Airlines Lufthansa orders five A350 XWB and five 787 aircraft

Over the course of its fleet modernization program, German airline Lufthansa has announced that it has ordered 10 new state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft. This latest order consists of five Airbus A350-900 XWBs and five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Both aircraft types are more efficient and environmentally friendly than their predecessors. This allows Lufthansa to create passenger services that are more modern and state-of-the-art. By phasing out other aircraft types like the A340-300 and A340-600, the airline will harmonize its fleet and seeks to be more cost efficient.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said: "Even in these challenging times, we are continuing to invest in a more modern, more efficient and a lower emission Lufthansa Group fleet. At the same time, we are pushing ahead with the modernization of our long-haul fleet even faster than planned prior to the coronavirus pandemic due to anticyclical opportunities. The new aircraft are the most modern of their kind. We want to further expand our global leadership role, among other things, with cutting-edge premium products and a state-of-the-art fleet – especially because we have a responsibility to the environment."

Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing, added: "The Lufthansa Group has been navigating an extremely challenging market and positioning itself for the recovery ahead and the eventual return to growth. We are honored that they have once again selected Boeing's widebody airplane family to power their future fleet [---] The 787's superior fuel efficiency and range provide the Lufthansa Group the flexibility to profitably operate the airplane across its route network."

This latest order is, as said above, part of the airline´s fleet modernization program, which is a long-standing aim for Lufthansa. Over this decade, the carrier expects to take delivery of around 175 new aircraft.

Currently, Lufthansa already operates with 17 Airbus A350-900s. With this latest order, the airline confirms its satisfaction with the aircraft type. Aerodynamical advantages and a new cabin, combined with new technologies in the cockpit make the aircraft one of the most modern in the industry. The newly ordered five A350s will be delivered between 2027 and 2028.

The first Boeing 787-9 will be delivered as early as next winter. The others will follow in the first half of next year. This announcement brings Lufthansa´s firm order book for the 787-9 and the 777-9 to 45 aircraft.