Lufthansa 747-8 Unveils 100th Anniversary Crane Livery

Lufthansa’s iconic Boeing 747-8, known as the “Queen of the Skies,” has joined the airline’s special anniversary fleet with a striking new blue livery featuring an oversized crane logo to mark the carrier’s 100th founding anniversary.

The aircraft, registered D-ABYN and named “Niedersachsen,” received its commemorative design in San Bernardino, California. Operating as flight LH9913, the Jumbo is scheduled to return to its home base at Frankfurt Airport on March 5 at approximately 11 a.m., landing on the center runway in a highly anticipated arrival for aviation enthusiasts and media.

The aircraft will enter scheduled commercial service on March 6, operating a long-haul flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles. With this deployment, Lufthansa brings its centennial celebration to one of its flagship intercontinental routes, reinforcing the symbolic importance of the Boeing 747-8 within the airline’s long-haul fleet.

The specially painted 747-8 becomes the sixth aircraft to wear Lufthansa’s “100 Years” anniversary design. The commemorative fleet already includes an Airbus A380 and an Airbus A320neo, both of which recently appeared in Munich in their new liveries. An Airbus A350, a Boeing 787-9, and another Airbus A320neo are also flying in the distinctive centennial scheme featuring the enlarged crane emblem.

The anniversary branding highlights Lufthansa’s century-long aviation heritage while showcasing its modern fleet. The Boeing 747-8, the largest passenger aircraft in Lufthansa’s fleet, remains a cornerstone of the airline’s premium long-haul operations from Frankfurt.

The centennial fleet will expand further in autumn 2026, when an Airbus A350-1000 is scheduled to receive the special “100 Years” design. That aircraft will become the seventh and final jet in the commemorative series.

By combining historic symbolism with contemporary fleet strategy, Lufthansa is using its anniversary campaign to celebrate both its legacy and its continued evolution as a global airline.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, newsroom.lufthansagroup.com