Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr has revealed he is confident that the German carrier will receive its first Boeing 777-9 in early 2027. Lufthansa is to be the launch customer of the aircraft, which was originally supposed to be delivered in 2020. Spohr made the comments in response to a question from Simple Flying at the airline’s annual press conference held in Frankfurt, Germany.

The Boeing 777-9 is Boeing’s latest widebody aircraft design, with 521 on order across all airlines. Lufthansa has over 20 of these orders, accounting for 4% of the total number expected. Spohr has previously been particularly critical of Boeing over the delays, stating, “This is extremely annoying and costs us a lot of money.”

Spohr “Even More Optimistic” The 777X Will Come Next Year

Credit: Lufthansa Group

Commenting on the current expectations when it comes to Boeing 777-9 deliveries, Spohr remarked that he is optimistic that Boeing will meet the current Q1 2027 delivery target, and the aircraft will not be further delayed. He additionally told Simple Flying that he now expects the aircraft to be flying passengers for the German carrier next summer.

Spohr remarked,

“We assume, after our conversation with Boeing today, that these aircraft will arrive in the first quarter and be deployed in the summer. I’m flying to Seattle the week after next to check whether they are even still there. I’m even more optimisitc that they will [be delivered] in 2027.”

This marks a change from previous comments made by the German airline’s CEO, who has previously been critical of Boeing over the delays. Lufthansa won’t receive the oldest 777Xs at first, as these will need modifications to bring them up to current standards. The airline also won’t remain the sole operator for long. At last year’s Dubai Airshow, Boeing Vice President of Commercial Marketing, Darren Hulst, told Simple Flying, “ Between the first operator and the second and the third is only going to be a matter of weeks or months.“

Additional Deliveries Will Impact The A380 & 747-8 Lifespan

Credit: Lufthansa

While the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 are not going anywhere anytime soon, Spohr did remark that the timeline of their respective retirements could be influenced by future aircraft deliveries. Both types are currently due to fly through the 2030s. However, the A340 fleet is on the way out with the -600s due to retire this year and the -300s following next year.

Interestingly, Spohr remarked that right now it’s not possible to say which of the giant quadjets will fly longer. He did, however, point out that both aircraft types are currently receiving an Allegris refit. The first Airbus A380 to get the treatment, D-AIMC, is currently being refitted in Dresden. On the quadjets, Spohr told us,

“The question of how long the 748 and the A380 will continue flying depends heavily on how stable the deliveries from the major aircraft manufacturers will be over the coming years… it is now very difficult to predict whether, come the 2030s, the 747-8 will fly longer than the A380. However, next month the A380 is coming back from Dresden, which will have the new all-aisle-access business class cabin.”

Spohr also picked up on the fact that Lufthansa is one of just three airlines that took delivery of the passenger 747-8 from Boeing. For the CEO, the aircraft is “such a good aircraft” because of its strong premium and cargo capabilities. He added,

“For us, on the top routes where there is a lot of premium traffic and a lot of cargo, it performs like no other aircraft. That’s why it will continue flying well into the coming years.”

Related

Boeing Delivery Delays: Lufthansa Says Over 40 New Aircraft “Should Have Flown Now Already”

The delayed aircraft include the Boeing 787s and 777Xs.

Lufthansa’s 2026 Delivery Expectations

Credit: Lufthansa

Before the first 777X touches down in Frankfurt next year, Lufthansa already has big plans for aircraft deliveries. Before the end of the year, the German flag carrier hopes to receive 45 new aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. Per today’s briefing from Spohr, the 45 will be divided throughout the year roughly as such:

Ultimately, fleet renewal is currently a huge topic at the Lufthansa Group. Not only are these new, more fuel-efficient aircraft entering the fleet, but by the end of 2027, Lufthansa will have phased out all of the following aircraft types,

• Airbus A340-600
• Airbus A340-300
• Boeing 747-400
• Airbus A330-200
• Bombardier CRJ900

These fleet retirements will be partially offset by the arrival of the first A220-300s and A350-1000s this year, and hopefully the first Boeing 777-9s next year.