Lufthansa’s New Premium Economy Class Now Offered On Half Of Airline’s Long-Haul Fleet

·         53 aircraft equipped with approximately 2,000 Premium Economy seats

·         Completion of retrofitting in autumn 2015

The retrofitting of Lufthansa’s new Premium Economy class on the airline’s fleet is on schedule. Today, experts from Lufthansa Technik completed the installation of Premium Economy class seats in an Airbus A340-300 with the registration D-AIGO, and as a result, passengers can already enjoy the airline’s new travel class on half of Lufthansa’s long-haul jets. Thus, a total of 53 aircraft— approximately 2,000 new, well-equipped seats— now offer an added, extra comfort in Economy Class.

The retrofit order is carried out according to the type of aircraft. Therefore, all Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 aircraft on routes originating from the Frankfurt hub already have Premium Economy on board. A total of 15 of the Airbus A340-600 aircraft stationed in Munich, and both A340-300 aircraft in Dusseldorf, also feature the new seats.

Currently, Lufthansa jets with Premium Economy on board are already flying to the 33 most important long-haul destinations including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong. The first customer ratings for this newest class show a high level of satisfaction, with seat comfort, service and excellent value for the cost are praised.

The remaining aircraft of the type: Airbus A330-300, A340-300, A340-600 and Boeing 747-400 will be retrofitted in the coming weeks. Completion of the retrofit is expected for autumn 2015. 

On the new Premium Economy Class:

The seat is up to three centimeters wider, depending on the type of aircraft. Additionally, the separate armrests for each seat and the center console between the seats ensure extra privacy and a total of approximately 10 centimeters of more space to the side. The backrest can be tilted further back and the seat spacing is more generous at 38 inches or 97 centimeters. Thus, the personal space for passengers increased by about half compared to Economy Class. The adjustable headrest can be folded at the sides and gives ample support. Height adjustable footrests beginning with the second row, and leg supports with integrated footrests in the front row, provide additional comfort. With two pieces of luggageup to 50 pounds, each passenger has twice as much free baggage allowance as in Economy Class. For a surcharge of 28 dollars, passengers also have the opportunity to enjoy the amenities of many Lufthansa Business Lounges before their flight. Access to the Welcome Lounge in Frankfurt is possible for a fee of 56 dollars. The check-in and boarding process, and the hand baggage regulations, are similar to those in Economy Class.

On board, Premium Economy passengers can expect an upgraded service: Passengers can control the extensive in-flight entertainment program using their own touch-screen with a display size of 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 centimeters). Furthermore, each seat offers a USB port and an electrical outlet so passengers can use their own devices. A diverse selection of newspapers and magazines complement the entertainment program.

For more information visit http://www.lufthansagroup.com/de/themen/premium-economy.html

About Lufthansa

One of the world's largest and most prestigious airlines, Lufthansa currently flies to 207 destinations in 76 countries, with hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. With the Lufthansa Group acquisition of Austrian Airlines, SWISS and a stake in Brussels Airlines, Vienna, Brussels, and Zurich were added as additional hubs and the entire Group flew a total of 106 million passengers in 2014. From its 21 North American gateways, Lufthansa — voted by Fortune as one of the five most admired airlines in the world — along with its Group members and Star Alliance partners, serve over 1,300 destinations worldwide. An industry innovator, Lufthansa has long been committed to environmental care and sustainability, operating the most technologically-advanced and fuel-efficient fleet in the world. Its long-haul fleet to and from North America includes the Boeing 747-8, as well as the Airbus A380. Currently, Lufthansa has over 272 new aircraft worth about USD 46 billion in list prices on order. Lufthansa is the largest European operator of the A380 and was also the launch customer for the new Boeing 747-8, the industries’ two most fuel-efficient passenger aircraft. Known for its premium services, Lufthansa continues to build new or upgrade existing lounge facilities across its worldwide network and will spend more than USD 3.7 billion in new products and services by 2016. In 2014, Lufthansa introduced its new Premium Economy Class which offers further comfort and more personal space. In the first quarter of 2015, Lufthansa will finish revamping its First Class, followed by the completion of its Business Class retrofit in the second quarter. By the end of the third quarter of 2015, the new Premium Economy Class will be installed throughout the entire fleet – bringing Lufthansa one step closer to becoming the first five-star airline in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, nearly the entire Lufthansa long-haul fleet is equipped with its onboard broadband wireless Internet service, FlyNet. For more information or reservations, visit www.LH.com.