Lufthansa has retired its final Airbus A340-600 from scheduled passenger operations, ending the type’s 23-year commercial history with the airline. Flight LH419 from Washington, D.C., landed at Frankfurt on Monday with aircraft D-AIHW, carrying 267 passengers and 15 crew members after an eight-hour-five-minute flight. The retirement removes the last A340-600s from Lufthansa’s scheduled passenger fleet.
The three other remaining aircraft—D-AIHX, D-AIHY and D-AIHZ—completed their final scheduled services during the preceding weekend. Lufthansa operated 24 A340-600s, beginning with the delivery of D-AIHB in November 2003.
The withdrawal forms part of Lufthansa’s fleet-modernisation programme. The airline also plans to retire its A340-300 and Boeing 747-400, while Discover Airlines is scheduled to withdraw its Airbus A330-200 by 2027. Replacement capacity will come principally from Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 777-9s, alongside additional Boeing 787s.
Lufthansa expects next-generation aircraft to account for 70% of its long-haul fleet by 2028. The A340-600 remained in service longer than initially planned after delays to Boeing 787-9 and 777-9 deliveries created a capacity gap. Ferry or other non-scheduled flights may still occur, but LH419 was the type’s final scheduled passenger service with the airline.