Lufthansa’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ’Berlin’ will arrive in summer 2022

Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) is expecting delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in summer 2022.

The new addition to Lufthansa’s (LHAB) (LHA) fleet, registered D-ABPA and which will be officially named ‘Berlin’, is expected to arrive at the airline’s maintenance facility in Frankfurt in Germany in the second half of 2022.

Deliveries of the Dreamliner are curently suspended over manufacturing issues. Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), which has ordered 32 of the aircraft type, said it expected its first delivery following certification from the Federal Aviation Administration.

After undergoing cabin refurbishments, the plane will be initially used on domestic routes for training purposes before operating on intercontinental flights to Toronto, Canada..

“The Boeing 787-9 ‘Berlin’ will have an improved cabin product – including direct aisle access for all guests in Business Class,” Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) wrote in a statement issued on June 1, 2022.

Germany’s largest airline estimated that the ultra-modern 787-9 will consume around 25% less kerosene than predecessor planes and will cut carbon emissions accordingly.

“The ultra-modern long-haul Dreamliner aircraft will consume an average of around 2.5 liters of kerosene per passenger and 100 kilometers flown,” the airline noted.

Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) placed an initial order for 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in 2019, adding a further five in 2021. However, it decided to expand its order by a further seven aircraft on May 9, 2022, partly due to delays in the Boeing 777-9 program, where Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) committed to being a launch customer for the model. Currently, the Dreamliner order stands at 32 jets, with Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) expecting deliveries between 2022 and 2027.