Lufthansa Group to buy up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX Family jets, their first Boeing single-aisle order in nearly 30 years. The Group has also placed an incremental order for 40 more Airbus A220-300s.
On Tuesday (December 19, 2023), Boeing announced that Lufthansa Group has placed an order for up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX Family airplanes, including a firm order for 40 737-8s and options for 60 more. This is the Group’s first Boeing single-aisle jet order in nearly 30 years, with the company last taking delivery of a 737-300 in 1995. The 737 MAX airplanes will help support Lufthansa Group’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. Compared to older generation airplanes, the 737 MAX reduces CO2 emissions by 20 percent and also has a 50 percent smaller noise footprint.
In Tuesday’s order announcement, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, Carsten Spohr, said,
“It is a good strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group to order Boeing 737 aircraft again for the first time since 1995. Around 60 years ago, Lufthansa was co-developer and launch customer of this globally successful model. With the new modern, quiet, economical and efficient 737-8 aircraft, we are making progress both in modernizing our short- and medium-haul fleet and in achieving our carbon CO2 reduction targets.”
Also commenting on Lufthansa Group’s 737-8 order, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ President and CEO, Stan Deal, said,
“Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to a number of industry changing achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to an original launch customer’s fleet. The Lufthansa Group has set bold targets to decarbonize its operations. The 737-8 will help the Lufthansa Group meet those sustainability targets with significant improvements in fuel use, emissions, and community noise impacts, all while reducing costs for the airline.”
Lufthansa was the launch customer for the Boeing737 in 1967, when they took delivery of their first of 146 737s, until the final delivery of a 737-300 in 1995. As part of their fleetwide modernization program, Lufthansa retired their last 737 in 2016. The Group has also placed a series of orders for Boeing widebody jets in recent years, and their current order backlog includes firm orders for 34 787 Dreamliners, seven 777-8 Freighters, and 20 777-9s.
In a separate press release today (December 19, 2023), Airbus announced that the Lufthansa Group has also placed an incremental order for 40 more Airbus A220-300s. The A220 has been in service with the Group since 2016, when SWISS placed the type into scheduled service.
Speaking on the new A220-300 order, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, Carsten Spohr, said,
“With today's order for 40 additional Airbus A220s, we are continuing our unique partnership with Airbus. Just a few months ago, as the largest airline customer, we received our 600th aircraft from Airbus, and we look forward to taking delivery of number 700. Our customers are looking forward to these additional modern, economical, and fuel-efficient aircraft.”
Also commenting on the incremental A220 order, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, said,
“The Lufthansa Group was one of the first customers for the A220 and has successfully operated the aircraft in its SWISS route network ever since. We are delighted by this testimony of confidence from our long-standing partner and customer. As the only clean sheet design aircraft and specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market the A220 is the most efficient solution in its category to support Lufthansa Group meeting its exciting airline development and sustainability objectives.”
With today’s order, Lufthansa Group reinforces their longstanding relationship with Airbus. Since taking delivery of their first A300 in the 1970’s, the Group has operated all Airbus product Familes from the A220 and the A320 Family, to the A330, A340, A350 and A380 Families. The newest state-of-the-art A220-300 is the larger derivative of the A220-100, and can accommodate from 120-150 passengers on flights of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km).
The A220-300 also offers a 25 percent reduction and fuel emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft and features the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class.
As of November 30, 2023, the A220 Family had won 849 orders from 31 customers worldwide, of which 303 have already been delivered. Currently, the A220 is in successful passenger revenue service with 18 airlines, operating on over 1,350 routes.
Source(s): Boeing, Airbus