Fleet Order

Lufthansa Group is consistently forging ahead with the modernization of its long-haul fleet. In today’s meeting, based on the recommendation of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board approved the purchase of a total of 40 state-of-the-art aircraft for the group’s airlines. The 20 Boeing 787-9 and 20 additional Airbus A350-900 planes will primarily be replacing four-engine aircraft. The new planes will be delivered between late 2022 and 2027.

The order has a list-price investment volume of 12 billion USD. As is usual with such orders, Lufthansa Group has negotiated a significant price reduction. The parties have agreed not to disclose the actual purchase price.

“By replacing four-engine planes with new models, we are laying a sustainable foundation for our future in the long run. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision. Our responsibility for the environment is becoming more and more important as a criterion for our decisions,” says Carsten Spohr, CEO and Chairman of Lufthansa Group.

The decision regarding which airline will deploy the aircraft at which hub will be made at a later date.

The investment in new technology, efficiency and passenger comfort is a continuation of the ongoing fleet modernization of the group’s airlines. The arilines of the Lufthansa Group currently operate a long-haul fleet of 199 aircraft (as of December 2018), including twelve state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Beginning in 2020, Lufthansa will be introducing the new Boeing 777-9.

With the Airbus A350-900, the Boeing 777-9 and the Boeing 787-9, Lufthansa Group will own the most fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft of their class in terms of kerosene consumption per passenger and 100 kilometers flown. This order highlights the company’s desire to invest in cutting-edge technology in the interest of the environment. On average, the new aircraft will only consume around 2.9 liters of kerosene per passenger and 100 kilometers flown. That is 25% below what is used by predecessor aircraft, which will likewise have a positive impact on the CO₂ footprint.

The Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 aircraft that have been ordered will primarily be replacing four-engine aircraft. By the middle of the next decade, the entire long-haul fleet will have been modernized. The possible fuel savings alone add up to 500,000 metric tons per year. This is equivalent to a CO₂ reduction of 1.5 million metric tons.

With the new, more economical aircraft, the operating cost compared to the earlier models will sink by around 20 percent. In addition to this, Lufthansa Group will be significantly reducing the diversification and complexity of its fleet over the next few years and taking seven aircraft types out of service, which will reduce cost and complexity for maintenance and the supply of replacement parts, among other things.

After the long-haul aircraft rollover, the company will be offering its customers one of the world’s most modern fleets. This will also involve a significant increase in comfort and reliability.

• 30 percent lower noise footprint
  Noise emissions are reduced to well below the prescribed limits (through state-of-the-art engines and weight savings).
• Toothed edges on the engine nacelles reduce noise development by up to 30% both outside and inside the cabin.
• Over 25 percent less kerosene consumption and emissions
• The 787-9 flies more economically than almost any other long-haul aircraft: kerosene consumption averages 2.9 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres of flight and is thus around 25 percent lower than for comparable older air-craft types (e.g. Airbus A340-300).
• The aircraft also has curved wing ends, which also contribute to improving fuel efficiency.
• The windows are over 30% larger than most other airplanes of comparable size and the brightness of the windows can be adjusted at the push of a button.

• Lufthansa has ordered a total of 20 Boeing 787-9 aircraft; delivery from 2022 onwards.
• The list price is around USD 281.6 million per airplane. 
• The 787-9 will have around 250-300 seats in various classes, depending on the later area of operation in the Lufthansa Group.
• Long-haul aircraft of the latest generation in passenger traffic
• The aircraft is made of state-of-the-art materials: the primary structure, including the fuselage and wings, is made of 50% composite materials
• This means high corrosion resistance and weight savings as well as 25 per-cent lower fuel consumption than comparable aircraft of the previous generation.
• The new aircrafts are powered by state-of-the-art, powerful and low-noise engines. The noise footprint of the new models will be at least 30 percent smaller than that of comparable aircraft today. Which engine manufacturer will be chosen will be decided at a later date.

Which long-haul destinations the Lufthansa Group's airlines will serve with the 787-9 will be announced at a later date.

• 50 percent lower noise footprint
  Noise emissions are reduced to well below the prescribed limits (with state-of-the-art Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and weight savings).
• Over 25 percent less kerosene consumption and emissions
  When in operation, the A350-900 is more fuel-efficient than any other long-haul aircraft: Kerosene consumption averages 2.9 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers of flight, which is 25 percent less than comparable aircraft types.

• Lufthansa has ordered a total of 41 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, of which 12 have already been delivered.
• The list price is around USD 317.4 million per airplane. 
• The A350 has 293 seats, 48 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy Class and 224 in Economy Class.
• Long-haul aircraft of the latest generation in passenger traffic
• 70 percent of the aircraft is made of state-of-the-art materials. Composite materials (53%), titanium and modern aluminum alloys are combined. One example: the wing shell of the A350 is the largest single component ever made of carbon fiber composites in civil aviation.
• This means additional corrosion resistance and weight savings as well as 25 percent less fuel consumption. 
• More efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines: The new Rolls-Royce XWB engines are among the most efficient engines for large passenger airliners currently in use. The diameter of such an engine is equal to the hull diame-ter of a Concorde.

Lufthansa now serves eleven long-haul destinations with the A350-900 - from Vancouver to Singapore. The exact operational spectrum of the additionally ordered aircraft will be determined at a later date.

Press release

13.03.2019
Lufthansa Group orders 40 state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft

Backgrounder

• Facts & figures Boeing 787-9
• Facts & figures Airbus A350-900

The Lufthansa Group Fleet

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