Why Lufthansa Still Flies 747‑8s: Strategy, Economics & Prestige

During a recent flight from Miami to Frankfurt aboard a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8, I was struck by the number of other 747s parked and taxiing at Frankfurt Airport. In an era dominated by fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350—and with the Airbus A380 making a limited return—it raised an intriguing question: Why is Lufthansa still operating such a large fleet of 747-8s?

Where are these aircraft flying? How many 747-8s remain in active service compared to Lufthansa’s A380s? What are the financial and operational factors at play, including acquisition and maintenance costs, fuel efficiency, and cost per seat-mile or kilometer? Is Lufthansa making a savvy strategic decision—or holding onto the 747-8 for prestige?

While the Queen of the Skies may seem like a nostalgic throwback, Lufthansa’s ongoing investment in the Boeing 747-8 is anything but sentimental. It reflects a calculated blend of network strategy, financial pragmatism, and brand differentiation that continues to set the German flag carrier apart.

Fleet Facts & Routes

Lufthansa remains the largest passenger operator of the Boeing 747‑8 Intercontinental—currently 19 in service. In contrast, Lufthansa operates just eight Airbus A380s on routes primarily from Munich to North America and Asia. The 747‑8 remains active on high-profile trunk routes such as Frankfurt or Munich to New York, Houston, Bangkok, and select charter services.

Efficiency Comparisons

Fuel burn: Lufthansa reports the 747‑8 consumes approximately 3.5 L/100 pax‑km compared to 4.27 L/100 pax‑km for the earlier 747‑400, a roughly 15% improvement. The A380 in moderate load (≈555 seats) consumes about 3.5 L/100 pax‑km; at lower loadings, it can rise to 5.2 L/100 pax‑km. Boeing claims the 747‑8 achieves ~11% less fuel per seat than the A380, equating to a trip cost reduction of ~21% and seat-mile cost savings of ~6%.

Seat costs and economics: A 747‑400 costs about $449k per seat, while an A380 costs roughly $472k per seat—over 5% more. Although newer aircraft tend to have lower maintenance costs, to Lufthansa the 747‑8 still provides superior ROI in high-density configurations.

747-8 vs A380 costs: https://leehamnews.com/2010/07/07/747-8-vs-a380-costs-airlines-weigh-in/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Financial Investments

The 747‑8I list price was over $400 million (≈$402.9M in 2019), comparable to the 777X‑9 (~$426M) but with a higher seat capacity (~410 vs ~426) and design life to compete directly with A380 and 777‑9 variants. Lufthansa received 19 of the 48 passenger versions ever built—making investments in training, maintenance, and infrastructure worthwhile for the airline. Airlines typically negotiate significant discounts on aircraft purchases, this can often be at least half off, or even more.

Lufthansa, as the launch customer for the passenger version of the 747-8, placed a firm order for 20 aircraft in 2006, says Boeing Newsroom. This order was estimated at $5.5 billion at list prices. However, sources indicate that with standard discounts, the actual price was closer to $3.2 billion, or $160 million for each jet. Lufthansa may have received an even larger discount as the initial customer. Boeing’s sales chief at the time, Larry Dickenson, even confirmed that Lufthansa got a “very good deal”.

Prestige and Brand

Passengers flying in Lufthansa’s First Class and Business Class on the 747‑8 enjoy a unique experience, such as panoramic views from the upper deck and exclusive cabin layout benefits not matched by any twin-engine jet. Lufthansa markets this as a luxury differentiator in its global brand. The airline offers a unique Upper Deck experience with a 2-2 configuration, offering a more intimate and exclusive feel compared to the lower deck’s 2-2-2. While the lie-flat seats and well-stocked amenity kits are a plus, the 2-2-2 configuration lacks privacy for solo travelers and some window seats lack direct aisle access.

Strategic Fit & Fleet Flexibility

Though twinjets like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X offer superior fuel efficiency and lower per-seat costs at moderate densities, Lufthansa uses the four‑engine 747‑8 where mass capacity or First Class differentiation is needed. Remaining A380s are fewer and operated only on select ultra-high-demand routes. Meanwhile, A350s and 787s serve thinner or new long-haul markets more economically.

Who Operates 747-8 Passenger Services

A total of 155 Boeing 747-8 aircraft were built, with 48 passenger versions (Intercontinentals) and 107 freighters, according to Boeing and Wikipedia. The final 747-8, a freighter, was delivered to Atlas Air on January 31, 2023.

The airlines currently operating passenger services on the Boeing 747-8 are Lufthansa, Korean Air, and Air China. While many airlines have retired the 747-400 and other older variants, these three carriers continue to utilize the 747-8, particularly on long-haul routes:

Lufthansa: Lufthansa is the largest operator of the 747-8, with a fleet of 19 aircraft. They operate the 747-8 on many of their long-haul routes, including flights to the US.
Korean Air: Korean Air has a fleet of 747-8s that they use for passenger services, primarily on routes to the US and Europe from Seoul. They operate 5 of their 747-8s for passenger flights.
Air China: Air China also operates a smaller number of 747-8s for passenger services, with a focus on long-haul routes.

Combined, these carriers account for nearly all 39 active 747 passenger aircraft in service today for commercial passenger use out of the 48 built. While these are the main airlines operating the 747-8 for passenger services, it’s worth noting that some airlines also use the aircraft for cargo or VIP transport, and that the number of airlines and routes can change as airlines phase out the 747-8 in favor of more fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies.

Verdict: Smart or Outdated?

Lufthansa’s continued 747‑8 operations reflect a deliberate balance of prestige, capacity, and incremental efficiency—not blind loyalty. While newer twins offer better per-seat fuel burn and versatility, the 747‑8 maintains a niche where capacity, premium service, and marketing value offset higher complexity, but Lufthansa keeps the type visible and operational into the late 2020s and the early 2030s. Whether one sees this as savvy or sentimental, it’s undeniably strategic—and supported by strong economics where load factors and premium cabin revenue justify its use.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, businessinsider.com, leehamnews.com, lufthansa.com, en.wikipedia.org, boeing.com