Lufthansa is in advanced discussions with Boeing about configuring some future 787-9 deliveries with a larger Business Class cabin. Chief Executive Carsten Spohr disclosed the talks at a results briefing in Frankfurt on 3 November. The proposal would introduce a second cabin layout within the airline’s 787 fleet, but Lufthansa has not specified how many aircraft could be affected, the revised seat count or when they might be delivered. No order or final configuration has been confirmed.
Lufthansa currently has 28 Business Class seats on its Allegris-equipped 787-9s. Three of those aircraft were not available for sale pending certification at the time of the reports. The proposed change concerns aircraft yet to be delivered, rather than a confirmed retrofit programme.
The airline sometimes deploys 787s on routes intended for larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350-1000. On those services, the current premium-cabin capacity can fall short of demand, while delays to the 777X have added to pressure on fleet capacity. A larger Business Class cabin could provide more premium seats on such routes, though Lufthansa has not identified where the aircraft would operate.
Spohr also outlined separate consideration of adding Premium Economy seats at the expense of standard Economy on some aircraft. That cabin-planning option is distinct from the discussions with Boeing over future 787-9s.