Lufthansa Technik has handed over the third Airbus A350 destined for the German Armed Forces following the fitting of its VIP interior in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft joins another of the same type already in service. A third is still under conversion by the German company, which specializes in aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, and modification services.
A second aircraft converted
Lufthansa Technik has announced the delivery of a second Airbus A350-900 to the German Armed Forces following the fitting out of its VIP interior on behalf of the German Government at its Hamburg facility.
The aircraft, assigned fleet markings 10+02 and named Theodor Heuss in honor of the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, will join another similar aircraft already in service, with a third still undergoing conversion. The previous aircraft to be delivered to the same customer was 10+01, named Konrad Adenauer, with 10+03 still to follow.
Later today, this second aircraft will be ferried from Lufthansa Technik's Hamburg base to Cologne-Wahn airport to be officially put into political-parliamentary flight service by the German Air Force. The plane takes up its place as the second of the three A350 aircraft that the German Airforce will operate on behalf of the German Government by 2024.
Details of the new aircraft
This latest aircraft was initially delivered by Airbus factory-fresh directly to Lufthansa Technik back in October 2021. Since then, the company's Special Aircraft Services department has since refurbished it and installed a highly customized VIP government interior.
While reluctant to disclose too many specific details for obvious reasons, the plane's new interior is described by Lufthansa Technik as "meeting the highest standards of functionality, connectivity, comfort, and privacy for those traveling on the aircraft."
The cabin is split into two main sections, with one being set aside for dignitaries flying on business on behalf of the German Government, while the adjoining cabin is configured for accompanying delegates and other invited guests, equipped with comfortable seating with ample seat pitch, a number of private washrooms and a modern galley.
The plane, like sistership 10+01, already converted, has been fitted with cutting-edge communications and radar technology. The aircraft will seat around 120 people and can fly ultra-long-haul missions.
Announcing the delivery of Theodor Heuss to the German Government, Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President of Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik, said,
“Only last November, we handed over ‘Konrad Adenauer’ to the German Armed Forces, and now ‘Theodor Heuss’ already marks the second A350 with a full government cabin to go to our valued customer. The largest modernization program in the history of the German government fleet remains fully on schedule and on budget, and for this achievement, I would like to express my sincere thanks to our enormously competent and highly motivated employees."
Part of a modernization plan
Before the arrival of the new A350s, German Goverment ministers and officials relied on a pair of aging A340s, one of which was also christened Konrad Adenauer, while the other was named Theodor Heuss.
However, these aircraft were becoming increasingly unreliable, which led to VIPs being delayed or even having to fly on commercial flights to make meetings in the past.
To replace the aging quad jets, the German Government ordered a total of three Airbus A350s. While Airbus has already handed over all three to the German Goverment, only two of the trio have so far undergone the extensive interior outfitting required by Lufthansa Technik to make them fit for purpose for use as VIP transports.
A third aircraft will follow
With the delivery of 10+02 complete, there remains just one more A350 to be configured by Lufthansa Technik before it is re-delivered to the German Goverment.
The third aircraft, 10+03, named Kurt Schumacher, was originally delivered to the customer in early 2020. It was initially operated in an interim configuration and layout due to it becoming available earlier than expected until it was ferried to Lufthansa Technik's Hamburg facility earlier this year for similar internal work to be carried out as the other two aircraft.
This third and final aircraft is also receiving the full VIP government cabin, which will complete the German Air Force's A350 fleet upon its re-delivery to the German Government by 2024.