Lufthansa Faces Delay with 41 Missing Widebodies, Expects 777X in 2026
Lufthansa is experiencing delays in the delivery of new aircraft and is currently missing 41 widebody jets, according to Chief Technology Officer Grazia Vittadini. The airline, which is set to be a launch customer for the Boeing 777-9, expects to receive its first aircraft in 2026, marking a significant delay from the initial plan. Originally, Lufthansa had anticipated taking delivery of its first Boeing 777-9 in 2020, but production and certification issues have pushed back the timeline multiple times.
The airline had initially planned to receive all twenty Boeing 777-9s by the end of 2024. As of now, Lufthansa’s widebody orderbook across various manufacturers includes 83 aircraft, with 34 Boeing 787-9s, 14 A350-900s, and 15 A350-1000s in addition to the Boeing 777-9s. These deliveries are expected to help the airline address its fleet gaps and modernize its long-haul operations.
Lufthansa Cargo, the airline’s freight arm, is also facing delays with its Boeing 777-8F freighters. The first of these cargo jets is expected to join the fleet in 2028, several years later than initially planned. Despite these delays, Lufthansa continues to plan for significant fleet expansion, with expectations for the new widebodies to enhance both passenger and cargo services in the coming years.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com