Lufthansa Group has placed an order for 40 Boeing and Airbus long-haul aircraft as part of the modernisation of its airlines’ fleets.
The order – which represents an investment of US$12 billion – includes 20 Boeing B787-9s and 20 additional Airbus A350-900s that will primarily replace the group’s four-engine aircraft. The aeroplanes are due to be delivered between 2022 and 2027.
Lufthansa Group says its decision about which airlines will deploy the aircraft will be made at a later date.
Lufthansa is also due to introduce the new Boeing B777-9 to its fleet in 2020.
All three aircraft models are designed to be more fuel efficient, consuming 25 per cent less than their predecessors. Lufthansa Group believes this will have a positive impact on its carbon footprint.
By the mid-2020s, the group will have modernised its entire long-haul fleet, which it says is equivalent to a CO2 reduction of 1.5 million metric tonnes.
The move is also expected to save the group’s airlines money on operational costs.
In addition, the group is selling six of its 14 Airbus A380 aircraft back to the manufacturer between 2022 and 2023 as part of its aim to improve the profitability of its fleet.
CEO and chairman Carsten Spohr said: “By replacing four-engine planes with new models, we are laying a sustainable foundation for our future in the long run. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision. Our responsibility for the environment is becoming more and more important as a criterion for our decisions.”
lufthansagroup.com