Lufthansa’s long-haul cabin product has become a bit outdated. While not even employees can deny that fact, impressions of a possible new product have been rare, some computer generated mock-ups aside. That changes today, as the German unveiled plenty of new pictures from its upcoming long-haul cabins.
The main event of these pictures is without a doubt Lufthansa’s first class product, that has been a well-kept secret. Now we have seen pictures of a spacious Suite with wooden doors. Along with a television screen roughly the size of Rhode Island.
The new design concept’s name is Allegris. With it comes a focus on dark blue and dark wooden colors. While some may claim the cabins look darker and sterile, others will not miss the splashes of egg yolk in their premium experience.
New First Class Suites with Doors
The pictures show a suite pod, surrounded by high walls, guaranteeing a maximum of privacy. The keen observer will also notice:
- The composition of dark blue and wooden elements gives the entire seat a regal touch.
- It is still possible to dine together, with the second passenger sitting on top of the ottoman.
- The screen is almost as broad as the seat.
- The red rose remains as Lufthansa’s signature touch.
New Business Class Photos
Lufthansa announced its new business class product years ago. It has been one of the main reasons why SkyTrax (prematurely) declared the German carrier a five-star airline – a title that has been revoked since.
There is nothing new here. Unlike many competitors, Lufthansa will not deploy seats in a 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone pattern, but rather alternating 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 rows with “throne” seats in the middle. Every passenger will have direct aisle access, a notable improvement over Lufthansa’s current product, that sees a 2-2-2 seating pattern in business class spread across the entire fleet.
The first row of the business class cabin will feature Business Suites with a door for more privacy – and a higher price tag.
Shell Seats Coming to Premium Economy
Nothing groundbreaking happens in Premium Economy. Lufthansa deploys the seats that SWISS already uses on their planes, but in a different color scheme.
The seats will have a hard plastic shell, meaning you won’t recline into the lap behind you, but towards the forward facing seat – or, in this case – wall. Tall people around the world sigh in at this perspective.
Sleeper Rows in Economy
While Lufthansa didn’t go as far as fellow Star Alliance member Air New Zealand and introduce economy class bunk beds, passengers at the rear-end of the cabin still get an opportunity to sleep. Given that they are willing to pay for it.
A broad cushion will be placed across a row of three economy seats, giving passengers the chance to lie down and snooze a little on long-haul flights.
The rest of the picture pretty much looks like Lufthansa’s current Airbus A350 economy product with broader screens.
Parts of the Fleet to be Refurbished
All new deliveries of Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-X planes the German airlines is about to receive will be delivered with the new cabin – except the five 787s Lufthansa borrowed from Hainan Airlines. Already existing planes will be retrofitted, as well. Lufthansa explicitly named the Boeing 747-8i as a candidate to receive a new interior.
While the Airbus A330 may be a candidate as well, it’s almost certain that the Airbus A340 won’t see any changes to its current layout before being phased out, just as the remaining Boeing 747-400s Lufthansa still takes to the sky.
Bottom Line
It was about time Lufthansa made some significant updates to it’s more-than-a-decade old look. Especially in the premium categories, other airlines were getting way ahead of Germany’s biggest airline. But the empire struck back in impressive fashion: Especially their new first class layout delivers and is a clear sign the airline won’t give up their most prestigious travel class.
To get back to five-star status, Lufthansa still has to undo some serious downgrades to its soft-product. Especially in economy class.
Cover Picture: © Lufthansa