LUFTHANSA Long Haul Updates For 2019…..Yes, 2019.

LUFTHANSA Long Haul Updates For 2019…..Yes, 2019.

Not one for letting grass grow under their feet, Lufthansa schedule management has begun to tweak their Spring/Summer 2019 timetable.    Thus far only 2 changes have been filed in their system and they are minor, but many more are expected in the coming weeks.

Frankfurt – Bangkok effective March 31, 2019 will be flown by an A340-600 instead of an A340-300.

Frankfurt – Dallas effective march 31, 2019 will be flown by an A340-600 instead of an A330-300.
 
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BRUSSELS AIRLINES To Update Fleet With New A330s & New Cabins!

BRUSSELS AIRLINES To Update Fleet With New A330s & New Cabins!

Brussels Airlines has announced plans to retire the majority of their existing A330 aircraft and replace them with brand new A330s as it seeks to update its fleet.    According to their strategy, 7 of their 10 A330s will be swapped for new ones during 2018 and 2019.

What makes this an even bigger deal is the fact that along with the new aircraft,’SN’ will introduce an entirely new cabin interior.    Business Class, Economy Privilege, and Economy will all receive substantial facelifts.

Though specifics have not yet been decided upon, I suspect the new cabin interiors will be in line with the new cabins that will be introduced by Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian beginning in 2018.    LH Group had previously stated that they have the desire to create a standardized cabin across the Group’s airlines.   With Brussels now being a wholly owned division of LH Group, it stands to reason that Brussels Airlines will benefit from the strategy.

I look forward to seeing what ‘SN’ comes up with when the new birds begin joining the fleet.   I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing their wonderful Business Class product and am curious how they’ll make it even better!

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SWISS Bringing Enhancements To A330 & A340 Aircraft

SWISS Bringing Enhancements To A330 & A340 Aircraft

SWISS has announced that over the next 2 years, it will roll out upgrades and enhancements to the long haul fleet, focusing on their A330 and A340 aircraft.

WiFi!

Beginning in December, SWISS will begin to retrofit their 14 Airbus A330 aircraft with Wifi connectivity.   Obviously this will not happen overnight, but SWISS anticipates that all of their A330s will have the retrofit complete by the end of 2017.    Math suggests that approximately one aircraft per month will be taken out of circulation for a few days to complete the work.  WiFi is currently available only on SWISS 777 aircraft.

The A340….

SWISS has also stated that their A340s will receive the same First Class cabin as the Airbus A330.  The big advantage of the newer F product is the increased size of the television screen and an enhanced IFE system.     The fact that the seats will be brand new will also go a long way to refresh the cabins and give them a brand new look and feel.   WiFi is also planned during this upgrade.   SWISS expects that it will take through 2018 to complete this retrofit on their 10 A340 aircraft.

Related:  First Class Aboard SWISS A330

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LUFTHANSA Begins Removal Of First Class Seating From A330 Aircraft

LUFTHANSA Begins Removal Of First Class Seating From A330 Aircraft

When Lufthansa’s ‘D-AIKJ’ comes out of scheduled maintenance in September, it will be the first A330 to be in service that will not have a First Class cabin.    The Munich-based aircraft will only have Business, Premium Economy, and Economy class cabins.

Based on initial plans, the aircraft will only fly between Munich and Delhi beginning on September 23 and will remain on the route until her retirement, though I suspect that commitment can change.   A-AIKJ entered service in 2005, so there are few good years left to her.

As more A330 aircraft go through their maintenance schedules, expect more to have their First Class cabin removed.

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Captured here as she departed Dubai, D-AIKJ will be Lufthansa’s first A330 without First Class seating.

 

H/T:  MUCForum.de / Oliver2002

 


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New Eurowings Livery Unveiled On First A330

New Eurowings Livery Unveiled On First A330

Lufthansa has unveiled the first Eurowings A330 (D-AXGA) in the new Eurowings livery this week.   The plane had been flown to Taiwan where it was painted last week and is now enroute to LH Technik in Hamburg to have its cabin installed.     For those of you in and near Hamburg, the aircraft is set to arrive at 19:00 tonight (July 1, 2015).

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Eurowings’ newly painted A330…..photo courtesy of Lufthansa.

 

A second A330 is expected to be repainted and retrofit in the next 2 weeks.

Eurowings is set to launch their long haul service on November 15 when it starts flying from Cologne to a variety of destinations in the Carribean, Thailand, and Dubai.  However, the 2 A330s that will be in the Eurowings fleet will fly routes within Europe beginning November 2 before transitioning to long haul service on the 15th.


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