Lufthansa (LH) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, marking a milestone in the modernization of its long-haul fleet. The aircraft will debut in October on the Frankfurt (FRA) – Toronto (YYZ) route, initiating a broader replacement of the Airbus A340 quad jets.
However, the introduction has not been without setbacks. Lufthansa’s flagship Allegris Business Class product is facing significant certification delays, preventing the airline to utilize the premium cabin to its full extent.
Lufthansa Confirms Airbus A340 Retirement
Coinciding with the Dreamliner arrival, Lufthansa confirmed plans to retire its Airbus A340-600 fleet. CEO Carsten Spohr stated the aircraft would be taken out of scheduled service after the 2024/25 holiday season and formally retired from the fleet by mid-2025.
Lufthansa currently operates six Airbus A340-600s averaging 18 years in age. They were already consigned to a backup role, serving as reserve aircraft to cover capacity shortfalls caused by delayed deliveries of next-generation aircraft.
If additional 787 deliveries are delayed again, Lufthansa has contingency plans to operate limited A340-600 flights into 2026, but the ultimate plan remains the same: four-engine A340s will leave the fleet.
Why Lufthansa Is Retiring the Airbus A340?
The decision to retire the Airbus A340 stems from multiple factors:
- Fuel inefficiency: Quad-engine planes are far less efficient than newer two-engine planes such as the 787 and A350.
- Operating costs: Reduced maintenance and fuel burn make the A340 uneconomical.
- Fleet simplification: Lufthansa aims to reduce the variety of aircraft types for simplified operations.
- Environmental goals: CO₂ reduction is one of the main pillars of the group’s sustainability concept.
Notably, the A340-600 was once Lufthansa’s long-haul flagship, but its retirement aligns with industry-wide trends, as carriers increasingly phase out four-engine widebodies in favor of more efficient, lighter twinjets.
Allegris Business Class Faces Certification Challenges
The Boeing 787-9 features 28 Allegris Business Class seats, but only four of them are currently certified for passenger use. The remaining 24 seats, manufactured by Collins Aerospace, failed FAA crash testing and must be left empty until certification is obtained.
- Approved seats: Only the four forward “suites”
- Blocked seats: 24 remaining Business Class seats
- Cause of delay: FAA certification and crash-test failures
Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter acknowledged the challenge but highlighted the importance of the 787-9 to the airline’s future, stating the aircraft represented “a major boost” to its modernization efforts.
This is not Allegris’ first setback:
- Airbus A350 deliveries with no First Class suites.
- Some Allegris Economy seats faced seatbelt airbag certification issues.
- Airbus A380 retrofits will not feature full Allegris Business Class due to layout incompatibility.
- Upper deck seating on the Boeing 747-8 has faced design challenge.
Fleet Modernization and Transition Plan
Lufthansa’s fleet modernization is centered around:
- 34 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order
- 20 Boeing 777-9 aircraft due for delivery later in this decade
- Additional Airbus A350s joining the long-haul fleet
Moreover, the ultimate goal of retiring aging Airbus A330-600 and Airbus A340-600 aircraft is to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and maintenance costs.
By the end of this year, Lufthansa expects to receive ten Boeing 787-9s, delivered every two weeks or so. These aircraft are already built and awaiting delivery at Boeing facilities, awaiting Lufthansa’s acceptance.
Ticket Prices and Passenger Impact
The Frankfurt–Toronto route will see the Boeing 787-9 first. Initial prices reveal high demand and limited Business Class availability:
- Economy: from €1,477 one-way
- Premium Economy: from €2,784 one-way
- Business Class: Only four seats available for booking until certification issues are resolved
For passengers, this means the Dreamliner’s much-hyped Allegris Business Class debut will come across as half-baked at first. Nevertheless, the addition of the 787 fleet guarantees a phased overhaul of Lufthansa’s long-haul experience.
Bottom Line – Lufthansa A340 Retirement
Lufthansa is set to embark on a new chapter in its fleet renewal strategy. The retirement of the Airbus A340-600 marks the end of an era, and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner signals the carrier’s determination for efficiency, modernization, and sustainability.
Yet, delays in certification for Allegris Business Class show the difficulty in introducing a cutting-edge cabin on a number of aircraft types.
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