Lufthansa 787 Deliveries Delayed Over New Business Class-Seat Approval

FRANKFURT- Lufthansa (LH) is once again facing operational challenges, this time with its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, stuck in limbo due to regulatory hurdles.

These aircraft, intended to feature Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class, remain grounded in the United States, primarily in storage facilities near New York (JFK) and elsewhere.

The root of the delay lies in the certification of business class seats manufactured by Collins Aerospace.

While the seats have already been installed, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to certify them, blocking Lufthansa from taking delivery of approximately 15 Dreamliners ready for deployment.

Photo: Lufthansa

Lufthansa 787 Deliveries Delayed

Lufthansa’s Allegris concept, introduced in 2024, aimed to overhaul its onboard experience across all cabins, particularly business class, which now offers all-aisle access.

The first aircraft to debut this cabin was the Airbus A350-900, featuring seats built by Thompson Aero. However, even that rollout suffered from component delays and incomplete first-class installations.

The real problem now lies with the Boeing 787s, which use business class seats from a different supplier, Collins Aerospace.

While the overall seat design is conceptually similar to that on the A350, each aircraft type requires independent certification due to varying cabin dynamics and crash safety parameters.

The FAA’s delay in approving these seats has left Lufthansa with brand-new, non-operational aircraft.

Reported by OMAAT, seat testing for the Dreamliner fleet has recently concluded. However, the results are still under evaluation.

During an event in December 2024, a Lufthansa executive stated that “a scenario in which the seats are not approved at all is not out of the question,” casting a shadow of uncertainty over the airline’s ambitious plans.

Photo: Lufthansa

Fleet Renewal Plans

Lufthansa’s broader fleet modernization strategy is being severely impacted. The airline had counted on the Boeing 777X to modernize its long-haul offering, but that aircraft’s delivery has been postponed by over six years.

Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 introduction was slowed due to Allegris cabin delays. Now, with the 787 program also stalled, Lufthansa faces a serious capacity shortfall.

Despite the issues, executives at Lufthansa remain hopeful that deliveries of the Boeing 787s can commence in the summer of 2025. The plan is to have these aircraft operational before the end of the year.

But without certified seats, even that timeline remains speculative. In the interim, Lufthansa considered deploying some of these Dreamliners with only economy and premium economy seating, leaving the business cabin empty, a suboptimal but legally permissible workaround.

Photo: Lufthansa

SWISS and Ripple Effect of Allegris

Interestingly, Lufthansa Group isn’t alone in dealing with Allegis-related headaches. SWISS, also introducing Allegris cabins, is reportedly installing 1.5-ton counterweights in the rear of its A330s to balance out the heavier first-class section, highlighting the engineering complications tied to this new product line.

The Allegris vision was meant to signal Lufthansa Group’s commitment to luxury, consistency, and innovation. However, the persistent delays and logistical hurdles have marred its rollout and strained operational efficiency.

Photo: Lufthansa

Conclusion

Lufthansa’s plan to redefine its onboard experience through the Allegris cabin concept has encountered significant turbulence, first with A350 first-class delays, and now with Boeing 787 seat certifications.

The FAA’s pending decision looms large over the airline’s ability to bring these aircraft into service. Until certification is secured, Lufthansa’s modernized fleet remains grounded, quite literally.

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