Lufthansa launches direct flights from Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt

Lufthansa, the German carrier has started a new non-stop service between Frankfurt and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.  

Lufthansa’s expansion in North Carolina not only strengthens its presence in the region but provides Carolinians with even more options for direct travel to Europe. The new Raleigh-Durham to Frankfurt route, coupled with the existing Charlotte to Munich flight, creates a robust network for seamless connections across Europe and beyond. North Carolina residents now have a world of possibilities at their fingertips, including a direct link to the main business hubs, hi-tech companies and R&D centres of Europe, as well as to high-in-demand places for business travel, such as the Middle East and India. The airline has been flying to Charlotte for nearly 20 years, and together with the RDU flight, Lufthansa now serves North Carolina with 12 weekly frequencies to both of its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.

"Lufthansa is thrilled to bring Raleigh-Durham International Airport its first-ever nonstop connection to Frankfurt, and Germany as a whole," said Dirk Janzen, Vice President Passenger Airlines Sales, The Americas, Lufthansa Group  "This new route will provide travelers throughout North Carolina with seamless access to Lufthansa Group’s worldwide network, opening up a world of possibilities for business and leisure travel, and helping to further the Group’s goal of connecting people, cultures, and economies."

Flight LH408 departs Frankfurt (FRA) at 10:20am and lands at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) at 1:50pm. The return flight LH409 departs Raleigh-Durham at 3:40pm and arrives back in Frankfurt at 6:05am the following day. All times are local. The new Raleigh-Durham service will operate five times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with an Airbus A330-300 in a three-class configuration. The aircraft includes 42 Business Class, 28 Premium Economy and 185 Economy Class seats to accommodate 255 passengers.

“The launch of service to Frankfurt was 10 years in the making, dating back to our early conversations with Lufthansa in 2014 and culminating in today’s arrival of the first nonstop flight from Germany to RDU,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “We are thrilled to welcome Lufthansa as RDU’s newest international airline partner and provide convenient service to another European gateway."

Frankfurt and beyond

Frankfurt, Germany’s most international city, offers a rich culture and history. The Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region is one of Europe’s leading economic centers and home to many tourist attractions and sights, including world-class ballet, opera, theaters and art exhibitions. As Germany’s fifth largest city, it is the nation’s financial powerhouse—home to the German Central Bank and the European Central bank, which manages the euro. It is also the gateway to Germany’s robust hi-tech scene.

Lufthansa at Frankfurt Airport

When arriving in Frankfurt, most passengers usually connect to other flights. With Lufthansa Group, customers can easily connect to over 300 destinations worldwide through Lufthansa Group carriers, as well as code share flights with United Airlines and Air Canada, the airline group’s North American partners.  Lounge offerings in Frankfurt offer a variety of options for those premium passengers that find themselves waiting for the next leg of their trip. Lufthansa lounges vary from a Welcome Lounge that has private showers, warm breakfast offerings and quiet spaces to rest or work to a multitude of First and Business Class lounges that provide a tranquil respite for guests.

Lufthansa expansion across the United States

Following a summer of exciting route expansions, Lufthansa's newest addition of Raleigh-Durham marks the Group carriers’ 26th gateway in the United States. With this, Lufthansa and its group subsidiaries now operates some 400 weekly flights to the United States.  This dedication to expanding the Lufthansa footprint across North America is further evidenced by the recent launches of a non-stop route from Seattle to Munich and Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Frankfurt, as well as increased capacity from Munich to Washington D.C. with an A380.

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The New Service in Brief

Route	Flight number	Flight days	Departure – Arrival (local times)
Raleigh-Durham – Frankfurt	LH409	5x weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)	3:40pm – 6:05am (+ 1 day)
Frankfurt – Raleigh-Durham	LH408	5x weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)	10:20am – 1:50pm

 

Lufthansa Group brings fans to the soccer European Championship

Europe is in soccer fever and Lufthansa is bringing soccer fans to Germany: From June 14 to July 14, the airlines of Lufthansa Group are recording around 200,000 additional bookings for flights to the venues of the European Football Championship. Numerous additional flights are being added, especially to and from Great Britain. Lufthansa is ready for the soccer event and is already getting fans in the mood for the European Championships on board.  "As a partner of the German men's national soccer team, we are eagerly awaiting the event. We are particularly looking forward to flying soccer fans from all over the world to Germany,” says Heiko Reitz, Chief Commercial Officer, Lufthansa Airlines.

On the road with the “Fanhansa”

For all those travelling with “Fanhansa”, the private summer fairytale can begin as soon as you take off: A total of six aircraft in the A320 proudly display the familiar lettering and emit a soccer atmosphere both inside and out - from special headrests to the food trays that say “Breakfast for Champions”. In addition, special EM chocolates will be served on all flights.

Live ticker on all European flights 

Another highlight is the live ticker on board domestic German and European flights: The match action is transmitted in real time via text. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines passengers can follow the matches live in German and English on their own electronic devices free of charge throughout the European Championships via the FlyNet® portal. This is also possible on Lufthansa A350 flights with the new Allegris cabin interior and in the FlyNet® portal on Discover Airlines long-haul flights. 

Those who want more information about the European Championships can watch videos of the players from the DFB team take part in a quiz or get information about the ten German host cities on channels of the new Lufthansa Insights content system. This can be done on board in the FlyNet® portal and on the ground at Lufthansa.com.

As far as possible, the Lufthansa crews on all Lufthansa flights will provide the score of the respective soccer match.

Lufthansa fan scarf 

Lufthansa's specially created European fan scarf, whose design symbolizes the airline's route network, is already a popular souvenir. During Germany matches, the scarf is distributed free of charge at the airports of the host cities. In an oversized form, it welcomes passengers on the facade of Terminal 2 in Munich and sets the mood for this summer's major events: The European elections, the European Football Championships and the Olympic Games in Paris. The fan scarf will be on display until mid-August.

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First scheduled flight with Lufthansa Allegris on board takes off

First scheduled flight with Lufthansa Allegris on board takes off

A350-900 with 268 passengers on the way from Munich to Vancouver

Further destinations in late summer: Shanghai and San Francisco

From summer: Allegris flights can be booked for the winter timetable

268 passengers, 11 crew members, ten new seat options! The first scheduled flight with Lufthansa Allegris on board, LH476, took off this afternoon at 4:14pm from Munich for Vancouver on the west coast of Canada. Tomorrow, Thursday, the Canadian metropolis of Toronto will be the second Allegris destination, which will be served alternately with Vancouver on selected flights in the first few months. With further A350s delivered, Allegris will also be available on flights to Chicago and Montreal in the summer.

From late summer, flights will also be operated to Shanghai and San Francisco. These destinations will initially replace the existing destinations. From the summer, flights with the Lufthansa Allegris cabin on board will be offered for booking for the winter flight schedule with the entire product range. Further details on prices and benefits for status customers will also be published at that time.

When booking Allegris Business Class, travellers can reserve a specific seat as before. The Classic Seat reservation is always free of charge. This seat offers all the benefits of the new product. Optionally, seats with additional comfort (the Business Class Suite, the Extra Space Seat, the Privacy Seat by the window and the Extra Long Bed) can also be booked in advance via the familiar seat reservation system for an additional charge.

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Local Cuisine Takes to the Skies with Lufthansa Group

With a legacy of nearly 60 years connecting Japan with Europe, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group continue to strengthen their ties with the country by reintroducing local catering onboard flights from the Land of the Rising Sun to Europe.

Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) recently began serving Japanese in-flight meals on flights to and from Japan

Lufthansa reintroduced Japanese food for in-flight meals on flights to and from Japan in late 2023

Japanese cuisine is now available in all classes on Lufthansa and in Business class on SWISS

In recognition of Japan’s deep and unique culinary heritage, Lufthansa began serving local Japanese cuisine onboard flights to/from Japan from October 2023. Travellers on Japanese routes can enjoy traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi, sukiyaki and soba as they travel via our Frankfurt and Munich hubs. 

For example, customers aboard LH717 travelling from Tokyo to Frankfurt can enjoy Japanese meals, prepared masterfully by expert local chefs according to traditional recipes, in all cabin classes. Business class travellers can look forward to a specially curated gastronomical experience with a multi-course meal organized according to traditional Japanese culinary arrangements. Beginning with appetizers served in a kobachi and zensai to whet their appetites, the main course features an array of delicacies topped off with a comforting soup and konomono. Premium Economy and Economy passengers are also able to enjoy local Japanese meals on board. On First and Business class, dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients and served on fine ceramic tableware, taking the experience of a traditional Japanese restaurant to the skies. Without the need to preorder, passengers boarding flights to/from Toyo or Osaka are offered a choice of local catering options aboard all Lufthansa flights.

Similarly with Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines has also recently introduced local catering with passengers offered their choice of Japanese menu choices onboard flights to/from Tokyo. Passengers are advised to pre-book their local Japanese meals when travelling to/from Tokyo with SWISS.

With our renewed local catering concepts aboard both Lufthansa and SWISS, Lufthansa Group remains committed to embracing Japanese culture and reinforcing our long-standing ties with the country.

. Special discount limited time offerSave up to 30% now. 
 

Lufthansa Group celebrates 55 years connecting Osaka with Germany

 55 years connecting the Kansai region with Germany

With a tradition that extends more than five decades, Lufthansa Group celebrates 55 years connecting Japan’s Kansai region with Germany.    Described by many as the cultural center and the historical heart of Japan, the Kansai region - including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kobe - has had a direct connection to the European nation of Germany since 1969 thanks to Lufthansa German Airlines.

While a lot has changed in the past 55 years, the relationship between Lufthansa Group and Japan remains strong and continues to grow.   Late last year Lufthansa reintroduced Japanese catering in all cabins on flights between Japan and Germany (and vice versa), while sister airline SWISS introduced Japanese catering in Business Class for connections between Switzerland and Tokyo (and vice versa). 

The Lufthansa Group network into Japan includes direct connections to Haneda, Narita and Osaka airports with 31 weekly flights during the 2024 summer schedule.   In fact, connections from Munich to Kansai airport will be increased significantly this year. According to Larry Ryan, Senior Director Sales, Japan and South Korea:

“Based on customer needs, we’re extremely pleased to be able to return to daily operations from Kansai to Munich, enabling connections via our 5-star hub to the entire European continent and beyond.   This is particularly exciting as we see so many of our partners gearing up for Expo’25 in the Kansai area.”

In recognition of Japan’s strong heritage and our deep ties to the country, Lufthansa Group is pleased to commemorate this important anniversary by increasing capacity and strengthening our investment in the Kansai region of Japan.

. Special discount limited time offerSave up to 30% now. 
 

Lufthansa launches Customer Insight Hub developed in collaboration with TD Reply.

Lufthansa, one of Europe’s leading airlines, has embarked on a transformative journey to redefine customer engagement with the launch of an innovative Customer Insight Hub developed in collaboration with TD Reply. 

This cutting-edge portal enables advanced analytics leveraging specialised Large Language Models (LLM), to empower data-led strategies that refine the customer journey and ultimately optimise the customer experience. 

This strategic project sees TD Reply harnessing the potential of generative AI to understand the expectations and preferences of travellers, thereby elevating the customer experience to a new level. Lufthansa’s countless interaction points with passengers, spanning from online reservations to in-flight engagement and post-travel feedback, provide valuable data to enhance service benchmarks.

At the heart of this initiative lies TD Reply's Customer Insight Hub, an automated nexus for the collection and analysis of customer-related information. The hub boasts an AI-based analytics engine using LLM that streamlines the assessment of customer feedback, automatically classifying it by topic, analysing the sentiment and synthesizing comprehensive customer satisfaction. The combination of qualitative and quantitative data provides a holistic view of the customer experience. 

Lufthansa surprises Airbus by ordering up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets

Lufthansa has walked away from ordering more Airbus A320neo jets partly because of a long order backlog and jumped at a massive discount offered by U.S. planemaker Boeing for agreeing to buy up to 100 737-MAX jets.

Europe's largest airline group has placed a firm order of 40 Boeing 737-MAX 8 aeroplanes with an option to purchase up to 60 frames. Lufthansa is understood to have secured a discount of over 40% on the list price for the MAX 8 aircraft. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said the order was a strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group as it had been co-developer and launch customer of the 737.  

"Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to a number of industry-changing achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to an original launch customer's fleet," said Stan Deal, president and CEO, of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes. 

However, the German love for Airbus has not been lost completely,  the group has placed an order for an additional 40 A220-300s to bolster its short and medium-haul fleet. The A220 has been in service with the Group since 2016 when SWISS put the first aircraft into scheduled service.

Carsten Spohr said that with the order of 40 A220s, the group was "continuing our unique partnership with Airbus, just a few months ago, as the largest airline customer, we received our 600th aircraft from Airbus, and we look forward to taking delivery of number 700. Our customers are looking forward to these additional modern, economical, and fuel-efficient aircraft."

"The Lufthansa Group was one of the first customers for the A220 and has successfully operated the aircraft in its SWISS route network ever since. We are delighted by this testimony of confidence from our long-standing partner and customer," said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “As the only clean sheet design aircraft and specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market the A220 is the most efficient solution in its category to support Lufthansa Group meeting its exciting airline development and sustainability objectives.”

The latest state-of-the-art A220-300 is the larger sibling of the successful A220 Family, carrying between 120 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km). The aircraft offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft. It also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring superior comfort. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

By the end of November, Airbus won 849 orders from 31 customers for the A220, of which 303 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 18 airlines worldwide on 1,350+ routes.

First come, first served – uncovering first-class cabin designs

As any seasoned traveller knows, there is flying – and there is flying first class. The vast majority of us will never attain such dizzy heights and can only dream of that elusive upgrade.  Artemis Aerospace has a look at what we’re missing and explores some of the world’s best first-class cabins.

As you board a plane and shuffle down the aisle of economy class, you might have booked a window seat for the view or opted for an aisle seat for easy access to the loo. However, what happens next is in the lap of the gods.

Heading towards your seat, you might be considering a whole host of possibilities that could cause you unwelcome distractions while onboard. For example, will your neighbour be fidgety or insist on fighting for the armrest? Or will there be a lively child directly behind you constantly kicking the back of your seat? Will there be enough legroom? Will the meal be something you like, and will there be enough to sustain you during the journey? Despite these concerns, economy class passengers usually end up at their destination having had a perfectly pleasant flying experience.

For passengers who want a more exclusive experience, there is the option of business class or first class. Both are more luxurious compared to economy, but the differences vary from airline to airline. Generally, business class offers more legroom than economy but you won’t necessarily be given a private space. In first class, there is usually a seat which turns into a bed, and sometimes a private space or even apartment. Food and drink in business class is typically at good restaurant level, whereas in first class, there is likely to be an impressive menu carefully curated by an award-winning chef.

In today’s economy, however, with commercial aviation only just beginning to recover from the pandemic, some airlines are concentrating on business class and phasing out the first class offering altogether. Even before COVID-19, in the ten years to 2018, British Airways dropped 100,000 of its first-class seats, and when ordering new aircraft today there is no first-class option included. The US airline Delta has halved its first-class seats from 400,000 to 200,000 in the last ten years.

So, if you want to experience the high life, now is the time to do it; we’ve selected five of the most luxurious first-class spaces to take your pick from.

Qatar Airways

The luxury first class experience on Qatar Airways ensures complete privacy and offers a top of the range, full flat bed to ensure passengers get a perfect sleep and arrive refreshed, along with designer lounge wear from The White Company. There is an à la carte menu prepared by top chefs, including some with Michelin stars, and food can be ordered from it at any time. The personal spaces can be transformed into a workspace with onboard Wi-Fi and there are in excess of 4,000 entertainment choices.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is one of the two national airlines of the United Arab Emirates. A first-class passenger’s journey starts with a luxury limousine to the airport, and, once on board, encompasses fine dining, expert wine pairings with your meal and a ‘signature Cognac service’ to finish. Chairs recline into a flat bed when required and there is free Wi-Fi access, an amenity kit with body lotion, cologne, eye mask, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, plus over a thousand hours of on-demand in-flight entertainment. For the ultimate experience, passengers on the airline’s A380 can book a luxurious suite for two, with its own private shower room, bedroom with double bed and separate living room.

Singapore Airlines

Lufthansa Group starts new rail & air partnership with KORAIL through AccessRail

For the first time outside of Europe, Lufthansa Group has partnered with a leading rail provider to offer an intermodal transport solution

Lufthansa passengers will benefit from the extensive national network of KORAIL, the leading train operator in South Korea

Intermodality – the concept of bundling different transportation options to offer customers more choice and more flexibility when booking travel – has been launched successfully by the Lufthansa Group in multiple destinations in Europe. For a first outside of Europe and a first for the Asia Pacific region, Lufthansa Group has partnered with KORAIL, the primary train operator in South Korea, to offer our passengers the flexibility of air-to-rail options when travelling within South Korea. In addition to additional choice and flexibility for our customers, intermodality also reaffirms our commitment to sustainability, giving guests a sustainable option for domestic travel within South Korea.

A First for South Korea

With this partnership, Lufthansa passengers will now be able to travel to as well as from Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) to 8 KTX destinations nationwide including Busan, Dongdaegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Pohang, Yeosu, Mokpo and Jinju on one ticket, offering guests seamlessness and a one-stop shop for their travel needs. Passengers are now able to book rail-to-air tickets through the Lufthansa website as well as with their preferred travel agent with full integration of these products in the GDS.

According to Roy Lease, Vice President, Head of Partnership Management at Lufthansa Group said:   “Extending our intermodal offers to regions outside of the Lufthansa Group hubs is part of our multimodal strategy. By offering connecting services with the Korean Railway company KORAIL, we are happy to integrate 8 Korean cities into the Lufthansa Group network.”

As the first intermodal partnership for Lufthansa Group in the Asia Pacific region, passengers can now enjoy more flexibility and more choice when flying from South Korea to Europe and beyond.

Lufthansa to expand service from Frankfurt and Munich to the U.S. for summer 2024

Lufthansa Airlines is expanding its service from Frankfurt and Munich to the U.S. in summer 2024 with three new connections. Starting next summer, Lufthansa will offer a total of 27 USA destinations, decidedly more than before Corona. Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina are two new destinations starting from Frankfurt. From Munich, Lufthansa will also fly for the first time to Seattle. And, in summer 2024 also from Munich for the first time, Johannesburg and Hong Kong. 

News in detail from Frankfurt 

Starting on June 4, 2024, Lufthansa Airlines will fly five times weekly throughout the year to the Midwest gateway city Minneapolis. Located on the Mississippi river, it is an ideal starting point for exploring the state of Minnesota where, urban sophistication meets exciting outdoor adventures. In numerous national parks, and a chance to admire the spectacular northern lights. 

For the first time, Lufthansa will add Raleigh-Durham, to its flight schedule. It is the airline’s the second destination in North Carolina after Charlotte. Starting June 6, 2024, Lufthansa will fly also fly five times a week throughout the year to this city that is particularly interesting for business travelers. Numerous German companies have branches in the Raleigh-Durham area, and employees will now have an optimal connection to Germany and Lufthansa's global network for the first time.

Hyderabad, India already is a Lufthansa destination this winter and will continue to be served in the 2024 summer flight schedule with five weekly flights.

News in detail from Munich 

Next summer, Lufthansa guests will be able to choose from more exciting destinations from Munich to three continents. The Airbus A350, one of the most sustainable long-haul aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet, will fly for example for the first to Seattle from Munich daily for the first time on May 30, 2024 . The Munich flight complements existing daily flights to Seattle from Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub, thus offering additional travel options to the. state of Washington. In short, Lufthansa is doubling flight frequencies to Seattle. 

Lufthansa expands flights to the USA with three new connections

Lufthansa Airlines is expanding its service from Frankfurt and Munich to the U.S. in summer 2024 with three new connections. Starting next summer, Lufthansa will offer a total of 27 USA destinations, decidedly more than before Corona. Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina are two new destinations starting from Frankfurt. From Munich, Lufthansa will also fly for the first time to Seattle. And, in summer 2024 also from Munich for the first time, Johannesburg and Hong Kong. 

News in detail from Frankfurt 

Starting on June 4, 2024, Lufthansa Airlines will fly five times weekly throughout the year to the Midwest gateway city Minneapolis. Located on the Mississippi river, it is an ideal starting point for exploring the state of Minnesota where, urban sophistication meets exciting outdoor adventures. In numerous national parks, and a chance to admire the spectacular northern lights. 

For the first time, Lufthansa will add Raleigh-Durham, to its flight schedule. It is the airline’s the second destination in North Carolina after Charlotte. Starting June 6, 2024, Lufthansa will fly also fly five times a week throughout the year to this city that is particularly interesting for business travelers. Numerous German companies have branches in the Raleigh-Durham area, and employees will now have an optimal connection to Germany and Lufthansa's global network for the first time.

Hyderabad, India already is a Lufthansa destination this winter and will continue to be served in the 2024 summer flight schedule with five weekly flights.

News in detail from Munich 

Next summer, Lufthansa guests will be able to choose from more exciting destinations from Munich to three continents. The Airbus A350, one of the most sustainable long-haul aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet, will fly for example for the first to Seattle from Munich daily for the first time on May 30, 2024 . The Munich flight complements existing daily flights to Seattle from Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub, thus offering additional travel options to the. state of Washington. In short, Lufthansa is doubling flight frequencies to Seattle. 

