The delay in developing the 777X has put Boeing against the wall for high-capacity widebody customers. Lufthansa, for example, obtained compensation for the delay in receiving its 20 777-9s, the acceleration of deliveries of the 787-9, a jet still unheard of in its fleet.
In addition, the US planemaker will deliver additional Dreamliners to help Lufthansa meet the growing demand for long-haul air travel.
The seven new 787-9s were destined for other customers, with delivery expected between 2025 and 2026. His order for the aircraft was revised, with deliveries anticipated for 2023 and 2024.
The agreement is possibly intended to reassure the airline, which would have also talked to Airbus in search of more A350 jets, including the A350-1000 variant, a rival to the 777X.
First European customer of the 777-8F
On another front, Boeing fared better. Lufthansa Cargo has become the European launch customer for the 777-8F, a new widebody freighter capable of carrying 112 tonnes at a distance of up to 4,410 nm.
The German company has placed an order for seven of the new freighters, in addition to acquiring three more 777Fs of the current generation. The first 777-8F is expected to be delivered in 2027.
“With the selection of our newest freighter, Lufthansa continues its long history of firsts with Boeing airplane programs, becoming the first European customer for the 777-8 Freighter,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
