9/17/2013

Lufthansa "launches" another aircraft

Remember? It was Lufthansa who launched the Bombardier CSeries with it's "Letter of Interest" on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show 2008. Now, just days after the CSeries conducted the first flight, it looks like Lufthansa will launch the B777-9 with it's long awaited widebody order due this week (Supervisory Board meets on Wednesday).
Lufthansa has a long history of being the launch customer for new aircraft. Most notably probably for the B737 (-100 and -300), but also for the B747-400, B747-8I, the A310, A340 and the A321.
Not all of these aircraft were (or are) as successful as the B737 and the A321, but from the sales of the current B777-300ER one can expect that the B777-9 (and -8) will eventually be best-sellers.
This week will not just be a first flight week, but also a first order week...

8 comments:

  1. Wonder if a 777-9 order will involve any variation of the existing LH 748 orders.
    By the way "Turbo" enjoy your commentary. Just surprised you do not attract more replies.
    Keep up the good work.
    Andrew

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  2. I think that Scott Hamilton (from leeham news) wrote that is very likely that the LH order could very well encompass some 747-8.

    About the few replies on Aeroturbo commentaries, I think it has something to do with the steps that one has to take to post a comments. For some blogs, is easier to post comments.

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    1. I am sorry that it is not easier to post commentaries, but that's just the way it works at blogspot - if someone knows how it can be made easier, please give me a hint!

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    2. Perhaps you should use "Wordpress" as your blog hosting place instead of "blogspot?"

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  3. Christopher Dye aka CubJ3.

    Is it clear when LH will replace their A346s? These are the youngest 340s, but are 4 engined and inefficient. They won't be getting the -9Xs in numbers until the early 2020s, so, will the keeps the -600s until then or replace them earlier with 359/1000s? One would assume that their 349 options are convertable. It is notable that there are no -1000 orders now given the hype over the last few months from Airbus fanboys that they are the coming Holy Grail. Any thoughts why not -1000 orders at this time. Frankly, I was anticipating a substantial order.

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    1. I guess for LH the A350-1000 has too much range. The B777-9 and the A350-900 will be very similar in range (around 8100nm). The -900 is a 300 seater, the B777-9 a 400 seater. During the press conference LH stated (more or less) that they have the right to switsch to the -1000, but I guess for now the -900 is the ideal replacement for the A340-300. The B777-9 are replacements mainly for the B747-400. When LH will replace (or just throw out of the fleet) the A340-600 will be dependent on the growth that LH can achieve in the next years.

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  4. Quite late in commenting: Southwest Airlines (USA) was the launch customer for the 737-300.



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