Hundreds delayed on Ibiza after Lufthansa jet's heavy landing bursts tires.

Hundreds of holidaymakers and leisure travellers have faced hours and hours of delays on the Spanish island of Ibiza after a Lufthansa jet burst several tires upon landing and blocked the runway.

The Lufthansa Airbus A321 jet was operating a flight from Frankfurt International Airport to the party island landing just before 15:00 on Saturday. According to initial reports, the aircraft registered D-AIRU, burst two tires on its right-hand main gear during the heavy landing, which also damaged the other parts of the gear.    

The aircraft came to a halt some 2,300 meters and was carrying nearly 180 passengers at the time of the incident. Lufthansa said "there was no danger to the guests or crew at any time. All passengers and crew members exited the aircraft normally via the stairs. The aircraft was able to be towed off the runway and was investigated in detail by engineering."

 'Lufthansa regrets any inconvenience caused to all passengers. Safety is a top priority at all times.'

Munich Oktoberfest flights announced by Lufthansa

German flag carrier Lufthansa has announced a series of special flights to Munich from London Stansted for the annual Oktoberfest.

The airline is offering 11 flights for travellers from the region looking to experience the world-famous German beer festival.

Flights are scheduled to run from September 15 until October 1 and those booking early can take advantage of fares as low as £124 return.

The outbound service from London Stansted will depart at 7.55pm and arrive in Munich at 10.45pm.

Simon Gorrighan, Aviation Director at London Stansted, said:   “People from London and the East of England can now jet out from their local airport to enjoy a unique and memorable Oktoberfest experience.

There is no doubt these flights will be extremely popular, so I would suggest booking in advance in order to get the best fares.”

 

Lufthansa Industry Solutions Now Expands the BARIG Business Partner Network

Comprehensive Innovations

Profound international consulting know-how with a focus on future topics

 

Data security, sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), and a circular economy are among the most important key issues currently addressed by many companies as part of the transformations that are occurring in almost all industries right now. Airlines are facing these issues as well. In aviation, in particular, topics such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and digital processes related to passenger transportation as well as air freight and logistics require a high level of expertise and innovation. In this context, the transformation offers enormous potential for successfully shaping the future and generating completely new approaches.

 

The Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG)—the association of airlines operating in Germany—is now giving its members a wide range of possibilities including direct access to the most recent studies, projects, analyses, and information on the transformation to the future. From now on, Lufthansa Industry Solutions (LHIND), one of the leading IT consulting companies in Germany, is supporting BARIG and its members as new business partner. LHIND is an independent company within the Lufthansa Group and focuses—besides the industry, logistics, and automotive sector—on aviation as well.

 

“We are very delighted to welcome Lufthansa Industry Solutions as another future-oriented business partner with great international orientation and experience. With its comprehensive, innovative, digital know-how, LHIND accompanies airlines, airports, and the industry in significant renewal and modernization projects,” Michael Hoppe, BARIG Chairman and Executive Director, states. “The field of AI, in particular, offers airlines a number of opportunities to improve processes and make them much more cost-efficient. In air freight, for instance, AI can be used to optimize flight routes or loading of aircraft. In passenger traffic, AI can help create forecasts, evaluate customer feedback, and improve passenger services.”

 

“The roots of our company lie in international aviation. Accordingly, we are still one of the few proven specialists who can offer this industry profound, customized consulting services and products such as myIDTravel, myDutyTrip, or myIDgo,” Volker Weller, Vice President Staff Travel Solutions at LHIND explains. “An international clientele with customers from Germany, Switzerland, the USA, and numerous other countries rely on LHIND’s services. The business partnership with BARIG gives us the opportunity to have a constructive and future-oriented exchange with airline representatives from all over the world, which we are very much looking forward to.

Airbus delivered the first aircraft to Lufthansa on 9th February, 1976 and early this week the airline took delivery of its 600th aircraft.

The delivery to Lufthansa of its first Airbus A300B2 on February 9, 1976 laid the foundation for a strong partnership within European civil aviation that has now extended almost 50 years. With more than ten different Airbus aircraft types supplied since then to almost every air operator in the Lufthansa Group, today saw the 600th such aircraft – an Airbus A321neo – handed over to Lufthansa in a formal ceremony at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site.

