Chris Kjelgaard

Lufthansa Group plans to introduce with its first Boeing 777-9s in 2020 new business class and premium economy cabin fittings and seats that over time it will adopt for the rest of the long-haul aircraft of group member carriers Lufthansa, Swiss International, and Austrian Airlines.

 


Discussing the group’s cabin standardization move with reporters in New York on May 10, Heike Birlenbach, Lufthansa’s senior vice president of global sales and chief commercial officer of its Frankfurt hub, said the company would fit the new business class on virtually all the group’s jets&nbsp;other than those leaving the fleet in the short term, among them six A380s Airbus has agreed to take back from Lufthansa.

 


Birlenbach told AIN that the initiative will allow Lufthansa Group to distribute new long-haul aircraft on order flexibly among its various carriers. The group intends to use the move to enhance its overall fleet flexibility both in allocating aircraft for initial delivery and on a continuing basis, allowing Lufthansa Group to better respond to any evolving commercial circumstances at group hubs Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna, and Munich, according to Birlenbach.

 


In line with its higher-yield cabin-standardization strategy, Lufthansa Group hasn’t yet decided about the initial distribution among its member carriers of the&nbsp;20 Boeing 787-9s and 20 A350-900s it ordered in March, Birlenbach said. “We haven’t yet decided for these new aircraft,” she said, further noting that “an important strength” for the group will center on its ability to distribute aircraft flexibly among its carriers according to evolving needs. “Also, if after five years the technology changes on cabin interiors, the basics are all aligned,” she added.

 


In announcing orders for the 787-9 and A350-900 on March 13, Lufthansa Group said the new twinjets would mainly replace four-engine aircraft, namely the 15 A340-300s and 17 A340-600s operated by Lufthansa and the five A340-300s flown by Swiss International.

 


However, Birlenbach said that before allocating the 40 aircraft, the carriers will discuss traffic streams and opportunities to help Lufthansa Group’s executives best decide fleet allocation. Meanwhile, the airlines will take into account evolving “capabilities at the airport” as the group’s hub airports continue to develop their facilities and route networks.

 


Birlenbach later confirmed to AIN that the group will likely decide to allocate most 787-9s initially to Lufthansa or Zurich&nbsp;than to Austrian. “For Austrian now it is a question of intercontinental growth scenarios,” she said. Management must evaluate such conditions before Lufthansa Group can effect a long-term, long-haul hub growth strategy at Vienna. However, with its carriers’ cabin seating and fittings standardized, “the power of the group” centers on its ability to re-allocate aircraft at any time, she stressed. “Nobody is outside the discussion,” she concluded, in reference to the possible extension of the initiative to Eurowings and Brussels Airlines.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Common Interiors To Enhance Lufthansa Group Fleet Flexibility

Each Lufthansa Group carrier will have common business and premium economy cabin fittings, allowing flexible distribution of aircraft.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN