Lufthansa is preparing to end passenger operations with its Airbus A340-600 fleet after almost 23 years, with the final scheduled service planned as flight LH419 from Washington Dulles to Frankfurt on 18 October. The aircraft is due to depart at 17:55 local time and arrive in Frankfurt at 07:55 on 19 October, subject to operational changes.
The four remaining A340-600s have been used mainly on Lufthansa services between Frankfurt and New York JFK and Washington Dulles. The retirement follows Lufthansa Group’s decision in April to remove the aircraft from service at the end of the summer schedule, alongside the temporary grounding of two Boeing 747-400s, as part of broader capacity and cost-reduction measures.
Additional Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-9s have enabled the withdrawal, although delays to new widebody deliveries previously extended the A340-600’s service. After the final operation, the Washington route is expected to revert to the smaller A340-300. Lufthansa will continue to operate other four-engine passenger aircraft, including the A340-300, Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.