Large aircraft are about to receive a major upgrade.
Lufthansa confirmed details on Friday about plans to replace outdated business class cabins on its double-decker Airbus A380 jets.
The revamp will see the airline abandon its current 2-2-2 business class seat configuration in favor of a 1-2-1 layout, bringing the fleet more in line with current industry standards. The new seats will feature Bluetooth connectivity and flexible partitions.
Two problems, though: Lufthansa won’t be installing its flagship “Allegris” business class cabin on the superjet. Instead, the Munich-based airline plans to use existing products from seat manufacturer Thompson, with slight customization. In addition, Lufthansa will reduce the number of cabin seats from 78 to 68 in order to allow every business class seat to have direct aisle access.
Still, the new seats could be a welcome improvement over the old offering. They also ushered in a major reversal of fortune for the palatial plane. While Lufthansa announced plans to retire the A380s during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline returned them to service in summer 2023 as pent-up travel demand surged as pandemic restrictions were lifted.
While the A380’s return was initially planned as an interim measure while Lufthansa awaits certification and delivery of Boeing’s next-generation 777-9 jets, continued delays in the program mean a significant delay for the A380, of which Lufthansa currently operates eight.
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“This revamp underlines our commitment to providing a top-notch flying experience on long-haul aircraft that are popular with our customers,” Heiko Reitz, Lufthansa’s Munich hub manager, said in a statement. “The new premium seats offer more privacy and a significant level of comfort than before.”
The A380 fleet is based in Munich.
Lufthansa said the first modifications will begin in early February, with the first completed jet expected to enter service in April. The airline said the entire revamp program should be completed by mid-2027.
Notably, other cabins will retain existing seats, in contrast to the airline’s fleet of Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 747-8s, which will receive a complete revamp in all four cabins. In addition to the 68 new business class seats added to the A380, this wide-body aircraft will continue to have 8 first class seats, 52 premium economy seats and 371 economy class seats.
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