by Lufthansa Flyer | Oct 12, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa, Premium Economy, Route Announcements |
In part 3 of Lufthansa’s extensive update for their Long Haul fleet for 2015, I look at the 747-8i and the new destinations it will see beginning in late March. The changes aren’t widespread, but if you live in, or travel to these LH destinations you are in for a treat with the 747-8i.
Beginning on March 29, 2015 the 747-8i will replace the 747-400 on the following routes.
Frankfurt – Buenos Aires
Frankfurt – Newark
Frankfurt – New York JFK (LH404 & LH 405) — As a side note, LH had indicated as recently as this past summer that FRA-JFK would be dropped from the timetable. It looks as though they changed their mind and will keep JFK as a gateway.
Beginning on April 27, 2015:
Frankfurt – Boston (LH422 & LH 423)
All 747-8i will operate as 4-class aircraft with 8 First Class, 80 Business Class, 32 Premium Economy and 244 Economy seats:
PART I: Click here to see the changes coming to the A380 route map as well as the A380’s Premium Economy rollout calendar.
PART II: Click here to see the changes involving the 747-400, including the removal of First Class cabins and Premium Economy rollout calendar.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 28, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa |
Earlier today, Lufthansa took official delivery of their newest 747-8i, D-ABYP, which also happens to be the 1500th 747 to come from Boeing. Over the last 2 days, Boeing hosted an entourage of German media at Paine Field in Washington ahead of the delivery flight that took place today.
As part of the ceremonies, a special (albeit very small) graphic at the rear of the aircraft acknowledging the fact that this particular airplane is 747 #1500 was unveiled:
Courtesy: Lufthansa
Honestly, I am underwhelmed at the acknowledgement of #1500. Considering the milestone I thought that there would be a more obvious distinction for this aircraft. Photos are sparse at this point and apparently the majority of attendees were members of German media. For some reason, Lufthansa USA was not invited to participate in the events in Seattle this weekend. I’m not sure why this was the case, but it makes little sense to not involve the ‘local’ team.
Not that I matter as a ‘piece of media’ but I received no notification etc. at all from Lufthansa Germany. The only info on the event that I received ironically came from the excluded Lufthansa USA team. You would think they’d consider inviting one of their biggest fans to the event. Oh well, it’s neither here nor there.
From the photos that I have seen that were taken by Boeing and German media, I was not impressed. Hopefully additional (and better) photos will be published that capture the moment.
Honestly, I think it will be tough to beat the shots that I took of D-ABYP last week in Seattle on a perfect day. You can tell who used a cell phone and who used a real camera 😉 .
Anyhow, as of 10:43p Eastern, D-ABYP is approximately half way home:
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 24, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa |
Lufthansa has quietly brought the 747-8i to New York’s JFK.
Beginning July 15, Lufthansa will operate the 747-8i on flight 404 from Frankfurt and flight 405 from JFK. From the look of LH’s most recent timetable, the 747-8i will fly daily to JFK through October 24.
Previously, LH had indicated that it had no plans to bring the 747-8i to NYC and would rather have operated the A380 on a year-round basis between New York and Frankfurt. Apparently plans have changed and we passengers stand to benefit!
H/T: Flyertalk’s Oliver2002
by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 22, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa, Plane Spotting |
Over the course of my plane spotting career, which is approaching 25,000 presses of a shutter button, today may have been the most rewarding spotting day to date.
In the past I’ve had a fair amount of luck with my spotting. Whether it was being at the In-N-Out in LAX when Air Force One was in town, or sitting on a mound with a moose nearby in Anchorage when a Dream Lifter showed up unexpectedly, I’ve been in the right place at the right time on several occasions.
Today however, as an LH fan, will go down as perhaps one of my best ‘sessions’. The reason I say this is because of the aircraft involved. If you are not aware, Lufthansa’s next 747-8i, D-ABYP, is also Boeing’s 1500th 747 to be manufactured which automatically marks it as a milestone aircraft.
When I had booked this trip back in January, I had a certain degree of confidence that ‘Yankee Papa’ was going to be delivered in June so I speculated that I may be in town for the delivery flight. Well, I was off by one week. Lufthansa will take delivery of D-ABYP next Saturday, June 28 after a few ceremonies marking the special event. My ‘real life career’ calendar precluded me from changing my plans to go to Seattle for the event on the 28th, so I had to settle for my original dates.
So today, as I was standing alongside the runway I heard on ATC chatter that a 747 was getting ready to taxi for departure. I missed the initial call to hear which aircraft was leaving, so I assumed it was a Silkway or Nippon Cargo 747-8F. When I saw ‘YP’ get pushed back I got the feeling that Karma was somehow on my side, and they were going to rehearse the delivery for me.
So without saying too much more, here are a few images of the departure and arrival of D-ABYP. It was about a 2-3 hour spread between arrival and departure, but certainly worth waiting for.
By the way, you may notice a vinyl layer covering something above the rear windows, above the Aircraft Registration. I suspect this is hiding a special graphic designating this as the 1500th 747. Unfortunately, this may be the only graphic acknowledging the accomplishment. I was hoping for a bit more ‘livery’ to recognize such a special aircraft.
Enjoy!
D-ABYP taxis towards runway 34L at Paine Field on June 21
Preparing to enter the runway (pardon some of the heat haze).
Notice the runway reflecting on the fuselage?
I was so close to her that my lens was not able to capture the entire craft!
Takeoff roll begins…..
On final, with Mount Rainier in the background.
Over the numbers…..
Nothing like the smell of burnt rubber!
by Lufthansa Flyer | May 21, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa |
Thanks to a friend ‘behind the fence’ at Lufthansa in Frankfurt, here are among the first ever images of Lufthansa’s newest 747-8i, D-ABYO, as she sports the ‘Fanhansa’ livery in celebration of the World Cup.
Nicknamed ‘Saarland’, she’ll take to the air tomorrow for the first time in passenger service as she flies from Frankfurt to Bangalore. Up until now, she has been parked in Hangar 5 since being delivered from Boeing.
As far as I am aware, these are the first outdoor images of her moments after being pulled out of the hangar where she was undergoing final preparations before being certified by Lufthansa Technik.
Enjoy the photos, and thanks Uli! 😉
