After gaining his commercial pilot's license, Spohr enjoyed a brief role at Deutsche Aerospace AG after enrolling in the company's management training programme.

During his time as CEO there have been poor industrial relations, with a number of strike actions, due to the push to expand Lufthansa's low-cost airline Germanwings.

[8] In May 2014, Spohr was one of a number of business executives invited to the White House by U.S. President Barack Obama in a meeting aimed at extending job opportunities from international companies to the U.S.[5] During the Hannover Messe in April 2016, he was among the 15 German CEOs who were invited to a private dinner with Obama.

[9] Since 2013, Spohr has accompanied Chancellor Angela Merkel on a total of three state visits abroad,[10] including to China (2014)[11] and Abu Dhabi (2017).

[2] Spohr's wife Vivian is head of Lufthansa's Help Alliance which runs aid projects in numerous countries abroad.