Lars Winkelbauer
Dramatic low-orbit night view above Southeast Asia with Bangkok centered
Predictive Intelligence. Human Insight.

Lars Winkelbauer

Twenty years running billion-dollar aviation and logistics operations. Now advising the people who have to make the next decision.

For leaders searching for who Lars Winkelbauer is, the short answer is operator first: former Polar Air Cargo COO, DHL Express Asia Pacific aviation leader, airline board member, author, and advisor on predictive intelligence for aviation and logistics.

See where you fit →
01
Twenty years operating aviation and logistics networks at billion-dollar scale — built and led, never recommended from outside.
02
Works with airlines, governments, port authorities, private equity and logistics operators who have a specific problem and a budget.
03
0.7% employee turnover against a 15% industry average, while running a $1.5B P&L across 720 people.
Where do you fit?
Advisory →
For operators who have to fix something specific.
Speaking →
For programmes that need an operator, not a commentator.
Boards →
Governance across four airlines and three continents.
Writing →
The frameworks, in full.
Explore the core topic hubs.

These hubs organise Lars Winkelbauer’s work around the topics Google and executives should associate with his expertise: aviation and logistics strategy, predictive intelligence, and board-level risk oversight.

Aviation & Logistics
Air cargo networks, capacity and infrastructure strategy.
Predictive Intelligence
Weak signals, AI augmentation and earlier executive decisions.
Board Advisory
Governance questions for logistics, aviation and transformation risk.
The record.
Lufthansa German Airlines
1999 – 2003
The apprenticeship — Johannesburg, Dubai, Atlanta.
Polar Air Cargo
2003 – 2014
Director to VP. Architected the DHL joint venture. Monthly revenue grew $20.5M to $70M.
DHL Express Asia Pacific
2014 – 2018
VP Aviation. 41 countries, $500M P&L. First A330-200F deployed globally. $72M saved annually.
Polar Air Cargo
2018 – 2021
EVP & COO. $1.5B P&L, 720 people, 0.7% turnover, 52% digital adoption.
German Pacific
2021 – present
Bangkok. Advisory across aviation, logistics, hospitality and infrastructure.
The network was always there. Most people simply cannot see it.
$1.5B
P&L, Polar Air Cargo
2018–2021
41
countries under management
DHL Express Asia Pacific
0.7%
turnover vs. 15% industry avg.
Polar Air Cargo
$72M
saved annually
carrier renegotiation
Run a year of departures and watch capacity destroy itself in real time.
Try the capacity model →
Frequently asked.
What does Lars Winkelbauer do?
He advises airlines, governments and logistics operators on transformation, capacity and network strategy, drawing on 20+ years running billion-dollar operations.
Who does he work with?
Airlines, governments, port authorities, private equity holders and logistics operators with a specific problem and a budget.
Where is he based?
Bangkok, Thailand, advising globally.
Does he still operate, or only advise?
He is a partner at German Pacific and serves on multiple boards; his advisory work is informed by roles he held operationally, not observed from outside.
What is the capacity model?
An interactive tool simulating a year of airline departures to show how unsold capacity destroys value in real time.
How do I start a conversation?
Use the form below, or reach him directly on LinkedIn or by email.
Start a conversation.
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