Lufthansa upgrades A380 cabins to strengthen long-haul business travel

17 Feb

Lufthansa is retrofitting the Business Class cabins of all eight of its Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft with new premium seats as part of the most extensive fleet renewal and cabin modernisation in the airline’s history.

This development will be of particular interest to UK business travellers because the A380 operates on key long-haul routes from European hubs to destinations that are frequently used by corporate flyers, ensuring higher comfort and productivity on long sectors such as to North America and Asia.

The retrofit programme, which began in early February at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke facility in Dresden, will see each A380 equipped with 68 new Business Class seats manufactured by Thompson. Each seat offers direct aisle access, a seat width of 58 cm, a fully flat bed of at least two metres, Bluetooth connectivity and flexible partitions that enhance passenger comfort and privacy to a new premium level. Because the seats already hold the necessary certification, Lufthansa expects to introduce the refreshed cabins into service within weeks of each aircraft’s commencement of work.

Heiko Reitz, Hub Manager Munich for Lufthansa Airlines, said

“Lufthansa operates the only strong A380 fleet in the EU, stationed at our 5-star airport. The retrofit underscores our commitment to providing a top flight experience on the long-haul aircraft that is so popular with our customers. The new premium seats offer more privacy and significantly more comfort than before. We look forward to offering our passengers this enhanced travel experience in Business Class starting in April.”

For business travellers this means a significantly more comfortable long-haul business travel experience, with direct aisle access and enhanced personal space helping to improve rest and productivity on flights that might form part of an international business itinerary.

Paul Baker, Sales Director at Global Travel Management, commented on the announcement:

“For frequent flyers on international business travel, seat comfort and privacy are key to arriving ready for meetings. Lufthansa’s A380 Business Class retrofit promises to deliver just that, helping UK business travellers work and relax more effectively on long-haul services.”

In addition to the Business Class upgrade, the A380 will continue to offer eight First Class seats, 52 Premium Economy seats and 371 Economy seats, maintaining its position as Lufthansa’s largest long-haul aircraft.

If you would like further information about this development and how it might affect your business travel arrangements, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.