-
Lufthansa
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- LH/DLH
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1953
- Alliance:
- Star Alliance
- Airline Group:
- Lufthansa Group
- CEO:
- Carsten Spohr
- Country:
- Germany
Next week marks 10 years since Lufthansa entered the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental into service. The airline was notably proud to debut the latest passenger variant of the Queen of the Skies.
A decade of service
The Boeing 747-8I conducted its maiden flight on March 20th, 2011, and was introduced with Lufthansa on June 1st, 2012. The flag carrier of Germany first flew the quadjet to Washington, D.C. from Frankfurt. This was the first commercial service with the Intercontinental version. However, the freighter edition, the 747-8F, was introduced with Cargolux on October 12th, 2011.
There were several VIPs on the aircraft during the first passenger flight. Personnel from both Boeing and Lufthansa welcomed passengers on board.
Plenty to look forward to
Christoph Franz, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG at the time, shared the following in a statement:
"The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is an exceptional aircraft. With its addition to our fleet, Lufthansa has created a product that is not only in line with our company's commitment to innovation, technology and efficiency, but that also offers qualities and features that are sure to maximize our passengers' in-flight experience. Travelers to and from Washington, D.C. are in for a memorable flight and Lufthansa looks forward to expanding our 747-8 Intercontinental service to other U.S. markets in the coming months."
Lufthansa's leadership was excited about the day. Photo: theairchive.net
Boeing’s Elizabeth Lund was also on the scene. She shared that it was an honor to join Lufthansa in welcoming the aircraft. The current Boeing SVP added that Lufthansa had been integral in the design of the 747-8. She took time to describe the characteristics of the plane, including the abundance of space on board.
Lufthansa was keen to deploy its new aircraft, fitted with 362 seats in a three-class configuration. Passengers now had the choice of eight first class, 92 business class, and 262 economy class seats.
Boeing was proud of the unique business class seating arrangement in the form of a V. This factor came about following the request of passengers to feasibly sit or lie facing the direction of travel while enjoying around double the distance between others at shoulder level.
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Major player
Today, Lufthansa still holds the Boeing 747-8 within its holdings. The airline's 19 units perform well on key long-haul routes across the globe. Registration D-ABYA, the first unit that was delivered back in April 2012, is still a fleet member. The final unit to be delivered was D-ABYU in April 2015.
These aircraft have been spotted at the likes of Mexico City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Delhi, and Buenos Aires over the last week. São Paulo is another flagship route of the type.
After touching down in the capital of the United States a decade ago, the aircraft was met with plenty of fanfare. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority even praised the powerhouse's potential in a press conference.
Overall, the 747-8 will remain busy for the carrier in this recovery period. It is also complemented by the veteran -400 across Lufthansa's network.
What are your thoughts about Lufthansa’s inaugural Boeing 747-8 flight 10 years ago? Have you flown on this aircraft since its introduction? Let us know what you think of the airline and the plane in the comment section.