Luftfahrt: Zu wenig Premiumsitze – Lufthansa prüft Umbau der Kabine

The Lufthansa airline is considering expanding the number of premium seats in its cabins. Although the Allegris cabin configuration was introduced in 2017, passengers only started flying in them in May 2024, delayed by four years. Despite the delay, Lufthansa reports positive feedback from many passengers regarding the design, which won awards for First Class and Business class from the Red Dot Award.

This success, however, poses a problem: Lufthansa could potentially sell more premium seats than are currently available on its aircraft.

Jens Ritter, the head of Lufthansa Airlines, explained during a staff information event in Frankfurt that the Business class configuration was decided more than a decade ago. He added that if they were to redesign the Business class today, they would make it larger. Francesco Sciortino, the Hubmanager for Frankfurt, also mentioned that expanding the Business class was not ruled out.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr confirmed during a Townhall meeting in Munich that there are limitations in the number of premium seats on some aircraft and routes.

The trend of passengers seeking more luxury during their travels continues, even in economically uncertain times. Lufthansa's premium offerings could potentially decrease temporarily due to delays in receiving new aircraft equipped with Allegris. The Airbus A350-1000, for instance, is expected in October, months later than originally planned. The Boeing 777-X, the world's largest jet currently being built, is set to arrive in the first quarter of 2027, seven years behind schedule.

Premium seats make up only 10-15% of the total seating capacity in a long-haul aircraft, but they account for up to 50% of ticket revenue. Some airlines are increasingly focusing on expanding their premium offerings, recognizing that premium business accounts for a significant portion of their margins. Lufthansa is among the top European airlines in terms of premium customers, trailing only IAG (British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus).

While the group acknowledges that selling premium seats alone is not enough, it emphasizes that premium is the only way to differentiate itself from competitors.