Lufthansa Group has announced an expansion of its long-haul fleet with the purchase of five additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, bringing its total firm orders for this model to 15. This strategic move, confirmed on December 20, 2024, underscores the group's commitment to fleet modernization, enhancing environmental sustainability, and improving passenger comfort. The A350-1000, known for its fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions compared to previous generations of aircraft, aligns with Lufthansa's broader environmental goals.
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With a list price valuation around two billion US dollars for this latest order, Lufthansa Group now holds a total of 75 A350 family aircraft, including both the A350-900 and A350-1000 variants. This makes Lufthansa one of Airbus's largest customers for the A350 globally. The new aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030, complementing the earlier order from March 2023 for ten A350-1000s, which are set to start arriving in April 2026. These planes will be deployed on premium-heavy routes, potentially enhancing the travel experience with their state-of-the-art cabins, including options for First Class.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr highlighted the significance of this order, stating, "Today’s order underscores our great confidence in our long-standing, close and successful partnership with Airbus. With the state-of-the-art A350 long-haul jets, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our history." He emphasized the investment in sustainability to meet CO₂ reduction targets while simultaneously offering passengers a first-class travel experience.
This acquisition is part of a larger fleet strategy for Lufthansa Group, which involves phasing out older, less efficient four-engine aircraft like the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-600, and A340-300, replacing them with these more efficient twin-engine jets. The move aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the airline's operations significantly, with a goal to halve net CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The decision to increase the A350-1000 order also reflects Lufthansa's anticipation of continued growth in long-haul travel demand, despite the challenges posed by economic fluctuations and the ongoing recovery from the global health crisis. With this latest order, Lufthansa not only reinforces its operational capability but also signals its long-term vision for expansion and improvement in service quality and environmental stewardship.