Lufthansa is well set with its bet on both then, further mixing up the already varied fleet it operates. This is far from an accident, however, with the German flag carrier opting for diversity within its fleet for a range of reasons. These include ensuring maximum operational flexibility and allowing for negotiating power with manufacturers as well as suppliers. Perhaps most importantly, though, is due to its Lufthansa Technik wing, through which the group specializes in a broad range of maintenance activities, not just for itself, but also for other airlines.
Having a varied fleet is therefore allowed by its own massive manufacturing arm, which benefits itself from working on a broad range of equipment to build expertise, whether that be on airframes or engines, for instance. According to its website, Technik has over 4,600 aircraft under contract from more than 800 customers. With in excess of 24,500 employees, it is by no means just a small wing of the Lufthansa brand.
| Airbus A319 | 31 |
| Airbus A320 | 66 |
| Airbus A321 | 55 |
| Airbus A330 | 5 |
| Airbus A340 | 16 |
| Airbus A350 XWB | 30 |
| Airbus A380 | 5 |
| Boeing 747 | 22 |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | 14 |
| Bombardier CRJ-900 |
Among the world’s largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers, Lufthansa Technik netted pre-tax earnings of €584 million on revenue of €7.4 billion in2024. Simply put, having a diverse fleet and operating such a large MRO business go hand in hand.
Modernizing The Fleet
Naturally, replacing a varied fleet is easier said than just finding a one-size-fits-all option. This is exactly the case with Lufthansa, which is staring down the barrel at a string of aircraft retirements. As the last major operator of the Boeing 747, of which it still boasts 22 in operation, the airline is being forced to look to a future without these aging four-engine icons.
So, where better to look for a replacement for the 747 than the manufacturer itself? As is common knowledge, airlines rarely pay anywhere near the listed price of aircraft after negotiations, so a deal with Boeing is more than likely to have been made in this case. Unfortunately, specific figures for its orders are not public, so we only know that billions of dollars have gone into Lufthansa’s fleet renewal plan. As of early 2019, its total order list was valued at around the $43 billion mark, for instance.
Why pick the 777X as a replacement when the A350 is an option, you might ask. Well, there are two reasons that stand out. Lufthansa does not have any 777 variants for passenger flights currently because it has not needed to so far, thanks to the similar range and capacity offered by the newest 747s. Also, its A350s are in part tipped to replace other outgoing Lufthansa aircraft. Of course, Lufthansa’s 747s are not the only aging models in its fleet, with the likes of the quad-jet Airbus A340 set to be grounded by the end of this year. Whilst some of its work can be picked up by the Boeing 787, the A350 also presents a viable alternative.
Credits: Lufthansa
