Luthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is not denying the rumours. At a digital staff meeting on Tuesday afternoon (September 15), the Group Chief Executive confirmed that the Airbus A380 is on the brink of collapse at Lufthansa. Next week, the future of the superjumbo will already be decided.
The Executive and Supervisory Boards will then not only discuss the remaining eight A380 that Lufthansa actually wanted to keep. They could also break the bar over the 17 remaining Airbus A340-600 and eight Boeing 747-400. This would leave the 17 Airbus A340-300 and 19 Boeing 747-8 as the last four-engine aircraft with the airline.
New Business Class is a requirement
In return, Lufthansa is considering taking deliveries of Airbus A350 more quickly, as Spohr explained to the employees. The takeover of additional copies is also an issue. However, the Group would lease these aircraft, not buy them, the CEO indicated. Right now, given the ongoing crisis, there is not enough liquidity for a direct order.
Lufthansa is making one condition for the A350 considerations. Airbus would have to ensure that the new Business Class could already be installed in the aircraft. It is to be introduced with the Boeing 777X. According to management's latest estimates, the first aircraft of the new 777 generation will be delivered in 2022, after Lufthansa had officially held on to 2021 until Boeing adjusted its 777X planning.
No decision made yet
A Lufthansa spokesperson confirms: «We are currently looking at various fleet scenarios». However, no decisions have been made yet.
