Lufthansa continues fleet rejuvenation: ordered Dreamliners and A350s
Lufthansa Group is accelerating the modernization of its fleet. The German carrier has decided to purchase ten long-duration aircraft [...]
Lufthansa
Star Alliance
FRA
Lufthansa Group is accelerating the modernization of its fleet. The German carrier has decided to purchase ten long-haul aircraft: five Airbus A350-900s and five Boeing B787-9s.
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The first Boeing 787-9s are expected to fly for Lufthansa as early as next winter, with more to follow in the first half of 2022. Today's decision brings the total number of orders for Boeing 787-9s and Boeing 777 -9s to 45 aircraft.
Due to the dramatic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global aviation, the Dreamliners bought by Lufthansa had been ordered by other airlines, which gave up deliveries. This enabled the German carrier to purchase five 787-9s already produced and ready to be delivered. A solution that allowed Lufthansa to "jump" the queue and, certainly, save several million dollars on the purchase price. The same strategy had been envisioned by ITA's top management. For the revitalization of the Alitalia fleet.
The five Airbus A350-900s newly ordered will be delivered in 2027 and 2028, also bringing the total number of A350-900 orders to 45. The Lufthansa Group has also agreed with Airbus on a restructuring of scheduled deliveries. In addition to renewing its long-haul fleet, the company is also focusing on the latest technologies, maximum efficiency, and the highest level of comfort for customers on short-haul routes. In the current year alone, Lufthansa will take delivery, on average every month, of a new aircraft from the fuel-efficient Airbus A320 family for short- and medium-haul routes. Delivery of 107 more Airbus A320 family aircraft is scheduled through 2027.
With the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787-9, the Lufthansa Group will use the most efficient long-haul aircraft in terms of kerosene consumption per passenger carried. On average, the new aircraft will consume only about 2.5 liters of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometers of flight. This is about 30% less than many current and previously used long-haul aircraft models and will have an equally positive impact on the Group's carbon footprint.
Current plans call for an initial reduction in the fleet, but will allow it to be modernized in the future. The Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 will essentially replace the four-engine A340 long-haul aircraft. In addition, the German airline plans to reduce the number of four-engine aircraft in its long-haul fleet to less than 15% by the middle of this decade. Before the crisis, the share was around 50 percent. It is not only the A340s that will suffer, but probably the A380s as well. They should, however, save the 747/800s of which Lufthansa is the world's largest operator.
