Lufthansa is undertaking the most extensive fleet renewal in its history while simultaneously modernising the cabin interiors of its largest aircraft, the Airbus A380. As part of this programme, the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A350-900 will also be fitted with new seats across all travel classes.
The conversion initiative, known in aviation as a “retrofit”, will begin in February at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, where the popular Airbus A380-800 will be equipped with new business-class seats supplied by Thomson. Further upgrades across the existing fleet will follow shortly.
Each seat will provide direct aisle access and offer a width of 58 cm, a bed length of at least two metres, Bluetooth connectivity, and adjustable partitions to enhance both comfort and privacy at a new premium level.
Lufthansa can draw on an existing certification for this cabin upgrade, removing the need for a lengthy approval process. As a result, passengers will be able to experience the new Business Class onboard Lufthansa’s A380 within just a few weeks.
Overall, the A380 will soon feature 68 new business-class seats. In addition, with eight first-class seats, 52 seats in Premium Economy, and 371 seats in Economy, the A380 is the largest long-haul aircraft in Lufthansa’s fleet.
Beyond the extensive retrofit, routine maintenance work will also be carried out on the A380 aircraft during their stay at Elbe Flugzeugwerke. After completing the checks, the first aircraft is scheduled to return to Munich in April this year and will be deployed in regular service. By mid-2027, all eight A380s are expected to be fully retrofitted.
