Lufthansa’s 787s to Take Flight with a Twist – Business Class Not Included

If you thought the rollout of Lufthansa’s new Allegris cabin concept was going to be smooth, think again. The airline’s shiny, new Boeing 787 Dreamliners are ready for action, but there’s a snag – those all-important seats haven’t been given the green light yet. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of this aviation soap opera.

The 787 Business Class Conundrum

Back in the day, 2024 to be exact, Lufthansa rolled out its much-ballyhooed Allegris concept. Everyone was buzzing about the new business class feature—finally, all seats have direct aisle access. Cue applause, right? But let’s not hand out medals just yet. Debuting on the Airbus A350-900, Lufthansa hit numerous stumbling blocks.

Supply chains were as tangled as holiday lights in December, leaving new seats stuck somewhere en route. They eventually launched the plane sans first class seats, sporting an eerily vacant section where opulence should reign. Luckily, those posh cabins have since landed. Still, the company now faces another crisis, this time with their Boeing 787s, set to feature the same snazzy Allegris interiors but without that elusive first class.

Let’s hit pause: Picture it—15 sparkling Dreamliners lounging around in the United States. Their seats, oh-so-pretty and oh-so-non-compliant, fail to meet the standards of the almighty United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). You may wonder, aren’t these the same seats as on the A350? Short answer: Sorta. A350 seats come courtesy of Thompson Aero; the 787’s are crafted by Collins Aerospace. Naturally, unique certification is required per aircraft, complicating matters further.

Catch this—it got so dicey that a Lufthansa bigwig admitted at a December event in 2024 that a complete no-go on approval was a plausible horror. Yikes! A glimmer of hope now twinkles on the horizon, but the situation sure isn’t a day at the Val Seny ski resort.

Strategies for Taking to the Skies – Plot Twist Ahead

Here’s the kicker: Lufthansa’s having a bit of an airplane shortage tantrum. They pinned their fleet renewal dreams on the Boeing 777X, already six years behind schedule. Further woes came with their A350s, thanks to the beloved Allegris cabins. Now, the 787s are causing a headache—not because of broader Boeing delivery delays, just this pesky seat certification.

So, what’s the master plan? Lufthansa’s outlined their strategy: spark some life into these dormant Dreamliners, starting soon. Your first sight of new winged wonders over Germany should be by September 2025, with around 10 planes expected by year’s end. Look to the sky, between Frankfurt (FRA) and Montreal (YUL), to catch their debut.

But wait just a minute! Business class will be taking a backseat… figuratively speaking. With so many different seat types, some might sneak past certification woes, while most will need to chill. Word is, they’re aiming for certification by late 2025. Whether this unfolds or folds like a bad poker hand remains anyone’s guess.

Why leave new airliners hanging in storage extra-long when you can fly them, but with business class seating locked out of action? Pick your battle; both kinds of suck, let’s face it.

Lingering Effects on the Airline’s Fleet

• The possibility of new Dreamliners making it to the end of certification limbo may lead to the retirement of the last six Airbus A340-600s, offering first class.
• Lufthansa’s strategic game of aircraft hopscotch involves the anticipated arrival of Boeing 777-9s come the second half of 2026, followed closely by the A350-1000s later next year.
• First-class capacity is under threat—goodbye opulent skies.

Bottom Line: Air Dramas and Bumpy Flights

Lufthansa’s shiny new Boeing 787s are gathering dust and grief, struggling to get their business class seats road-tested and certified. Remember, they boast different seat manufacturers from the tried-and-true A350 line-up.

Lufthansa is optimistic—perhaps overly so—that they’ll have this snafu wrapped by the end of 2025. We shall watch, eyes wide open, to see if this prediction holds water.

As we await the plot twists, Lufthansa is set to start flexing those Dreamliner wings, minus a business class seating splendor. How Lufthansa navigates this turbulence will certainly be an eye-opener. Until then, the airline finds itself stuck at an irksome crossroads. Grounding planes or flying an incomplete business class cabin? Neither option screams “smooth flying.”

For Airbus A340 aficionados, this could signal their last packed Christmas flight.

All in all, Lufthansa’s dalliance with Allegris is closer to a series of unfortunate events than a triumphant debut. The vacant space fiasco of the A350s has now morphed into an endless park job for the 787s. It’s enough to make you wonder how SWISS has managed to shrug off similar trials, adding a heavy weight into the A330 tail for balance. Fancy that!

What’s your take on Lufthansa’s latest aeronautical act?