The Lufthansa Group is purchasing a total of 80 short and medium-haul aircraft. The company’s Executive Board has decided on the purchase of 40 Airbus A220-300s and 20 purchasing options and the purchase of 40 Boeing 737-8 MAX and 60 purchasing options. The airline also said it was purchasing options for 40 additional aircraft of the A320 family.
The aircraft orders agreed, worth around US$9 billion at list prices, are not expected to have a significant impact on the group’s capital expenditure in 2023 and 2024, the period covered by the current medium-term plan. Net investments of between EUR 2.5 billion and EUR 3 billion are expected in 2023. Capital expenditure in 2024 is expected to be at a similar level.
Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board, Fleet and Technology said: “With today’s aircraft order, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our company’s history. This increases our order list of around 200 aircraft to 280 – plus an additional 120 purchasing options for further state-of-the-art short- and medium-haul aircraft. We are pleased that both Airbus and Boeing were able to convince us on all commercial and technological aspects. In addition to this, the decision for the Boeing 737-8 MAX will also give us more flexibility for the procurement of short- and medium-haul aircraft in the future. The new ultra-modern aircraft offer our guests additional comfort. They are also quieter, more economical, more efficient, and emit up to 30 percent less CO2 than their predecessor models. The order demonstrates our airlines’ future viability and ability to invest, and it shows that we are living up to our responsibility to reduce our carbon emissions.”
This latest-generation aircraft has 148 seats and consumes around 2.5 liters of fuel per 100 passenger kilometres. The A220 is intended for use by the newly founded airline Lufthansa City Airlines and will be deployed on short-haul routes from Frankfurt and Munich. With its ultra-modern geared turbofan engines from Pratt & Whitney, the A220-300 is ideal for use in feeder traffic. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
The Boeing 737-8 MAX is the further development and 4th generation of the world’s most widespread commercial aircraft. The aircraft will have 190 seats in Business and Economy Class and, thanks to its efficient engines from CFM International, will only consume around 2.2 littres per 100 passenger-kilometres. The first aircraft is expected in the third quarter of 2027. As the planned growth path for both Lufthansa Airlines, including Lufthansa City Airlines, and SWISS is already underpinned by aircraft orders, the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be deployed in one of the Lufthansa Group’s other flight operations. The decision on this will be made at a later date.
In addition to the firm orders, Lufthansa Group has secured a further 40 purchase options for aircraft from the A320 family. Around 450 aircraft of this model series are currently in service with Lufthansa Group airlines, making it well-established in the short- and medium-haul segment. 71 A320neo and A321neo aircraft that have already been ordered will be delivered in the next few years. With the agreed 40 purchase options, Lufthansa Group is now securing favourable conditions for future orders as part of the Airbus offer.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Matt Driskill at matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Head of Sales Kay Rolland at kay.rolland@asianaviation.com
