As travel demand is starting to recover, Lufthansa is reactivating five Airbus long haul A340-600 aircraft with four flight classes; including the First Class seats.
Commencing in summer 2022, the A340-600 will fly from Munich primarily to in North American and Asian destinations. No specific destinations have been mentioned in the press release. Lufthansa said the decision to reactivate these aircraft is due to growing premium demand, for business as well as leisure travel. The news came as quite a surprise, as most would believe that there was no future for 4 engine widebody airplanes.
Before the pandemic began, the Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 fleet consisted of 17 aircraft; 12 of which are in the process of being sold. A further five aircraft are currently not for sale and will be temporarily reactivated and sold at a later date.
One Lufthansa A340-600 had just completed its heavy C check at Lufthansa Technik in Manila, when the pandemic hit in March 2020; it then flew straight to Teruel, Spain for storage. Therefore I can see the company would like to utilize its paid asset.
In late summer 2023, the first Airbus A350-900, offering First Class, will join the fleet and take off from Munich; this will bolster the premium offering at Lufthansa’s hub.
In May, Lufthansa Group purchased 10 additional state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft: five Boeing 787-900s and five A350-900s. The first ones will be operating this winter.
Cover Photo: Sebastian Thoma/ATC Photography
Well actually, I prefer them to bring the A346 back to service instead of A388. They should try to sales those A388 with a better price to BA or EK.
The flying pencil is back !
Alot of them still have like 10yrs flying time left in the air-frame!
I just cannot understand why so many airlines after all the money buying A380;s are sending them to the graveyard after like not even 6 yrs of flying! they have years left in them lol……..
Wasted money just doing that! The market will improve ,though alot of great 2nd hand perfectly ok ones for major players to buy as ‘gap stock stops’ ! Use to newer aircraft arrive,spares for broken down planes if needed etc. Lots of opportunity with them even freighter convert is being designed and tested i read.
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