A further step has been taken in Lufthansa Group’s the long-haul aircraft fleet modernisation programme with leases signed for a further four Airbus A350-900s, taking its fleet of this aircraft type to 21. The leases were signed with Avolon, SMBC Aviation Capital and Goshawk, with the four new A350s scheduled to enter service with the core Deutsche Lufthansa airline brand from the first half of 2022.
Dr Detlef Kayser, a member of Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s executive board, explained the investment: “The Airbus A350 is one of the most modern aircraft of our time. Extremely fuel-efficient, very quiet and much more economical than its predecessors. Our customers appreciate not only the sustainability but also the premium flight experience with this aircraft. The lease agreements allow us to remain flexible in fleet planning and make the most of exceptional market opportunities.”
The twin-engined A350-900 is indeed fuel efficient, consuming around 2.5 litres of kerosene per passenger per 100 kilometres flown. The aircraft will primarily replace the airline’s four-engined A340s, reducing fuel costs by around 30% and operating costs by around 15%. By the middle of the decade, Lufthansa Group expects the proportion of four-engine aircraft in its long-haul fleet (Lufthansa and sister airlines SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Brussels Airlines) to fall to below 15%. Before the pandemic crisis, quad-engined widebodies accounted for around 50% of the group fleet.
In the next stages of Lufthansa Group’s long-term fleet modernisation programme, it will take delivery of a total of further 177 short-, medium- and long-haul aircraft this decade.
