Lufthansa has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, giving the German carrier the largest member of the A350 family before it has received a single Boeing 777-9, an aircraft it ordered a decade earlier.
The airline ordered the 777-9 in 2013 and at the time expected deliveries to begin in 2020. Its first aircraft is now expected in the second quarter of 2027 following successive delays to the Boeing widebody program.
Lufthansa did not order the A350-1000 until March 2023, when it placed an initial order for ten aircraft. Five more were added in 2024, taking its commitment to 15.
The first aircraft, registered D-AIFA and named Deutschland, is also the 700th Airbus delivered to the Lufthansa Group. It carries a special livery commemorating the airline's centenary.
A350-1000 becomes Munich flagship
Lufthansa will base its A350-1000 fleet in Munich, where the type will become the airline's new flagship. D-AIFA is scheduled to enter commercial service on December 3 with a flight to Tokyo Haneda, followed by destinations including Shanghai and Singapore.
The aircraft has Lufthansa's latest Allegris interior and accommodates 300 passengers across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
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The first ten A350-1000s are expected to operate for Lufthansa itself from Munich, with deliveries of the 15 aircraft currently on order continuing through 2030. The type will join the smaller A350-900 already operated by the airline.
Lufthansa still plans to operate the 777-9, primarily from Frankfurt. It has 20 firm orders for the Boeing widebody and another 24 options.
777-9 wait enters another year
The first 777-9 built for Lufthansa made its maiden flight in May 2026, but remains involved in the certification process and has not been delivered.
Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in November that Lufthansa no longer expects its first 777-9 during the first quarter of 2027. Delivery is now anticipated in the second quarter, with only a small number of aircraft expected during the year.
The uncertainty has led Lufthansa to prepare its 2027 summer schedule without the 777-9. The airline has activated what Spohr described as a “Plan B,” which includes keeping additional Airbus A340-300s available to provide long-haul capacity.
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The problem could extend into 2028. Lufthansa is considering redirecting some Boeing 787-9s originally intended for Austrian Airlines in Vienna to Frankfurt if 777-9 deliveries remain insufficient.
