Lufthansa to Block 787-9 Business Class Seat Sales Until 2026

Lufthansa does not expect to begin selling all business class seats on its Boeing 787-9 fleet until the second quarter of 2026, as the airline continues to await full regulatory certification for its new Allegris cabin. Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr disclosed the timeline during an internal company meeting, underscoring ongoing challenges tied to aircraft interior approvals.

The delay is linked to the US Federal Aviation Administration’s certification of Lufthansa’s Allegris business class seats, which are being introduced as part of a broader cabin modernization program. Until that process is completed, the airline is unable to market the full business class capacity on affected aircraft.

At present, Lufthansa can sell only four of the 28 Business Class seats installed on each Allegris-configured Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. These four seats are in a slightly different configuration from the rest of the cabin and have already received certification. The remaining Business Class seats will remain blocked from sale until the FAA grants approval for the full Allegris cabin layout, configured 28J 28W 231M.

Lufthansa currently operates ten Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Five of these jets are equipped with the new Allegris interiors, while the remaining five are so-called “whitetail” aircraft originally built for Hainan Airlines but taken up by Lufthansa after the Chinese carrier declined delivery. Those whitetails are operating with alternative cabin configurations that do not include the full Allegris product.

Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Business Class (Non-Allegis)
This version of the Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (type 78S) is configured 26J 21W 247M

• Twenty-six Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats arranged in a reverse-herringbone pattern. Each seat features an adjustable head rest and converts to a fully-flat bed.
• Secure low level storage beneath the aisle side armrest plus two additional secure storage compartments integrated into the console for small personal items.
• The tray table locks in an elevated position providing more knee space when stowed.
• Static 17.5″ HD touchscreen display.
• Universal AC and USB-A sockets.
• Notes:.
• The 1A and 1K footwells extend beneath the bulkhead storage module offering more foot space than the standard seats.
• No overhead bins above 1DG and 2DG (The Flight Crew rest compartment is located above these seats).

Luftansa Seating Maps: https://airguide.info/aircraft-seating-maps/airline-seating-maps-europe/lufthansa-seating-maps/

The partial certification has commercial implications for Lufthansa, as blocking most business class seats limits revenue potential on routes operated by the affected aircraft. The airline has positioned Allegris as a flagship premium product, designed to enhance customer choice and competitiveness in the long-haul market. Extended delays in certification mean Lufthansa is unable to fully monetize that investment.

The Allegris program has already faced multiple postponements, with certification complexity cited as a key factor. The business class seats feature advanced privacy elements, new seat mechanics, and multiple seating options, all of which require extensive regulatory review. Certification challenges have affected several airlines globally as cabin designs become more sophisticated and tailored.

Lufthansa has been gradually introducing Allegris across its long-haul fleet, with the 787-9 playing a central role in the rollout. However, until full approval is secured, the airline must continue operating with restricted premium capacity on some routes.

Spohr indicated that April 2026 is the earliest realistic timeframe for full approval, pushing the commercial launch of the complete business class product into the second quarter of next year. The airline has not disclosed whether interim mitigation measures, such as temporary reconfiguration or compensation strategies, are being considered.

The situation highlights the growing impact of certification timelines on airline revenue and fleet deployment decisions, particularly as carriers invest in increasingly complex premium cabin products to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive long-haul market.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com