Four-time launching customer and the third-biggest A350 customer

600th Lufthansa aircraft formally named ‘Münster’

Special livery for the milestone A321neo unveiled in delivery ceremony at   Hamburg-Finkenwerder

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board:  “Lufthansa and Airbus are united by a very special partnership. Ever since Airbus’s creation, we have enjoyed close and trusting collaborations on a wide range of research projects and new developments. Lufthansa has also served no fewer than four times as Airbus’s launching customer for a new aircraft type, most recently for the A320neo family that is proving such a success. Lufthansa has ordered every family of aircraft that Airbus has developed over the past five decades. And more than 90 per cent of the 600 Airbuses that we have taken delivery of during that time are still in Lufthansa Group service today. We also wish to welcome our 700th Airbus to our fleet as part of Lufthansa’s centennial celebrations in 2026.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO:  “Lufthansa and Airbus have been partners ever since we delivered the first Lufthansa A300 back in February 1976. Since then, Lufthansa has taken delivery of an Airbus aircraft an average of every month – 600 of them in almost 50 years! No other airline group has received more of our aircraft to date. My particular thanks, on behalf of everyone at Airbus, go to all the teams at Lufthansa for all their confidence and trust. We look forward to the next 50 years of our partnership and our shared commitment to the goal of sustainable air travel.”

The story to date

Lufthansa signed its first purchase agreement with Airbus for three A300B2s in 1975 and received its first such aircraft from Europe’s new manufacturer seven months later on February 9, 1976. Subsequent years saw the first deliveries of further Airbus types: the A310 in 1983, followed by the A300-600 in 1987. The first Airbus A320 to join the Lufthansa fleet was delivered in October 1989. Over 370 aircraft of the A320 family are in service today with the various airlines of the Lufthansa Group. The first A340 followed in 1993; and just one year later the Lufthansa Airbus fleet passed the 100-aircraft mark. The A330 followed in 2004; and in 2010 the A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft – joined the Lufthansa long-haul fleet.

Lufthansa has also served as launching customer for a new Airbus type on four occasions to date: for the A310, the A340, the A220 and – in 2016 –A320neo. Not only the Airbus A320 family is a cornerstone of today’s Lufthansa fleet: the A350-900, which first arrived in 2016, has also become a key component in the Lufthansa long-haul fleet, and the Lufthansa Group is the world’s third-biggest A350 customer.

600th Airbus named ‘Münster’

The 600th Airbus aircraft to be delivered to Lufthansa, which bears the registration D-AIEQ, is an Airbus A321neo. Seating 215 passengers, the A321neo is a state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient short- and medium-haul twinjet that has been in Lufthansa service since 2019. D-AIEQ has been named ‘Münster’ after the German city.

Partners in sustainability, too

Lufthansa and Airbus attach particular importance to their collaborations on the sustainability and the research & development fronts. Over the last three decades, the Lufthansa Group has equipped several of its long-haul Airbus aircraft with instruments to conduct climate and weather research. In addition to three such Airbus jets that are presently gathering climate-related data for scientific purposes, Lufthansa is also working with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on a world-first project to convert a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 into a research aircraft.

Lufthansa performed its longest non-stop flight to date in 2021 when it flew one of its Airbus A350-900s from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The same year also saw a Lufthansa A350-900 converted into a climate research aircraft for the CARIBIC Project.

Back in 2011 Lufthansa was the first airline to trial biofuel in its daily flight operations. For some six months, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was operated on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route with one of its two engines powered with a fuel blend consisting 50% of biosynthetic kerosene. In the same year Lufthansa teamed up with the Forschungszentrum Jülich to conduct a new type of long-term climate research study using scheduled air services to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere. As part of this IAGOS research project, specially developed instruments were installed aboard a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 to collect trace elements from the atmosphere in the course of the aircraft’s regular flight operations.

The Lufthansa Group purchases four additional ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft. The aircraft will be acquired from Deucalion Aviation Limited and delivered to the Group still this year.

Lufthansa currently operates 21 Airbus A350-900s and has ordered five more A350-900s and ten A350-1000s as recently as March 2023. In total, Lufthansa holds 38 firm orders for this highly efficient Airbus long-haul aircraft, making it the world's third-largest Airbus A350 customer.

Lufthansa and Airbus mark delivery of 600th Lufthansa aircraft at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site

The delivery to Lufthansa of its first Airbus A300B2 on February 9, 1976 laid the foundation for a strong partnership within European civil aviation that has now extended almost 50 years. With more than ten different Airbus aircraft types supplied since then to almost every air operator in the Lufthansa Group, today saw the 600th such aircraft – an Airbus A321neo – handed over to Lufthansa in a formal ceremony at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site.

