Lufthansa is within the strategy of introducing its new Allegris cabin idea, which incorporates an all-new top notch and all-new enterprise class. The brand new Allegris cabins debuted on newly delivered Airbus A350-900s, and we’re now additionally seeing them put in on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s (although these planes don’t have top notch, and never all enterprise class seats are usable but… oy).
With the seats now accessible on two plane sorts, on this submit I’d prefer to go over the following step within the Allegris mission, as we should always see the cabins put in on a 3rd plane kind quickly… although maybe with the strangest plan of all.
Some Lufthansa planes gained’t get Allegris cabins
For some background, not less than formally, Lufthansa doesn’t have plans to introduce its new Allegris cabin idea on a lot of its present plane:
- Lufthansa has introduced again A340-600s briefly as a result of service’s plane scarcity, however these planes will likely be retired once more in 2026, and gained’t get the brand new Allegris cabins
- Lufthansa has introduced again eight A380s, which will likely be sticking round; these planes are anticipated to get a special new enterprise class product, however they gained’t get the brand new Allegris cabins
- Lufthansa A340-300s will likely be retired by 2027, whereas A330-300s don’t have any particular retirement timeline as of now, however aren’t anticipated to stay round for that lengthy; the A330-300s might very effectively go to different Lufthansa Group carriers, like Uncover Airways
- Lufthansa has solely a small subfleet of 747-400s remaining, they usually’re anticipated to be retired in 2026, so gained’t be reconfigured
Nonetheless, Lufthansa does plan to reconfigure present A350-900s with the brand new Allegris cabins, and that’s a mission that ought to begin as of 2027.
How Lufthansa Boeing 747-8s will get Allegris seats
Lufthansa has plans to retrofit its Boeing 747-8 fleet with the brand new Allegris seats in all cabins. Lufthansa has 19 of those jets, they usually’re a mean of roughly 12 years outdated. Whereas different airways are largely retiring 747s, Lufthansa was one of many few airways to order the up to date 747-8, and the service is dedicated to holding these planes round.
Lufthansa has plans to begin reconfiguring its 747s within the coming months, both in very late 2025 or early 2026. Nonetheless, the plan for updating these planes is something however easy:
- Initially, Lufthansa plans to put in its Allegris enterprise class seats on the decrease deck of the 747-8; there will likely be a complete of 48 of those enterprise class seats there, which is identical variety of enterprise class seats that you just’ll at the moment discover
- Nonetheless, in the meanwhile, the airline will preserve the outdated enterprise class seats on the higher deck, so that you’ll proceed to search out 32 enterprise class seats there, in a 2-2 configuration
- On prime of that, the bones of the primary class cabin gained’t be up to date in the meanwhile, and can stay within the nostril
However that’s solely step considered one of this mission. Then sooner or later in 2027 or 2028, the airline plans to replace top notch and higher deck enterprise class. The higher deck will finally get the brand new Allegris enterprise class seats, and on prime of that, there will likely be (possible) three Allegris top notch seats.
That is sort of a wild plan, no? I can’t consider one other airline that has ever stored each an outdated and new enterprise class product on a airplane, and I’m actually curious how Lufthansa will go about promoting these cabins. Will there simply be a surcharge for all decrease deck Allegris seats, or will the airline someway promote this as two completely completely different merchandise? I believe it’s the previous, however I suppose we’ll see…
Why Allegris is difficult on the Boeing 747-8
Why would Lufthansa reconfigure its Boeing 747-8s in a two-step course of? The 747 generally is a difficult airplane for putting in premium cabins, given the curvature of the nostril, plus the narrower higher deck. That is sort of a recipe for catastrophe when mixed with Lufthansa’s overly engineered Allegris idea.
Putting in the Allegris enterprise class seats on the decrease deck is tremendous straightforward, for the reason that 747 decrease deck cabin is even wider than the A350 or 787 cabin, so there’s room to spare.
The far more difficult factor is putting in this on the higher deck, which is someplace between a large physique and slender physique by way of width, and you’ve got a single aisle. I must think about that Lufthansa’s plan is to easily set up the Allegris seats on the higher deck in a 1-1 configuration. Basically with the beneath seat map, simply image the cabin with out the middle part. This can little question signify a major capability discount over what’s supplied now.
I’m a bit stunned to listen to that Lufthansa solely plans to introduce three Allegris top notch seats on the 747-8, as I had beforehand heard that perhaps there could be six. It looks like even with the difficult form of the nostril, you can do not less than a pair greater than that, no?
Will the scale of the primary class cabin someway be decreased, with galley area moved ahead, or one thing? Both approach, it’ll be 2027 or 2028 earlier than we cope with that. It’s going to be a major capability discount, although, if we go from eight to a few top notch seats. So I suppose for these of us who prefer to redeem factors for Lufthansa top notch, we should always hope that this mission is postpone so long as potential.
Backside line
Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8s will likely be getting the brand new Allegris cabins, which is thrilling. The excellent news is that this mission will begin within the coming months.
The dangerous information is that it is a two-step course of. Lufthansa will initially set up Allegris enterprise class seats on the decrease deck. Then in 2027 or 2028, the airline will set up Allegris enterprise class on the higher deck, and Allegris top notch within the nostril (which is perhaps additionally excellent news, since that can possible spell the tip of redemptions in Lufthansa’s 747 top notch).
As a Boeing 747 lover, I’m very glad to see Lufthansa holding the jet round in the long term. Nonetheless, the plan for reconfiguring these planes needs to be one of many strangest we’ve ever seen. I don’t suppose the trade has ever witnessed a brand new seating idea with as many logistical challenges as this one. The unhappy factor is that each one of those points might’ve been prevented. Oh effectively…
What do you make of Lufthansa’s plans to reconfigure Boeing 747-8s?
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