Stock Markets May 11, 2026 01:07 PM

Lufthansa commits to 20 next-generation long-haul jets in $7.7 billion deal

Order split evenly between Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 models with deliveries scheduled for 2032-2034

By Derek Hwang

Lufthansa Group has placed an order for 20 long-haul aircraft — ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s — at a combined list price of $7.7 billion. The deal, approved by Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Supervisory Board on Monday after an earlier Executive Board decision, schedules deliveries from 2032 to 2034 and is intended to modernize the fleet, reduce CO2 emissions, and lower operating complexity and maintenance costs.

Lufthansa commits to 20 next-generation long-haul jets in $7.7 billion deal

Key Points

  • Lufthansa ordered 20 long-haul jets — ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s — at a combined list price of $7.7 billion, with deliveries scheduled from 2032 to 2034.
  • The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved the purchase at its meeting on Monday, following an earlier Executive Board decision; the new aircraft will begin replacing older models starting in 2032.
  • Lufthansa expects fleet modernization and standardization to cut CO2 emissions, reduce operational complexity, and lower maintenance costs, with efficiencies cited in crew licensing and spare-parts management.

Lufthansa Group has confirmed a firm order for 20 new long-range aircraft that carries a combined list value of $7.7 billion. The package comprises ten Airbus A350-900s and ten Boeing 787-9s, with deliveries slated to arrive between 2032 and 2034.

The purchase received formal approval from the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG at its meeting on Monday, following an earlier decision by the Executive Board. According to the company, the new jets will begin replacing older aircraft starting in 2032.

At this stage Lufthansa has not allocated the incoming aircraft to any specific airline within the group nor decided which hub or hubs will base the new planes. That decision remains pending.

Company leadership framed the acquisition as a strategic investment in fleet modernization with environmental and operational objectives. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said the move is intended to cut CO2 emissions. He highlighted that both the A350-900 and the 787-9 burn less fuel and emit less CO2 than the aircraft they are slated to replace.

Beyond emissions, Lufthansa emphasized expected operational benefits from greater fleet standardization. Management said the order should help reduce operational complexity and lift maintenance economies, producing efficiencies in areas such as crew licensing and spare parts management.

Following this transaction, Lufthansa Group’s outstanding order book now totals 232 aircraft, of which 107 are classified as next-generation long-haul jets. The company positioned the purchase as part of a broader effort to renew the long-haul fleet while pursuing lower fuel consumption and simplified operations.


Note: The company has not provided further detail on how the individual aircraft will be distributed across group carriers or hubs, or on the specific older models that will be phased out beginning in 2032.

Risks

  • Allocation and basing remain undecided - the company has not determined which group airline or hub will receive the new aircraft, creating uncertainty for network planning and airport operations (impacts airlines and airport hubs).
  • Extended delivery timeline - scheduled deliveries occur between 2032 and 2034, leaving a long lead time before the fleet modernization and emissions reductions take effect (impacts airlines and aerospace suppliers).
  • Expected efficiencies are projected but not guaranteed - while management anticipates lower operating complexity and reduced maintenance costs, those outcomes depend on execution and integration across the group (impacts airline operations and MRO services).

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