Lufthansa to Purchase 22 Latest-Generation Long-Haul Aircraft

German carrier Lufthansa has announced its plans to purchase 22 latest-generation long-haul aircraft, including 10 Airbus A350-1000s, five Airbus A350-900s and seven Boeing 787-9s. The deal is worth US$7.5 billion and the planes will be delivered from the mid-2020s onwards.

“With our purchase of 22 further Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, we have secured the delivery of more than 50 latest-generation long-haul aircraft for the member airlines of the Lufthansa Group since the pandemic began. These aircraft will be equipped with our new long-haul cabins, including the latest-generation seats in all classes of travel,” says Carsten Spohr, CEO, Lufthansa.

The purchase is part of the airline's fleet modernization program and is aimed at achieving the company's 2030 carbon emission reduction goals. The planes are more fuel-efficient and incorporate the latest manufacturing technology to reduce carbon emissions, Lufthansa says.

The latest purchase means that Lufthansa has increased its A350 order book to a total of 60 aircraft, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with Airbus. The A350 is the long-range leader in the 300-410-seater category and consumes significantly less fuel than the previous generation of aircraft, with a corresponding reduction in emissions, says Airbus.

“The combination of our superb employees on the ground and on board, these highly advanced aircraft and our latest seating product on board will position our airlines well to the fore again within the premium segment. These new aircraft will also play a decisive role in helping us achieve our carbon emission reduction goals by 2030,” says Spohr.

In addition to the aircraft purchase, Lufthansa and Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their cooperation in sustainability and future technologies. This includes intensifying the use of sustainable aviation fuels, further optimizing operations through more efficient flight management and exploring the use of hydrogen. With its latest order, Lufthansa benefits from Airbus' full fleet commonality, offering unmatched operational flexibility and vast economic benefits, according to the planemaker.

Lufthansa has a long history of operating in Mexico. The airline first began flights to Mexico in 1958 and in 1971, it became the first European airline to operate non-stop flights between the EU and Mexico. Today, Lufthansa offers daily flights from Mexico City to Frankfurt, as well as several weekly flights from Cancun to Frankfurt and Munich, Germany.

Lufthansa Flight 469 Diverts to Dulles Airport due to Turbulence

Lufthansa flight 469 from Austin, Texas, to Frankfurt was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Dulles International Airport on Wednesday evening after encountering severe turbulence, reported several US media outlets.

The Airbus A330 landed safely and seven people were taken to local hospitals. The aircraft crew reported encountering severe turbulence at 37,000ft over Tennessee. Lufthansa in an emailed statement on Thursday confirmed that flight 469 “encountered brief but severe turbulence about 90 minutes after takeoff” and said the crew “made an unscheduled landing at Washington Dulles Airport as a precautionary measure.”