Lufthansa released images of its first Boeing 787-9, registration D-ABPA, in flight on Wednesday, and confirmed that the widebody will be delivered in the summer once the manufacturer is cleared by the FAA, the US civil aviation agency.
Before taking on domestic flights for crew training, the 787 Dreamliner will undergo a cabin refurbishment to meet the German carrier’s finish standard. The aircraft was originally manufactured for Hainan Airlines, which did not receive it, although it first flew in August 2019.
Named “Berlin”, the capital of Germany, the 787-9 was long-awaited, but Lufthansa had to wait for discussions between Boeing and the FAA to unfold over flaws in the aircraft’s production process – since May. As of 2021, the manufacturer does not deliver a Dreamliner.
Lufthansa has 32 firm orders for the 787-9, seven of them added this year as compensation for the 777-9’s delay – the massive twin is not expected to enter service until 2025.
The first international destination for the Lufthansa Dreamliner will be Toronto, Canada.
