Lufthansa has taken delivery of a new aircraft type into its fleet, the Boeing 787. The Dreamliner (registered D-ABPA) is the first of 32 B787s due to be delivered to the airline by 2027. D-ABPA, a B787-9, was originally built almost three years ago, initially for Hainan Airlines, a deal which fell through, with Vistara then due to take it on (see Planespotters), but it was not ultimately integrated into the carrier’s fleet.
The aircraft has been delivered to Frankfurt Airport with Hainan’s cabin designs on board, and thus the cabin will be refurbished in Lufthansa’s brand schemes over the coming weeks, with the business, premium economy and economy class cabins receiving trim and finish work.
Many have been eagerly awaiting the airline’s all-new long-haul business class seat, co-developed by Lufthansa, but it will not be launched until next year. 2023 will also see the airline launch new economy, premium economy, business and first class seating. Thus for fleet consistency, D-APBA is likely to be refitted in the future, though in the interim customers shouldn’t be disappointed with Hainan’s seat choices, which include the Collins Super Diamond, with direct aisle access and a 2m-long bed.
The D-ABPA Dreamliner will be deployed from October, initially from Frankfurt for training purposes on domestic German routes. The first intercontinental scheduled destination of the aircraft will be Toronto, Canada.
