Returning To The Skies: How Does Lufthansa Configure Its Airbus A380s?

Last week, Lufthansa confirmed the return of the Airbus A380 to service this summer. This means the airline’s superjumbos will be flying for the first time since they were grounded at the beginning of the pandemic. The German flag carrier will commence Airbus A380 flights from Munich (MUC) to both Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK) on June 1st.

Lufthansa was close to retiring its entire fleet of Airbus A380s, but the change of heart comes in response to the rapid rebound in demand for air travel. Pre-pandemic, the airline’s fleet included 14 Airbus A380s, which was reduced when six were sold. According to an earlier statement from Lufthansa, four Airbus A380s will be based at Munich Airport by the end of 2023, although the airline’s plans for the remaining four aircraft are yet to be confirmed.

Photo: Lufthansa

Each of Lufthansa’s Airbus A380s carries a total of 509 passengers, spread over two decks in a four-class configuration – eight in first class, 78 in business class, 52 in premium economy, and 371 in economy class.

The main deck

Lufthansa’s premium economy cabin is at the front of the aircraft, with 52 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. In addition to the 38-inch seat pitch and 19-inch seat width, premium economy passengers benefit from an improved inflight service and an increased checked baggage allowance.

Located behind the premium economy cabin and occupying the remainder of the main deck are three of the aircraft’s four economy class cabins, with seats in a 3-4-3 layout. There are also a total of eight bathrooms on the main deck, with a bathroom-to-passenger ratio of 1:48.

The upper deck

Image: Lufthansa

At the front of the upper deck are Lufthansa’s eight first class open suites. The cabin’s elegant design and luxurious fixtures, combined with personalized service, ensure a comfortable ride for those lucky enough to be traveling in first. Situated just behind is a substantial galley area, giving the cabin crew ample space to prepare the culinary delights served to first class passengers.

Working towards the back of the aircraft, you’ll find the 78 lie-flat beds that make up Lufthansa’s two business class cabins and a further two galley areas. At the very back of the top deck is a small, intimate cabin containing 35 economy class seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, rather than the 3-4-3 found on the main deck. A total of seven bathrooms can be found on the upper deck, giving a bathroom-to-passenger ratio of 1:17.

Image: Lufthansa

How does this compare to other airlines?

Lufthansa’s 509-seat configuration is broadly in line with other Airbus A380 operators. Fellow Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines operates three different seating configurations on its superjumbos, ranging from 379 to 471 in total.

Dubai-based Emirates is retrofitting its Airbus A380s to include the airline’s premium economy cabin, which launched last year. This gives a total capacity of 484 passengers in a four-class configuration – 14 in first class, 76 in business class, 56 in premium economy, and 338 in economy class.

Have you flown on one of Lufthansa’s Airbus A380s? Do you plan to travel on one of the superjumbos when they return to service later this year? Share your experiences by commenting below.

Sources: SeatGuru, ch-aviation.com