It has always surprised me that Lufthansa didn’t embrace the 777.  Yes, they’re a German airline and, yes, the German government, who is a stakeholder in Airbus, does want its airlines buying local but they’re not nearly so insistent on it as France might be.  Frankly, the A320 series fits the Lufthansa mission in Europe better, in my opinion.   And the A330 is a good aircraft for Lufthansa as well. 

But I never understood holding on to the A340s and I never understood holding onto the 747-400s.  To me, the 777 family was the solution for these aircraft and a much more fuel efficient one at that.   Now, strangely, Lufthansa is buying some 777s.  They’re buying them as freighters. 

Huh?  Those 747-400s will make fine freighters.  Seriously great freighters.  But I fail to see how a 777-200 Freighter is sensible for Lufthansa when it comes to cargo and the 777-200LR/-300ER isn’t sensible when it comes to its long haul passenger missions.   Lufthansa is in the enviable position of being located such that they don’t really require 4 Engines 4 Long Haul and the 777 would satisfy their needs with respect to every true long haul destination they have. 

With fuel consumption being a prime driver in fleets these days, one would think that the older A340-300s as well as the A340-600s would have been been better replaced by now with the 777.  The only good reason not to is the fact that there just isn’t much of a market for used A340 aircraft and as frugal as this airline is, that does make sense. 

Even their main competitor, Air France, has found the 777 to be the right aircraft for the very same missions.  So it leaves me wondering what their next choice in long haul will be.  The 777 or are they awaiting the A350-1000 definition to make that choice?  It’s notable that neither Air France nor Lufthansa currently hold orders for that aircraft. 

So, is the 777 Freighter an anomaly for Lufthansa or a try-out?

Filed under: Airline Fleets by ajax