For many airlines, 2018 was not an easy year. Higher-than-expected fuel costs, rising labor costs, natural disasters and air traffic control (ATC) delays made it a tough business environment. But as the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Standing out against its peers was Lufthansa, which, together with its Group partner airlines, achieved record passenger growth, delivered strong financials and took its customer service standards to new heights.