Lufthansa’s Boeing 787 Allegris Enterprise Class Catastrophe: What’s The Newest?

The introduction of Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin idea hasn’t been with out drama, to place it mildly. As I lined in late 2024, Lufthansa has a bunch of Boeing 787s which might be able to be delivered, with just one small drawback — the airline is struggling to really get the seats licensed. I need to take an up to date take a look at this case, to mirror the present actuality.

Lufthansa’s 787 enterprise class certification points

In 2024, we noticed Lufthansa introduce its new Allegris idea, with essentially the most thrilling improvement being the introduction of the brand new Allegris enterprise class, lastly providing direct aisle entry from all seats.

This product debuted on the Airbus A350-900, however that wasn’t with out its challenges. First there have been provide chain points with getting the brand new seats. However even when the brand new enterprise class, premium economic system, and economic system, have been able to go, the brand new firstclass wasn’t. So Lufthansa began flying these planes with the house of the primary class cabin empty. Thankfully that has since been resolved, and the brand new firstclass has been in service for a while.

Nonetheless, for a number of months, Lufthansa has been going through a a lot larger concern with its Boeing 787s, that are additionally purported to function the brand new Allegris cabins (although with out firstclass). Lufthansa at the moment has 15 Dreamliners which might be in storage in the US, and lots of of them have already got the complete cabins put in.

What’s the problem? The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hasn’t licensed these new seats. You could be considering “wait, aren’t these the identical seats as on the A350?” Form of. The A350 seats are produced by Thompson Aero, whereas the 787 seats are produced by Collins Aerospace (yeah… don’t ask). On high of that, particular person certification is required for seats on each plane kind.

So, what’s the newest on this? Runway Woman Community quotes a Lufthansa government as stating that these seat checks have now concluded. That being stated, the outcomes are being analyzed, and it’s not but clear if Lufthansa has handed the checks or not.

At an occasion in December 2024, a Lufthansa government acknowledged {that a} “situation wherein the seats are usually not accepted in any respect will not be out of the query.” Yowzers. It’s not clear if there’s extra confidence now by way of passing the check, or not.

Lufthansa hopes for 787 deliveries in coming months

Lufthansa is already coping with a serious plane scarcity. The airline was counting on the Boeing 777X for its fleet renewal, however that airplane has been delayed by at the least six years. Then Lufthansa had delays with its new Airbus A350s as a result of Allegris cabins. Now Lufthansa is coping with points on the brand new Boeing 787s — the final Boeing supply delays aren’t even a difficulty, however simply the seat certification.

So, what’s the newest on these 787 deliveries? Lufthansa executives reportedly now hope that they’ll begin to take supply of those 787s this summer time, with plans to have the planes flying earlier than the tip of the 12 months. Once more, there’s no assure that the brand new seats will really be licensed, or that this timeline will stick, however that appears to be the objective.

Up to now, Lufthansa thought of placing saved 787s into service, however simply not seating anybody in enterprise class, so as an alternative simply utilizing the planes for economic system and premium economic system. Truthfully, whether or not you fly these planes or park them, the economics simply can’t be nice.

Backside line

Lufthansa’s new Boeing 787s are delayed. Roughly 15 of those jets have been able to go for fairly a while, however the concern is that Lufthansa can’t get the brand new Dreamliner enterprise class seats licensed. That’s as a result of the seats are from a unique producer than on the Airbus A350.

These seat checks have now been concluded, however Lufthansa doesn’t but have the outcomes. The hope is that the planes could be delivered as of the summer time of 2025, after which enter service as of later this 12 months.

This Allegris rollout actually hasn’t been very clean, to place it mildly. First the airline needed to fly A350s with the house of the primary class cabin empty. Now Lufthansa has parked model new 787s for a lot of months as a consequence of not getting the seats licensed. By no means thoughts that SWISS is introducing the identical product, and should set up a 1.5 ton weight behind A330s, as a result of firstclass is just too heavy.

What do you make of Lufthansa’s Dreamliner drama?