Coming Soon: Lufthansa’s First Boeing 777X – It’s Stunning!

Lufthansa is set to receive its first, and indeed the world’s first, Boeing 777X next year. The aircraft has just been registered (tail number D-ABTA) and will soon be flying as part of the Boeing 777X testing.

What are the details

Lufthansa is set to be the European launch partner of the new Boeing 777-9 (both the 777-8 and 777-9 are referred to as the 777X program). The 777X is the latest and greatest Boeing aircraft and will be its passenger airframe available since the decline of orders for the Boeing 747 (although a comeback isn’t ruled out).

The 777-9 will have the following stats:

• Range: 7,285 nmi / 13,500 km
• Passenger capacity: 400 seats. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly the configuration mix between business, premium economy and economy seats, but you would expect around 40-50 business class seats and the rest Y class.

The aircraft also has technology lifted from the successful 787 series as well as the classic Boeing 777. Bigger windows, bigger overhead bins and powerful, quiet engines are all features for this aircraft. Most notable are its folding wingtips to support the bigger airframe which fold up when the plane is approaching the terminal.

As reported by Aeronews, the livery and the new interior of the Lufthansa 777X looks fantastic:

Sources: the registration of @lufthansa’s first @boeing 777X will be D-ABTA. @Lufthansa_DE has 20 777X on firm order + 14 options. The airline’s new Business Class will debut on the 777-9. @lufthansaNews @BoeingAirplanes @BoeingEurope @staralliance @b777xLovers @BoeingDACH pic.twitter.com/85lAe2gOMW

— Aeronews (@AeronewsGlobal) December 26, 2019

“With the selection of the modern and highly efficient Boeing 777X for its long-haul fleet, Lufthansa will once again be a launch customer for a new Boeing aircraft program. Together, Lufthansa and Boeing are continuously working on making aviation more efficient, as they are reducing the impact of aviation on the environment.” – Boeing Press Release

The aircraft has even appeared on Flight Radar 24 (a global aircraft tracking site), although it’s a bit light on the details and doesn’t actually have the right photo of the aircraft!

What is the new business class like?

The 777x will be the first in the Lufthansa fleet to feature the new business class.

It is very different from what you would expect. Unlike other cabins that feature a 2-2-2 or 1-2-1 reverse herringbone, Lufthansa will have an alternative 1-2-1 to 1-1-1 seat configuration. This will mean more room per passenger and every alternate row will have a throne seat with access to two aisles (talk about decadent). The seats don’t appear to have privacy screens; perhaps they are going for a more social experience like Virgin.

We should also mention that the aircraft will feature Lufthansa’s premium economy seats, which will appear onboard SWISS’ Boeing 777-300 aircraft first.

Is Lufthansa happy with the order?

Alas, it hasn’t been plain sailing for the 777X. The aircraft has been hit with delay after delay, from issues with the GE9X engines to an explosive failure during a pressure test. These problems have forced Lufthansa to reconsider if the aircraft would be ready for its fleet plans in 2020.

“In the third quarter of 2019, as part of new aircraft orders, the 14 B777 orders were contractually converted into options for which it is no longer sufficiently certain whether they will be exercised in the future.” – Lufthansa Statement

Emirates also showed a degree of caution, moving some of its orders away from the 777X and onto the smaller Boeing 787 during the Dubai Air Show.

But other airlines don’t seem to be too worried. The Boeing 777X is setting up to be one of the most popular widebodies in operation in the world, with currently over 300 initial orders:

Some of these orders may have changed since they were made.

What do you think about all these orders? Will you fly onboard the Boeing 777X? let us know in the comments.