Lufthansa Unveils Retirement of Airbus A340s with Arrival of 10 New Planes

FRANKFURT- Lufthansa (LH) has officially received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a notable step in upgrading its fleet. However, a significant portion of the new Allegris Business Class seats on this aircraft remain unavailable due to ongoing certification delays.

Set to operate between Frankfurt (FRA) and Toronto (YYZ) from mid-October, the airline’s booking system currently shows only four Business Class suites for sale. The other 24 seats in this cabin must remain unoccupied.

Setbacks for the 787 Allegris Business Class

Lufthansa intended to roll out its eagerly awaited Allegris cabins on the Dreamliner without further issues. Yet, the airline faces unexpected challenges: certification setbacks from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have left most of the custom Business Class seats, produced by Collins Aerospace, grounded. Reports indicate that failed crash testing is to blame for these delays.

The Boeing 787-9 is designed with 28 Business Class seats, but only the four at the front have received FAA approval. Consequently, Lufthansa is unable to fully capitalize on its most lucrative cabin.

Despite the challenges, CEO Jens Ritter expressed optimism, recognizing the aircraft as a “major boost” to the airline’s long-haul modernization plans.

The complications reflect the intricacies of the Allegris project, which incorporates five distinct seat types tailored to different passenger needs. While this variety is appealing, it has also created technical and certification hurdles.

Plans for Retiring the A340s Following the 787 Delivery

Lufthansa aims to take delivery of ten Boeing 787-9s by year’s end, one every two weeks. These aircraft are already manufactured and waiting for the airline’s go-ahead. Despite the unresolved Business Class situation, the airline decided to proceed with deliveries.

The initial ten Dreamliners will operate from the Frankfurt hub, primarily on transatlantic routes. Following crew training, flights to Toronto (YYZ) are expected to commence soon.

With one-way Economy fares starting at €1,477 and Premium Economy tickets commencing at €2,784, Lufthansa may be relying on these higher fares to make up for lost revenue due to the unavailability of Business Class.

Overall, Lufthansa has ordered 34 Boeing 787-9s in total, intending to replace its older, fuel-inefficient Airbus A330-600s and ultimately phase out its Airbus A340-600 fleet.

The Ongoing Challenges of the Allegris Project

The delays with the Dreamliner are not the first hindrances faced by the Allegris project. Various challenges have impacted multiple aircraft types:

• The initial Airbus A350s equipped with Allegris cabins arrived with an empty space designated for First Class due to certification issues.
• Some Allegris Economy Class seats on the A350 were stalled due to concerns regarding seatbelt airbags.
• Retrofitting planned for Airbus A380s won’t include the complete Allegris Business Class, since the unique design is incompatible with the superjumbo’s layout.
• The upper deck of the Boeing 747-8 is also unable to accommodate the Allegris Business Class seats without modifications.

The rollout has been so riddled with issues that Lufthansa’s flight attendant union has criticized the Allegris First Class product, stating it does not provide the expected premium experience.

The Importance of Certification

Unlike Lufthansa’s Airbus A350s, which feature Allegris seats certified by European authorities, the Dreamliners depend on FAA certification due to Boeing’s U.S. manufacturing status. This regulatory shift has exacerbated delays and increased costs.

The certification issues mean that Lufthansa’s premium cabin will be mostly vacant, even as demand for transatlantic Business Class travel remains robust.

As the airline moves forward with its fleet modernization, travelers booking the 787-9 may encounter a discrepancy between the anticipated onboard experience and the reality.