Lufthansa reveals its next-generation seating

Lufthansa has revealed Allegris, a range of new seating for its long-haul aircraft, developed exclusively for the Lufthansa Group. The seating spans all travel classes: economy, premium economy, business and first class and will be fitted on more than 100 new Lufthansa Group aircraft, such as Boeing 787-9s, Airbus A350s and Boeing 777-9s, and retrofitted on aircraft already in service with Lufthansa, such as its Boeing 747-8s.

Beginning at the front of the aircraft, the first class suites feature nearly ceiling-high walls, with privacy doors. The airline says the suites are spacious and private enough for passengers to be able to change into their pyjamas without being observed, a space which also enables a large bed surface, which converts from a seat almost 1m wide. The in-line suites also have several stowage spaces for personal belongings and amenities, including a personal wardrobe. First-class flyers will be kept entertained by IFE displays that extend across the full width of the suite, with Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones.

Continuing the theme of large in-suite features, the dining table can accommodate a luxury dinner for two, complete with a gourmet menu and caviar service.

Lufthansa says it will present more details of the suite, as well as details of a further innovation in the first-class cabin, at the beginning of next year.

Carsten Spohr, chairman of the executive board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said of the new seating range, “We want to set new, unprecedented standards for our guests. The largest investment in premium products in our company’s history underpins our claim to continue to be the leading Western premium airline in the future.”

Indeed Lufthansa Group is about to embark on a huge fleet modernisation programme (see below), and the group is replacing more than 30,000 seats across its fleets. By 2025, the Lufthansa Group will have invested a total of 2.5 billion Euros in product and service upgrades alone to further improve the customer experience – from initial booking, throughout the airport, lounge and border experience, to customer inflight product and requests, even after the flight.

Business class options
Guests in business class can also look forward enjoying suites, with 114cm-high walls, sliding privacy doors, and all with direct access to the aisle. The suites will offer generous personal space, an IFE monitor of 17- 27in, and ample storage space, again including a personal wardrobe. There are different seating options in the business-class cabin, from the window- or aisle-side singles in the outboard rows, to doubles and super-spacious throne-like seats in the centre. Whichever seat you’re in, the seat can be converted into a 2m-long bed.

The IFE is complemented with wireless charging, noise-cancelling headphones and the ability to connect one’s own devices, such as a PC, tablet, smartphone or headphones, via Bluetooth.

Lufthansa will present further details and innovations on the new business-class cabin next spring.

However, passengers can already enjoy the new business class on certain Lufthansa Boeing 787-9s, and four of its Airbus A350s, delivered to the airline in recent months. Thompson Aero Seating is supplying the business-class seats for the A350s, while Collins is supplying the B787-9 seats.

More choice in economy class
The Allegris programme also brings more seating choices in economy class, including the option of booking seats in the first rows, which have a longer seat pitch and additional comfort features, and the ability to booking a vacant neighbouring seat.

Lufthansa reports success with the ‘Sleeper’s Row’ introduced in August 2021, which offers extra comfort to help enable slumber on long-distance flights. The airline is now bringing in the ‘Sleeper’s Row 2.0’ seat. Passengers simply fold up a leg rest and add an additional mattress to create a reclining surface that is 40% larger than that of the original ‘Sleeper’s Row’ seat.

An additional fee opens up premium economy class, and a seat that is already familiar to some, as it was introduced at group airline, SWISS, in spring 2022. The seat, a customised version of the ZIMprivacy model from ZIM Aircraft Seating, has a fixed hard shell seatback so that passengers can recline without encroaching into the space of the person behind. The seat offers generous space in the upper body and leg areas, and is equipped with a fold-out leg rest. Passengers can enjoy movies or music on their personal 15.6in IFE monitor via noise-cancelling headphones.

Fleet modernisation
Lufthansa Group’s fleet modernisation programme will see more than 180 new short- and long-haul aircraft delivered to the Group’s airlines by 2030. On average, the Group will take delivery of a new aircraft every two weeks, including Boeing 787s, Airbus 350s and Boeing 777-9s on long-haul routes, and Airbus A320neos for short-haul flights. The aim is for Lufthansa Group to significantly reduce the average CO2 emissions of its fleet. Between 2022 and 2027, the Lufthansa Group will receive a total of 32 Boeing Dreamliners.