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As of July 1, 2026, Michael Vollrath has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Hamburg Aviation, the aviation cluster of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. He succeeds Ralf Gust, who is retiring after nearly four years in this position. Vollrath brings over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, most recently serving as the Managing Director of Spairliners, a joint venture of Lufthansa Technik and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance.
Experience and strategic direction
Vollrath has previously held various key positions at Lufthansa Technik, including program management, business development, and controlling. In these roles, he was involved in numerous strategic transformation and digitalization projects. His extensive experience at the intersection of corporate strategy and operational business is considered valuable for the further development of the aviation cluster.
With Vollrath’s appointment, Hamburg Aviation continues its course to strengthen the competitiveness of the aviation location in Hamburg. Central themes will include the transformation to a more sustainable aviation sector, digitalization, securing skilled labor, and networking industry, science, and politics. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerko Wende, Chairman of the Board of Hamburg Aviation e.V., expressed positive sentiments about the choice: “With Michael Vollrath, we have gained a Managing Director who is very familiar with the challenges and opportunities of aviation in Hamburg from years of industry experience.”
Outlook for the future
Vollrath himself emphasizes the importance of the Hamburg location: “Hamburg is one of the most significant aviation locations in the world. This strong network provides the best conditions for driving innovations forward.” He is optimistic about actively shaping the future of aviation together with the team at Hamburg Aviation and the members of the network. He aims to intensify the transformation of the industry through concrete projects and close collaboration.
Ralf Gust, who took over the management in September 2022, has led the cluster during a crucial phase following the pandemic. Under his leadership, central topics such as sustainable aviation, securing skilled labor, and urban air mobility were further developed. Wende thanked Gust for his commitment and wished him all the best for his retirement.
