FRANKFURT– Lufthansa (LH) has officially received its first Boeing 787-9 fitted with the long-awaited Allegris cabins. The aircraft will initially operate flights within Europe before transitioning to long-haul routes, although only a limited number of business-class seats can currently be utilized due to pending certification.
The delivery marks the start of a new era for the Star Alliance airline, which has 34 Boeing 787-9s on order. While earlier Dreamliners in the fleet were equipped with interiors originally designed for Hainan Airlines (HU), this aircraft is the first to feature Lufthansa’s own Allegris product.
Photo: LufthansaLufthansa Adds First 787 with Allegris Seats
Lufthansa has been steadily modernizing its long-haul fleet. The airline already operates five Boeing 787-9s, but these aircraft carry non-standard interiors inherited from Hainan Airlines. Those jets are expected to eventually transfer to Austrian Airlines (OS), another Lufthansa Group carrier.
The focus now shifts to the 34 upcoming Boeing 787-9 deliveries, all designed with Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabins. These aircraft will not include a first-class cabin but will showcase redesigned business class, premium economy, and economy seating. All will be based in Frankfurt (FRA) and are expected to operate long-haul flights to key international markets.
The first delivery under this program is aircraft D-ABPF. Built over a year ago, it is now departing from Everett (PAE) to Frankfurt (FRA) as flight LH9789.
The journey covers 5,081 miles and will bring the Dreamliner to its new base, where Lufthansa plans to introduce more 787-9s in the coming weeks. Several of these aircraft are already built but remain stored due to delays in cabin certification.
Photo: LufthansaCabin Certification Challenges
The rollout of Lufthansa’s Allegris-equipped Dreamliners is not straightforward. The primary obstacle has been the certification of the new business class seats. Despite being delivered, many of the seats cannot be sold until approval is granted.
Currently, only four out of 28 business class seats are certified for use. These are the suites located in the first row of the cabin. The remaining seats will remain unavailable to passengers, limiting the product offering until regulatory clearance is received.
This has left Lufthansa in a difficult position. On one hand, delaying aircraft deliveries further would impact fleet renewal plans. On the other hand, putting planes into service with restricted seating reduces revenue opportunities and complicates scheduling.
The airline intends to deploy the aircraft on European routes in the short term, followed by transatlantic flights starting in October. Lufthansa hopes certification will be finalized by the end of the year, though timelines remain uncertain.
Photo: LufthansaStrategic Importance of the 787-9
Despite the challenges, the Boeing 787-9 remains central to Lufthansa’s long-haul strategy. The aircraft’s fuel efficiency and passenger comfort align with the airline’s goal of reducing emissions while improving its product offering.
The Allegris cabins are positioned as a step-change for Lufthansa, especially in the competitive transatlantic market.
Once certification is secured, the airline expects to double its number of long-haul aircraft featuring the new cabin overnight, OMAAT reported.
Photo: LufthansaBottom Line
Lufthansa has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 fitted with Allegris interiors, marking a major milestone in its fleet renewal. However, the airline faces operational hurdles due to delays in seat certification, restricting most business-class seats from being sold.
While passengers will see the new Dreamliners enter service soon, the full benefits of the Allegris cabin may not be realized until certification is complete.
This delivery is nonetheless a significant step toward modernizing Lufthansa’s fleet and enhancing the passenger experience on long-haul routes.
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