: A new customer service center at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport commences operation on August 5. LSG Sky Chefs 10th customer service center in mainland China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport LSG Sky Chefs Co., Ltd. is a joint venture with the Guangzhou Airport (65 percent) and Beijing Hua Zhou Investment Management Co. (5 percent)
  • Consolidation in North America: sale of convenient meal solutions business in the United States (Chef Solutions); closure of Canada operations, consolidation of facilities at major airports.
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2003

  • Korea: LSG Sky Chefs acquires a stake in the catering division of Asiana Airlines at Seoul-Incheon Airport. LSG Sky Chefs holds 80 percent in the new company, called LSG Sky Chefs Korea, while Asiana Airlines holds 20 percent. 
  • UK: LSG Sky Chefs purchases the fixed assets of Abela's airline catering operations at London-Stansted and London-Gatwick airports, as well as Abela's Halal facility at London-Heathrow, and strengthens its position in the UK market.
  • Malaysia: LSG Asia GmbH, a 100 percent subsidiary of LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG, forms a joint venture with a Malaysian Partner, Fa-him Capital Sdn Bhd to acquire a 70 percent stake in MAS Catering, the in-flight catering division of Malaysian Airlines. The new company, LSG Sky Chefs Brahim, takes over operations of the two former MAS Catering locations at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Penang International Airport on December 1.
  • Tanzania: LSG Sky Chefs finalizes a deal with Inflight Catering Services Ltd. in Dar Es Salaam and hence expands the network on the African continent.
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2002

  • LSG Sky Chefs expands the American Airlines partnership through contract renewals and new business to serve the airline's in-flight catering needs in 64 markets in three continents.
  • Ongoing expansion:
    • China: 30-year contract for new customer service center in Sanya, Hainan with joint venture partners Sanya Phoenix International Airport Co. Ltd., Hainan Airlines Group Co. Ltd. and Hainan Airlines Hotels & Resorts Co. Ltd.
    • Belgium: Acquisition of a customer service center in Brussels, Belgium, and finalization of long-term agreement with SN Brussels Airlines after acquiring the airline’s catering assets.
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2001

  • LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG acquires the remaining shares of Onex Food Services, Sky Chefs' parent company. 
  • LSG Sky Chefs continues global expansion:
    • China:  Contracted to operate the customer service center at the new Hangzhou Airport; a joint venture with Sichuan Airlines.
    • India:  Opening of the first Indian operation in Bangalore.
    • Italy:  Acquisition of the remaining shares in the Italian caterer de Montis, name of Italian business changes to LSG Sky Chefs S.p.A.
    • North America:  Secures all catering business for Virgin Atlantic Airways.
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1999

  • LSG increases ownership in Sky Chefs to approximately 48 percent.

1996-1998

  • LSG and Sky Chefs expand their reach even further into new markets around the world, including:
    • Denmark, Norway: Catering agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
    • Eastern Europe:  New locations in Moscow, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; Riga, Latvia; and Tallinn, Estonia.
    • South Africa:  The joint venture with Feenagh Investments Ltd. expands to include locations in Durban and Cape Town.
    • Sweden:  Joint venture with Top Flight Catering AB.
    • Switzerland:  Opening of a new CSC at Zurich Int. Airport.
    • Turkey: Joint venture with Sancak Havacilik Hizmetleri A.S., a domestic airline caterer in Turkey.
    • United States:  Onex Food Services acquires Ogden Corporation's airline catering division.
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1995

  • Sky Chefs' parent company, Onex Food Services, acquires Caterair International Corp., formerly Marriott In-flite Services.  Most acquired operations are branded LSG Sky Chefs.
  • LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG is founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG to serve as the holding company for all LSG activities. 
  • LSG creates a joint venture in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Feenagh Investments Ltd., a domestic South African airline caterer.
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1994

  • LSG and Sky Chefs continue to expand into new markets through investments, partnerships and agreements, including:
    • Brazil: Sky Chefs investment in Servcater, an airline caterer in São Paulo.
    • Canada: LSG invests in catering facilities in Canada.
    • Portugal: Sky Chefs creates a joint venture with TAP Portuguese Airlines to form Catering Por, S.A., based in Lisbon.
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1993

  • LSG acquires a minority interest in Sky Chefs, which at that time operates 33 U.S. locations, and launches a joint marketing effort under a new brand name:  LSG Sky Chefs.  LSG Sky Chefs becomes the largest airline catering brand in the world.
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1989-1992

LSG launches a global expansion:

  • Asia: LSG Lufthansa Service Asia Ltd. is founded; LSG investment in Sky Bird Services in Hong Kong; Dragonair invests in LSG Lufthansa Service Hong Kong Ltd.
  • Europe: Joint venture with Airest, an Austrian airline service and logistics group; Investment in de Montis, an Italian airline caterer.
  • United States: LSG Lufthansa Service USA Corp. is formed; LSG creates a joint venture with Marriott/Caterair.
  • Sky Chefs signs a 10-year contract with American Airlines, the largest catering contract in the history of aviation.
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1986

  • Sky Chefs becomes an independent company and a subsidiary of Onex Food Services, Inc., when American Airlines’ parent company, AMR Corp., sells Sky Chefs to the company’s senior management and Onex Corp. of Toronto, Canada.
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1966

  • LSG Lufthansa Service GmbH founded as wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The subsidiary is branded LSG and serves as a domestic airline caterer in Germany.
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1942

  • American Airlines creates Sky Chefs, a wholly owned airline catering service based in the United States.
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