Lufthansa is set to “significantly expand” its premium services this summer as the carrier's 509-seat Airbus A380 aircraft will return to operate daily flights from Munich to Boston from 1 June and daily services to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from 4 July.
The carrier’s “popular” A380 aircraft is the largest in its fleet – with close to 80 per cent more capacity than the Airbus A340-600 currently flying on the Munich-New York (JFK) route – and includes four cabins: First class with eight seats, 78 seats in business class, 52 seats in premium economy and 371 seats in economy class.
The return of the A380 on routes to Boston and New York was driven by "strong demand", according to the carrier, and marks the return of “regular flight operations” after a three-year Covid-induced absence.
Tickets for the A380 services to Boston and New York are now on sale.
Along with plans to station four A380 aircraft at its Munich hub by the end of the year, the German flag carrier this week announced it will launch its new long-haul Allegris cabins on Boeing 787-900 aircraft this autumn.
Allegris is part of the largest product and service overhaul in the Lufthansa Group's history, with a total investment of €2.5 billion by 2025, according to the company.
More than 80 new aircraft will include the revamped cabins, including Boeing 787-900 and 777-9 aircraft and Airbus A350s. Aircraft already in service, such as the Boeing 747-8, will also be retrofitted.
The plane will offer four business-class suites, 24 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, 22 economy seats with extra legroom and 179 regular economy seats. The carrier did not reveal an exact date or destination but noted the route "most probably" would be on the North Atlantic.
Lufthansa's new First Class cabin will debut in early 2024 on Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The configuration includes three first class suites, eight business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, 22 economy seats with extra legroom and 179 regular economy seats.
The business class cabin, meanwhile, will offer seven seat types, including the first row of suites with 55-inch-high walls, a wardrobe and personal minibar. It also will be possible to connect two suites so that guests travelling together can have more privacy, according to Lufthansa. Some of the cabin's seat choices also will offer extra space and a work area, a seat with a baby bassinet or an "exclusive" seat directly by the window.
The premium economy cabin, currently available on Swiss aircraft, includes seats with more legroom, a 15.6-inch 4K monitor, noise-cancelling headphones, a fold-out leg rest and the ability to be adjusted further back than the current seat model.
The Allegris economy cabin will offer four seat choices including those in the first rows with additional legroom, more space than currently available, a 13.3-inch 4K monitor and USB power. Passengers also will be able to book a free seat next to them.