Lufthansa Resumes Airbus A380 Operations with Munich-Boston Flight

Lufthansa has successfully resumed commercial operations with the Airbus A380, marking its return to the airline’s fleet after a hiatus of over three years. The inaugural flight, registered as D-AIMK, took off on June 1, 2023, from Munich Airport (MUC) en route to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) as LH424.

The reintroduction of the A380 comes as travel demand recovers post-pandemic, prompting Lufthansa, along with other airlines, to unground these larger quad-engine aircraft. Despite the German airline’s long-term plans indicating that the A380 will not remain in its fleet, up to six A380s are expected to be reintegrated by 2024. Currently, Lufthansa is considering reactivating two aircraft while basing the remaining four at MUC for the coming months.

Prior to the pandemic, Lufthansa operated a fleet of 14 Airbus A380s. With the A380 back in service, the airline has scheduled several flights from MUC to prominent destinations, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK), BOS, and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The return of the A380 has involved comprehensive training and familiarization flights across Europe to ensure Lufthansa’s pilots are well-prepared for operating the aircraft once again.

As Lufthansa embraces the revival of air travel, the Airbus A380’s temporary comeback reflects the evolving landscape of the aviation industry.