Lufthansa signs up for 15 new Airbus aircraft
German flag carrier, Lufthansa Group has signed an agreement with Airbus to expand its fleet by 10 Airbus A350-1000s and five Airbus A350-900s.
With this firm order for the latest generation widebody aircraft, the airline will continue its decarbonisation trajectory.
The orders will add to the workload of the Broughton wing-making plant, near Chester, which currently employs around 4,500 staff making wings for all Airbus commercial aircraft.
Compared with the previous generation of aircraft, the A350 consumes significantly less fuel, with a corresponding reduction in emissions. Passengers will benefit from the latest state-of-the-art cabin amenities and comfort on board.
In addition to the agreement on the purchase of the new aircraft, Airbus and Lufthansa have also signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to further strengthen their cooperation in the field of sustainability and future technologies.
This includes the intensified use of sustainable aviation fuels, the further optimisation of operations through a more efficient flight management and exploration into the use of hydrogen.
Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international, said: “We are honoured to see Lufthansa topping up its A350 order book to a total of 60 aircraft, joining the increasing number of A350-1000 customers around the world.
“With economic and sustainability pressures becoming a measurable reality as international flying increases again, so do the massive advantages of the A350 as the only clean sheet design and, therefore, the most efficient solution.”
He added: “By adding the largest A350 family member to its fleet, Lufthansa will benefit from Airbus’s full fleet commonality, offering unmatched operational flexibility and vast economic benefits.”
With its latest order Lufthansa reinforces its long standing relationship with Airbus. Since the A300 in the 1970’s, Lufthansa Group has operated all members of the Airbus product family, from the A220, A320-family, A330/A340, A350 and the A380.
At the end of January 2023, the A350 family had won 925 firm orders from 54 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever.