Growing Family: Lufthansa Takes Delivery Of Its 2nd Boeing 787-9

Today, October 31st marks an exciting day for Lufthansa. The German flag carrier indeed prepares to receive its second Boeing 787. Let’s have a look at today’s event and at the newest aircraft to join the Lufthansa fleet.

“Frankfurt am Main” to join Lufthansa today

After the maiden Boeing 787-9 joined Lufthansa at the end of August, today, the German flag carrier has received the second of 32 Boeing 787-9s Lufthansa currently has on order.

The newest aircraft to join the Lufthansa fleet is named after the German city where Lufthansa runs its largest hub: Frankfurt am Main. According to FlightRadar24.com, the Boeing 787-9 left Boeing’s facilities in Everett – Paine Field (PAE), in the US state of Washington, at 14:26 local time on October 30th. After a 9.10-hour flight, “Frankfurt am Main” landed at Frankfurt (FRA) at 7:36 local time, 24 minutes before the scheduled arrival time.

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What do we know about Lufthansa’s newest Boeing 787?

According to ch-aviation, the new Lufthansa Boeing 787-9, registered D-ABPD, is three years old. The German carrier ordered the aircraft on May 21st, 2021. However, the first flight was completed almost two years before the order, on July 26th, 2019.

The Lufthansa Boeing 787 “Frankfurt am Main” seats 247 people in economy class, 21 passengers in the premium economy cabin, and 26 in business class, for a maximum capacity of 294 passengers. The table below summarizes some specifics of the three different classes onboard the new Lufthansa aircraft.

The Lufthansa Boeing 787 fleet will also most likely feature the new “Allegris” long-haul layout concept, whose roll-out will begin in 2023. The new Lufthansa business class envisages first-class-like suites in the first row, with privacy walls and sliding doors. It is likely that this first “upgraded” business class row is a strategic move to offer a first class product on an aircraft with no first class. The remaining business class seats will all have direct aisle access, wireless charging, and Bluetooth headphone capabilities.

Photo: Lufthansa

The economy and premium economy cabins will also have a new, fresh look. The new premium economy product resembles the one found on the SWISS Boeing 777 fleet, offering a 15.6-inch screen and noise-canceling headphones. Besides a refreshed design, the new Lufthansa long-haul economy cabin will feature something unique: the so-called sleeper row. Passengers purchasing these seats will find a leg rest that folds up, increasing the space passengers have to lie and rest.

Photo: Lufthansa

When Lufthansa received its first Boeing 787 at the end of August, the aircraft was first deployed on domestic and short-haul routes. Although this might sound unusual, it is common practice among airlines that receive new widebodies to first operate them on short hops with the aim of letting flight and cabin crew familiarize themselves with the new jets. This is what has happened with the first Lufthansa Boeing 787-9, registered D-ABPA.

Photo: Tim Stake via Lufthansa

After being delivered two months ago, the widebody has been operating on the Frankfurt-Munich route since October 19th. These training flights are expected to go on until January 9th, i.e., more than a month after the new aircraft will have operated its first intercontinental flight to New York Newark (EWR). With such intensive crew training in place with the first Boeing 787, it is yet not known if Lufthansa will deploy its second Boeing jet on short-haul routes for as much time as the first one. However, it is likely that before being operated on intercontinental routes, D-ABPD will be flown domestically or on short hops before operating intercontinental routes.

Lufthansa: a strong supporter of the Boeing 787-9

D-ABPD is the second Boeing 787 Lufthansa has received over the last two months. However, this is just the beginning. Indeed, the German flag carrier placed an order with Boeing for nothing less than 32 Boeing 787.

Photo: Tim Stake via Lufthansa

Of the three different variants of the Boeing 787 – the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10, the 787-9, with a backlog of 900 orders, is the most common variant of the Boeing 787 family. Lufthansa also chose the 787-9 variant for its fleet, with all 32 Boeing 787 on order belonging to this type.

Simple Flying reached out to Lufthansa for further comment. We will update the article with any additional announcements from the airline.

Which intercontinental destination do you think the new Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 will be operated to? Let us know in the comment section below!