The German aviation group is expanding the Lufthansa Cargo fleet. The freight subsidiary will receive seven Boeing 777-8 F. And that’s not all.
“Assume we’ll get paid for our patience.” That said Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr just a few days ago to a question from aeroTELEGRAPH regarding the delayed Boeing 787 and 777-9. Delays would always be converted “into some kind of financial concession”, for example in discounts.
From this position, Lufthansa has now negotiated a new deal with Boeing. On Monday evening (May 9), the German group announced that it had ordered a total of ten more Boeing freighters – three Boeing 777 F and seven 777-8 F. In addition, current lease agreements for two Boeing 777 F were extended until 2031.
Seven more Boeing 787-9s
But it doesn’t stop with the freighter order. Lufthansa also orders seven more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. These “are intended to close the capacity gaps caused by the late delivery of the Boeing 777-9,” according to Lufthansa. The passenger version of the 777X is now coming from 2025 at the earliest instead of 2023 as previously expected.
“Lufthansa will receive the aircraft that were originally intended for other airlines from 2025,” said the group. “At the same time, the delivery dates for the Boeing 787-9 already ordered will be adjusted and in some cases brought forward to 2023 and 2024.”
777-8F will be between 2027 and 2030
The first of the 777F aircraft that Lufthansa was able to acquire on the used market at short notice is expected as early as July 2022. Two more brand new 777 F will follow at a later date. The 777-8F is expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2030. This is the freighter version of the 777X.
The Lufthansa Cargo fleet currently consists of a total of 15 Boeing 777 F, four of which are operated by Aerologic. In addition, there is the capacity of two A321 freighters and the co-loading capacities of the passenger planes of Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings Discover.
Defeat for Airbus A350 F
Lufthansa Cargo puts the range of the 777-8 F at 8167 kilometers (4410 nautical miles) and its maximum payload at 118 tons. “Compared to the 777F version, it has 17 percent more cargo volume,” the airline said.
This order is a defeat for Airbus. Because the new cargo version of the A350 will probably not be used by Lufthansa for the time being. Included said Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr last November: “We also explicitly welcome the fact that Airbus is bringing a correspondingly competitive aircraft onto the market.”
