Lufthansa’s New Dreamliner Cabin Faces Seat Certification Delays

First Boeing 787-9 with Allegris to Debut with Limited Business Class Availability

Lufthansa anticipates the arrival of its initial ten Boeing 787-9 aircraft, featuring the highly anticipated Allegris business class cabin, without further significant delays. The airline expects the first delivery in September, though a crucial component of the new cabin is experiencing certification hurdles.

Business Class Seat Certification Awaiting FAA Approval

CEO **Carsten Spohr** confirmed that the launch will proceed, but with a caveat: “The first business class seats will definitely have blocked,” he stated. The certification process for many of the new business class seats, involving Boeing, seat manufacturer Collins, and the FAA, is proving complex. **Spohr** indicated that while certification for all seats is expected this year, it won’t be completed in time for the September delivery.

Frankfurt-Montreal Route First for Allegris Dreamliner

The inaugural route for the Boeing 787-9 equipped with the Allegris cabin has been revealed as Frankfurt to Montreal. **Spohr** noted that this initial service will feature “very few business class seats” in the new configuration. The airline plans to operate the aircraft on this route for several weeks with the temporarily unavailable seats. Additionally, one of the current Boeing 787-9s, not fitted with the Allegris cabin, is being utilized for pilot training in Germany.

Phased Rollout of Certified Seats Expected

Lufthansa may see some of the later deliveries within the first ten aircraft already equipped with fully certified seats. **Spohr** explained that the airline anticipates a gradual rollout of certified seats for the aircraft already in service, as approvals are granted.

Fleet Expansion and Austrian Airlines Transition

Currently, Lufthansa operates five Boeing 787-9s that were originally configured for Hainan Airlines. These aircraft are slated to transfer to Lufthansa Group subsidiary Austrian Airlines. This transition will only occur once Lufthansa can replace them with its new Dreamliners featuring the Allegris cabin. The Lufthansa Group is set to receive a total of 34 Boeing 787-9s, with 27 powered by Rolls-Royce engines.

The airline industry is navigating complex supply chains, as seen with Boeing’s recent delivery challenges. For instance, in 2023, Airbus faced similar production ramp-up issues impacting airline delivery schedules globally (Reuters, 2024).

Austrian Airlines Also to Receive New Dreamliners

The Lufthansa Group’s fleet expansion plans include providing Austrian Airlines with its own share of the new Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with the advanced cabins.