Lufthansa this week took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, a type it says will offer a better customer experience while reducing operating costs.
The aircraft was formally handed over to the carrier on Tuesday in the presence of Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr and Lars Wagner, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus. Nicknamed “Deutschland,” the jet is Lufthansa’s 700th Airbus airplane, and the seventh in a special commemorative fleet bearing 100th anniversary liveries.
The white and dark blue designs feature an oversized crane, a symbol first used by predecessor Deutsche Luft Hansa.
Lufthansa Group has ordered a total of 15 A350-1000s. The first 10 will operate for the Lufthansa core brand, and will be based at its Munich hub.
“Deutschland” will fly to Munich on Wednesday, officials said, and operate its inaugural flight, to Tokyo-Haneda, on Dec. 3. The aircraft will also be Lufthansa’s first long-haul airplane equipped with Starlink satellite internet service.
“The fact that, as the world’s largest Airbus customer, we are taking delivery of our 700th Airbus aircraft exactly 50 years after the first Airbus delivery to Lufthansa, and in the year of our 100th anniversary, makes this a very special moment for us,” Spohr said in a statement. “Our partnership is a prime example of what Europe can achieve when it works together.”
Lufthansa’s -1000s will seat 300 passengers in four cabins – First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
