FRANKFURT— Lufthansa (LH), the German flag carrier, has announced it will begin operating its newly delivered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with empty Business Class seats due to pending certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
These aircraft, originally intended to enter service by the end of 2024, are now scheduled to launch operations on routes like Frankfurt (FRA) to Montreal (YUL) starting in September 2025—even if the Allegris Business Class seating system remains uncertified by the FAA.
Photo: LufthansaLufthansa 787 Empty Business Class
Lufthansa has ordered 34 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to replace its older, fuel-inefficient Airbus A340-600 aircraft.
While at least 15 of these Dreamliners have already been built by Boeing, delivery to Lufthansa has been delayed due to FAA concerns over the certification of the new Allegris Business Class seats.
The Allegris seating system is a customized product created by Lufthansa and Collins Aerospace, aimed at offering varied comfort levels within the same Business Class cabin.
Unlike conventional cabin layouts, Allegris introduces five different Business Class seat types to accommodate varying passenger preferences. However, this complex, non-standard design has made the FAA certification process more difficult than anticipated.
While European regulators have certified Allegris seats installed in Lufthansa’s Airbus A350 aircraft—built by Thompson Aero—the U.S.-based FAA requires additional compliance checks for the Boeing-built Dreamliners.
FAA concerns reportedly center around the crashworthiness of the seats, leading to extensive re-testing and modifications.
Photo: LufthansaWhat Is Lufthansa Allegris?
Introduced in 2017 as part of a €2.5 billion modernization plan, Allegris represents a complete overhaul of Lufthansa’s long-haul onboard experience across all classes—First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy.
In Business Class, Allegris promises full aisle access for every seat, but the multiple seating types within the same cabin have led to customer confusion and technical complications.
The cabin includes everything from extra-private single suites to more basic lie-flat options, each with different space, privacy, and storage features.
Despite being in development for over seven years, the Allegris project only launched in May 2024 with incomplete aircraft. For instance, the first A350 equipped with Allegris lacked a First Class cabin at launch, substituting it with Economy seats until certification issues were resolved.
Photo: LufthansaBroader Setbacks Impacting Allegris Rollout
The Dreamliner certification delays are only one part of a broader set of setbacks plaguing the Allegris program, as flagged by PYOK:
- First Class Certification Delays: Lufthansa’s Allegris First Class seats were not ready for initial deployment and faced additional regulatory hurdles.
- Economy Class Issues: Seatbelt airbag certification problems forced Lufthansa to block several Economy seats on the Airbus A350 from passenger use.
- Boeing 747 Constraints: The Allegris seats cannot fit into the upper deck of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 aircraft, delaying full-cabin retrofits.
- Airbus A380 Plans: Lufthansa intends to refit its Airbus A380 fleet, but these will use a standard Business Class seat, not Allegris, due to space and complexity concerns.
These issues have led to delays in Lufthansa’s fleet renewal strategy, although CEO Carsten Spohr remains optimistic.
The airline still expects to receive ten 787-9 Dreamliners by the end of 2025, allowing it to retire its remaining A340-600s. Lufthansa hopes that by then, FAA certification for the Allegris seats will be in place.
Photo: LufthansaStrategic Implications for Lufthansa
The prolonged delays in Allegris’ implementation have significant implications for Lufthansa’s competitive positioning.
Business travelers—one of the airline’s most profitable customer segments—expect consistent premium cabin offerings. Operating brand-new aircraft without a usable Business Class product diminishes customer perception and revenue potential.
Moreover, Lufthansa’s decision to build a bespoke seat layout instead of adopting an off-the-shelf model has added layers of complexity to certification and production. While intended to deliver a differentiated product, the execution has exposed Lufthansa to regulatory, financial, and reputational risk.
Until Allegris is fully certified across all aircraft types, Lufthansa’s modernization effort remains incomplete—highlighting the challenges of innovation in commercial aviation.
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