Lufthansa Group will initially assign five new Boeing 787-9s intended for Austrian Airlines to Lufthansa’s Frankfurt operation, where they will help cover delays to the Boeing 777X. The change postpones Austrian’s plan to operate 12 Dreamliners by the end of 2028. The Vienna-based carrier is still expected to receive three used 787-9s in 2027, but no revised date has been set for the five new aircraft.
Austrian currently operates four 787-9s. The three planned transfers from Lufthansa’s existing fleet would bring its total to seven; the five factory-new aircraft had been scheduled to join from the end of 2027. Austrian now expects to keep its Boeing 777s in service until at least the end of 2029 or the beginning of 2030, extending their planned role as the airline renews its long-haul fleet.
Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr linked the Frankfurt allocation to the delayed 777X programme. Boeing has advised Lufthansa that initial 777X deliveries are expected in the second quarter of 2027, rather than the first. Spohr did not specify when Austrian might receive additional 787s. He also said the group could not currently commit to growth in Vienna, citing the aircraft delays and high location costs.