Post by ricloek on Jun 3, 2013 7:38:18 GMT -5
June 03, 2013
Lufthansa is considering replacing its Boeing 747-8 fleet with the 777-9X early in the next decade, Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz said on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Cape Town.
Lufthansa plans to order around 50 additional long-haul aircraft later this year to replace its fleet of Airbus A340-300s and -600s.
The airline is looking at the A350-900/1000 or a mix of Boeing 787-9/10X and the proposed 777-8X and -9X. Lufthansa plans to take delivery of the aircraft from around the turn of the century to about 2025.
Franz said the decision-making process is already far advanced, but won’t happen within the next few weeks. Lufthansa is not only looking at the 777-8X, which is about the size of the current 777-300ER, but also at the -9X, which is almost the same size as the 747-8I. Lufthansa is currently the only passenger airline operating the latest 747 version, but the -9X study indicates that it is already considering moving away from the model in about ten years. Lufthansa has 19 747-8s on firm order, six of which have been delivered.
Franz says that once a twin becomes available in the 747-8 size category, any airline would have to take a close look at such an aircraft because it is likely to be much more efficient.
Lufthansa is also critical of the general design trends for long-haul aircraft. Because of pressure mainly by the fast growing Gulf carriers, both Airbus and Boeing are being pushed to design aircraft with more range capabilities and engine power than needed by most other operators. European airlines therefore have to deal with overdesigned aircraft that carry additional unneeded weight, Franz argued. source:http://www.aviationweek.com/
Lufthansa is considering replacing its Boeing 747-8 fleet with the 777-9X early in the next decade, Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz said on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Cape Town.
Lufthansa plans to order around 50 additional long-haul aircraft later this year to replace its fleet of Airbus A340-300s and -600s.
The airline is looking at the A350-900/1000 or a mix of Boeing 787-9/10X and the proposed 777-8X and -9X. Lufthansa plans to take delivery of the aircraft from around the turn of the century to about 2025.
Franz said the decision-making process is already far advanced, but won’t happen within the next few weeks. Lufthansa is not only looking at the 777-8X, which is about the size of the current 777-300ER, but also at the -9X, which is almost the same size as the 747-8I. Lufthansa is currently the only passenger airline operating the latest 747 version, but the -9X study indicates that it is already considering moving away from the model in about ten years. Lufthansa has 19 747-8s on firm order, six of which have been delivered.
Franz says that once a twin becomes available in the 747-8 size category, any airline would have to take a close look at such an aircraft because it is likely to be much more efficient.
Lufthansa is also critical of the general design trends for long-haul aircraft. Because of pressure mainly by the fast growing Gulf carriers, both Airbus and Boeing are being pushed to design aircraft with more range capabilities and engine power than needed by most other operators. European airlines therefore have to deal with overdesigned aircraft that carry additional unneeded weight, Franz argued. source:http://www.aviationweek.com/