Four-time launching customer and the third-biggest A350 customer

600th Lufthansa aircraft formally named ‘Münster’

Special livery for the milestone A321neo unveiled in delivery ceremony at   Hamburg-Finkenwerder

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board:  “Lufthansa and Airbus are united by a very special partnership. Ever since Airbus’s creation, we have enjoyed close and trusting collaborations on a wide range of research projects and new developments. Lufthansa has also served no fewer than four times as Airbus’s launching customer for a new aircraft type, most recently for the A320neo family that is proving such a success. Lufthansa has ordered every family of aircraft that Airbus has developed over the past five decades. And more than 90 per cent of the 600 Airbuses that we have taken delivery of during that time are still in Lufthansa Group service today. We also wish to welcome our 700th Airbus to our fleet as part of Lufthansa’s centennial celebrations in 2026.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO:  “Lufthansa and Airbus have been partners ever since we delivered the first Lufthansa A300 back in February 1976. Since then, Lufthansa has taken delivery of an Airbus aircraft an average of every month – 600 of them in almost 50 years! No other airline group has received more of our aircraft to date. My particular thanks, on behalf of everyone at Airbus, go to all the teams at Lufthansa for all their confidence and trust. We look forward to the next 50 years of our partnership and our shared commitment to the goal of sustainable air travel.”

The story to date

Lufthansa signed its first purchase agreement with Airbus for three A300B2s in 1975 and received its first such aircraft from Europe’s new manufacturer seven months later on February 9, 1976. Subsequent years saw the first deliveries of further Airbus types: the A310 in 1983, followed by the A300-600 in 1987. The first Airbus A320 to join the Lufthansa fleet was delivered in October 1989. Over 370 aircraft of the A320 family are in service today with the various airlines of the Lufthansa Group. The first A340 followed in 1993; and just one year later the Lufthansa Airbus fleet passed the 100-aircraft mark. The A330 followed in 2004; and in 2010 the A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft – joined the Lufthansa long-haul fleet.

Lufthansa has also served as launching customer for a new Airbus type on four occasions to date: for the A310, the A340, the A220 and – in 2016 –A320neo. Not only the Airbus A320 family is a cornerstone of today’s Lufthansa fleet: the A350-900, which first arrived in 2016, has also become a key component in the Lufthansa long-haul fleet, and the Lufthansa Group is the world’s third-biggest A350 customer.

600th Airbus named ‘Münster’

The 600th Airbus aircraft to be delivered to Lufthansa, which bears the registration D-AIEQ, is an Airbus A321neo. Seating 215 passengers, the A321neo is a state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient short- and medium-haul twinjet that has been in Lufthansa service since 2019. D-AIEQ has been named ‘Münster’ after the German city.

Partners in sustainability, too

Lufthansa and Airbus attach particular importance to their collaborations on the sustainability and the research & development fronts. Over the last three decades, the Lufthansa Group has equipped several of its long-haul Airbus aircraft with instruments to conduct climate and weather research. In addition to three such Airbus jets that are presently gathering climate-related data for scientific purposes, Lufthansa is also working with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on a world-first project to convert a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 into a research aircraft.

Lufthansa performed its longest non-stop flight to date in 2021 when it flew one of its Airbus A350-900s from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The same year also saw a Lufthansa A350-900 converted into a climate research aircraft for the CARIBIC Project.

Back in 2011 Lufthansa was the first airline to trial biofuel in its daily flight operations. For some six months, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was operated on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route with one of its two engines powered with a fuel blend consisting 50% of biosynthetic kerosene. In the same year Lufthansa teamed up with the Forschungszentrum Jülich to conduct a new type of long-term climate research study using scheduled air services to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere. As part of this IAGOS research project, specially developed instruments were installed aboard a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 to collect trace elements from the atmosphere in the course of the aircraft’s regular flight operations.

The Lufthansa Group purchases four additional ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft. The aircraft will be acquired from Deucalion Aviation Limited and delivered to the Group still this year.

Lufthansa currently operates 21 Airbus A350-900s and has ordered five more A350-900s and ten A350-1000s as recently as March 2023. In total, Lufthansa holds 38 firm orders for this highly efficient Airbus long-haul aircraft, making it the world's third-largest Airbus A350 customer.