By German airline group Lufthansa has placed an order for 80 short- and medium-haul aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, marking its largest fleet modernization to date. The order, valued at approximately $9 billion at list prices, comes as Lufthansa seeks to meet the growing demand for international air travel.
The company announced that it will purchase 40 Airbus A220-300s, with an option for an additional 20 aircraft, as well as 40 Boeing 737-8 MAX, with an option to add another 60. Lufthansa has also expressed interest in acquiring 40 aircraft from Airbus’s A320 family. Deliveries of these planes are expected to occur between 2026 and 2032.
While the total value of the firm orders is significant, it is important to note that buyers usually receive substantial discounts on large-scale orders from plane manufacturers. Consequently, Lufthansa does not anticipate a significant impact on its capital expenditure in the next two years.
Detlef Kayser, a member of Lufthansa’s Executive Board, stated, “With today’s aircraft order, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our company’s history.” The order brings Lufthansa’s total number of aircraft on order to 280, with an additional 120 purchasing options for future short- and medium-haul planes.
Following the near standstill of international air travel caused by travel restrictions and border closures during the pandemic, airlines are now facing the challenge of expanding their capacities to meet the surging demand for international flights.
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