Lufthansa Nears Resolution of Boeing 787 Business Class Certification
Lufthansa is poised to fully monetize its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet as it nears the end of a protracted certification process for its new Allegris business class cabin. For months, the German carrier has operated some 787s with a significantly limited number of premium seats available for sale, impacting revenue potential. The airline announced on Monday that ticket sales for the full Allegris business class experience on the 787 will commence shortly, marking a crucial step in its fleet modernization efforts.
The issue stemmed from the complex layout of the Allegris cabin, which features five distinct staggered seat configurations – including options with doors, increased legroom, and extended beds. This variety presented challenges in demonstrating to regulators that swift passenger evacuation could be guaranteed from every seat in an emergency scenario. The Boeing 787’s unique fuselage geometry, differing from the Airbus A350 where Allegris debuted in May 2024, further complicated the certification process.
Addressing Evacuation Concerns & Expanding Seat Availability
Initially, only the front-row Business Class Suites – four of the 28 total business class seats – were approved for sale. This meant a substantial portion of the high-yield cabin remained unoccupied, representing a significant financial loss for Lufthansa. The airline acknowledged the financial implications, particularly as competitors continue to invest heavily in their own premium cabin offerings. Lufthansa even opted to retrofit its Airbus A380 fleet with an already-certified business class seat to avoid repeating the lengthy and costly certification hurdles.
Lufthansa anticipates increasing the number of sellable business class seats on its 787s to 25 by mid-April. Currently, three seats in the second row – two “Privacy” seats and one “Extra Space” seat – remain blocked from booking. Passengers can now secure “Classic” Allegris seats with a premium fare, while access to the first-row suites, privacy seats, extra-legroom options, and extra-long beds require an additional fee.
Allegris Rollout & Future Fleet Plans
The airline currently operates eight Allegris-equipped Dreamliners and plans to expand the fleet to 29 by the end of 2027. Initial routes for the fully-equipped 787s include service from Frankfurt to destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, Cape Town, Shanghai, Hyderabad, Hong Kong, and Austin. New York-JFK and Los Angeles will be added in June, followed by Delhi in July.
Beyond the 787, Lufthansa is integrating the Allegris cabin across its Airbus A350 and Boeing 747-8 fleets, as well as its future Boeing 777Xs. However, a similar spacing issue on the upper deck of the 747 will result in a split business class configuration, with the lower deck featuring Allegris and the upper deck retaining the original cabin layout. This comprehensive fleet overhaul represents a multibillion-dollar investment by Lufthansa as it strives to restore profitability and enhance the passenger experience.
