Fleet

Lufthansa Group fleet expands to 737 aircraft

At the end of 2025, the Lufthansa Group fleet comprised 737 aircraft (previous year: 735 aircraft). Aircraft from Airbus and Boeing make up the majority of the fleet. Aircraft from Bombardier and Embraer are also deployed on short-haul routes. The average age of the aircraft in the fleet was 14.4 years (previous year: 14.0 years).

The fleet expanded by two aircraft year-on-year. A total of 23 new aircraft were added to the fleet, compared with 21 retirements. Additions to the fleet for long-haul routes comprised seven Boeing 787-9s fitted with the new Lufthansa Allegris cabin as well as two Airbus A350-900s, one of which at SWISS featuring the new SWISS Senses generation seats. For short-haul routes, ten A320neos and four Airbus A321neos have been added to the fleet. In contrast, 18 aircraft were sold in the reporting year (four CR9s, three A320s and eleven A340s), while the leases for three aircraft expired.

In addition, 19 aircraft were sold and leased back in the reporting year by means of sale and leaseback transactions. The aircraft are one year old on average and are operated by Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines.

The airlines in the Lufthansa Group operated 66 aircraft on the basis of wet leases in the reporting year. The reasons behind this were, in particular, to make up for delayed aircraft deliveries and to expand capacities in the busy summer months.

Fleet strategy aims to modernise fleet and reduce number of aircraft models

The Lufthansa Group has made important decisions in recent years in relation to the ongoing modernisation of its fleet. This entails the retirement of less fuel-efficient aircraft and their replacement with modern, more efficient aircraft types with lower fuel requirements and reduced CO₂ emissions.

At the same time, the Group is exploiting market opportunities to push ahead with fleet modernisation and to purchase modern aircraft at short notice and on attractive conditions. In this context, the opportunity has arisen to sell two Boeing 747-8s on very attractive conditions in 2026. These aircraft are to be rapidly replaced by more efficient models fitted with the latest technology. This will continuously further reduce the share of four-engine aircraft in the Group.

The orders placed in the period from 2019 to 2024 for a total of 34 A350-900s (including four used aircraft), 15 new A350-1000s and 39 new 787-9s, along with leases for another six A350-900s and two Boeing 787-9s, form the basis for the structural modernisation and optimisation of the long-haul fleet.

Moreover, as part of the long-term fleet strategy the number of aircraft models operated on long-haul routes is continuously being lowered to further reduce the level of complexity throughout the Group. The complete retirement of the aircraft types 747-400, 777-200ER, A340-600, A340-300, A330-200 and 767-300ER is offset by the introduction of the new A350-1000s, 777-9s and 777-8Fs. Accordingly, in net terms the number of long-haul aircraft types is to be reduced by three, from the current 13 to ten. The Lufthansa Group expects to achieve significant cost savings through these measures, especially in the areas of crew training, maintenance and operations.

Lufthansa Group expects delivery of 45 new aircraft in 2026

At year-end 2025, there were 219 aircraft on the Lufthansa Group’s order list. There are also options to buy a further 182 aircraft. New aircraft are allocated centrally to the respective airline fleets shortly before delivery.

The Lufthansa Group is expecting the delivery of around 45 aircraft in the 2026 financial year, including short-haul aircraft from the A220 and A320neo family as well as long-haul A350 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. According to current plans, the Lufthansa Group will therefore receive more than twice as many new long-haul aircraft in 2026 as in 2025. The first A350-1000s will be delivered to Lufthansa Airlines in Munich in the second half of the year. They are fitted with the new Allegris generation seats and have First Class cabins, like the A350-900.

According to the current planning, 50 aircraft are to be sold or their leases are due to expire in 2026. This planning is continuously monitored.

The Lufthansa Group can modify the capacity on offer by extending or shortening temporary decommissioning, delaying or bringing forward planned retirements and by taking out wet leases to match stronger or weaker than planned demand.

Group-wide engine management realises synergies

The Lufthansa Group has introduced engine management throughout the Group in order to achieve synergies in the engine business. The aim behind this is to increase the number of usable flight hours per engine (green time) and to benefit from the joint use of replacement engines and the joint purchase of MRO services for all Group airlines. In addition, Group Engine Management centrally procures additionally required reserve engines from the market through lease or purchase transactions for all of the Lufthansa Group’s airlines. This reduces complexity and increases availability.

Engines inspected for potential material defects

Potential material defects in components of the PW1100G engine family mean that the parts concerned will be inspected for safety reasons. For this reason, on average ten to 15 aircraft in the Lufthansa Group were not available for service in the reporting year. The aircraft concerned were the A320neo and A321neo models. A total of 64 Lufthansa Group aircraft and 146 engines (including replacement engines) are affected, around 100 of which have already undergone an initial inspection. The aim is to mitigate the effects on capacity by acquiring additional replacement engines, extending the useful life of existing aircraft and additional wet leases. The Lufthansa Group has significantly reduced the financial risks involved after successfully negotiating with the manufacturer International Aero Engines (IAE LLC).

The related engine model, PW1500G, which is used for A220 aircraft is likewise affected by these material defects. SWISS has 30 A220s, of which nine A220-100s and 21 A220-300s. In the reporting year, it was not possible to operate between four and six A220s since their engines underwent early inspection and overhaul to replace affected parts. Since this situation is set to continue into 2026, SWISS has decided to operate its A220-300s with the available engines and park its A220-100s for the time being. Two A220-100s are to be kept in reserve. Here too, capacity shortages will be compensated for by means of wet leases.

The Lufthansa Group continues to own a significant share of its fleet

Overall, the Lufthansa Group owns 86% (previous year: 88%) of its total fleet and leases 14% (previous year: 12%). More than 86% (previous year: 85%) of its owned fleet is unencumbered, i.e. not used as collateral under financing arrangements.

The owned aircraft provide a high degree of operational flexibility. In order to respond flexibly to fluctuations in demand and to adjust capacity at short notice, depreciated aircraft can at short notice remain in service for longer or be retired before their planned phase-out. The aircraft can also be used as collateral in financing activities. In contrast, leases enable a faster response to market and technological changes. They also reduce the use of capital when compared with purchasing new aircraft. The Group intends to expand the proportion of its fleet which is leased in the medium to long term. ↗ Financial strategy and value-based management.