In a move to streamline its fleet, Lufthansa has placed an order for 10 widebody jets from Boeing and Airbus. This consists of 5 Boeing 787-9s and 5 Airbus A350-900s. These new and efficient long range jets are set to replace the gas-guzzling A340-600s in its fleet. The announcement was made last Monday, May 3.
Boeing 787-9 ‘white-tails’
The 5 Boeing 787-9s are actually “white tail aircraft” meaning they are already assembled and are just waiting for a new permanent home. This happens when a customer and manufacturer deal falls-off and the planes were already produced. Lufthansa is picking them up around last quarter of 2021. Delivery of these 5 white-tails should be completed by early 2022.
Airbus A350-900
Lufthansa’s recent A350-900 orders are totally new airplanes. As a result, none of them had been built yet. Currently, Lufthansa has a firm order of 45 Airbus A350-900s. Unlike the 787, Lufthansa is set to receive their new ‘ flying raccoon’ from 2027 to 2028. The delayed delivery is in part with an agreement with Airbus on the deliveries of aircraft.
Goodbye A340s
According to Lufthansa, the 10 new widebody jets from Boeing and Airbus will replace the airlines’ Airbus A340-600 quads. Lufthansa’s fleet comprised of 50% quad-engine jets prior to the pandemic. This include Boeing 747-400s, Airbus A380s, and Airbus A340s. As a result the new streamlining strategy, both Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-400s will be replaced by the current Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. Their Boeing 777-300ERs will be replaced by Boeing 777-9s. Lufthansa’s Boeing 777-200s and Airbus A340-600s will be replaced by A350-900s. As for Lufthansa’s A340-300s, A330-200s, and B767-300s, they shall be replaced by B787-9s.
The streamlining will result to a fleet that comprise of 15% quad-engine jets by the middle of the decade. Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8I will be the only ‘quad’ left in the fleet.
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