The first Lufthansa A350-1000 has officially joined the German flag carrier’s fleet. Airbus confirmed that it handed over the widebody in Toulouse on 10 November, and the delivery carries a double meaning. The jet is also the 700th Airbus aircraft delivered across the entire Lufthansa Group.
In addition, the aircraft wears a commemorative livery that honours 100 years of Lufthansa. It now becomes the airline’s new long haul flagship, and it will soon connect Munich with major destinations across Asia.
A Centenary Flagship With a Special Name
Lufthansa has registered the aircraft as D-AIFA and named it Deutschland, according to One Mile at a Time. It also becomes the seventh aircraft in the airline’s anniversary fleet, as AeroTime reported.
The timing could hardly be better. Lufthansa celebrates its centenary this year because the first Luft Hansa came into being on 6 January 1926, the airline noted in January. Its maiden flight then followed on 6 April of that year.
Inside the Lufthansa A350-1000 Allegris Cabin
Every seat on board features the latest Allegris product. In total, the Lufthansa A350-1000 offers 300 seats across four travel classes. Lufthansa Group’s corporate travel division lists three or four First Class seats, made up of two individual suites and one Suite Plus. Behind them, passengers will find 49 Business Class seats, 35 Premium Economy seats and 212 Economy seats.
That layout delivers a clear premium uplift. For comparison, the Allegris A350-900 offers 38 Business Class seats and 24 Premium Economy seats, according to Lufthansa’s own factsheet. As a result, the larger jet adds 11 seats in each of those cabins.
The aircraft is considerably bigger, too. At 73.80 metres long, it stretches seven metres beyond the A350-900, Lufthansa confirmed in October. The airline adds that the jet sits well below the latest ICAO Chapter 14 noise standards.
Lufthansa A350-1000 Heads for Munich
Lufthansa will base its new flagship in Munich. After a ferry flight from Toulouse, the aircraft will fly its first scheduled service to Tokyo Haneda on 3 December. Lufthansa set out that date in the same October announcement. Airbus adds that Shanghai and Singapore also feature among its planned destinations.
Of the 15 aircraft on order, the first ten will fly for Lufthansa from its Bavarian hub, Aviation A2Z reported. On those Asian routes, the airline plans to alternate the new jet with the smaller A350-900, and both types will carry Allegris cabins. That decision strengthens Munich’s role as the airline’s premium gateway to Asia.
A Long Wait for the First Delivery
The handover caps a lengthy journey for the programme. Lufthansa first ordered ten A350-1000s in March 2023, and it later raised that commitment to 15 aircraft in December 2024. At that time, the group expected deliveries to begin in April 2026. In the same release, Lufthansa said the type offers around 15 per cent more capacity than the A350-900.
Consequently, the first jet arrives around seven months behind that original target. The five aircraft from the second order are due between 2028 and 2030. With 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s ordered in total, the group ranks among the largest A350 customers in the world.
Why the Lufthansa A350-1000 Matters
Efficiency sits at the heart of the business case. According to Airbus, the A350 can fly up to 9,700 nautical miles, or 18,000 kilometres, nonstop. Furthermore, its latest generation Rolls-Royce engines and lightweight materials deliver a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and CO₂ emissions. Airbus makes that comparison against previous generation competitor aircraft.
The delivery also reinforces Lufthansa’s standing as one of the world’s biggest Airbus operators. Today, the group flies the A220, A320 Family, A330, A340, A350 Family and A380. It also served as launch operator for the A321, A320neo and A340-200.
Meanwhile, demand for the type remains strong across the industry. By the end of October 2026, the A350 Family had won 1,628 orders from 70 customers worldwide.
What Comes Next for Lufthansa
Passengers on Asian routes from Munich will soon enjoy far more premium seating. For the airline, the Lufthansa A350-1000 adds a fitting milestone to its centenary year. Readers can follow every new aircraft delivery as it happens through our Live News feed.
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