en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lufthansa plans to further expand its long-haul fleet in 2027, considering additional orders for the Airbus A350-1000 or Boeing 777-9 to increase capacity in the premium market; meanwhile, its short-haul operations will continue to face cuts due to losses.

Just a few weeks ago, Lufthansa placed an additional order for 20 long-haul aircraft, including 10 Airbus A350-900s and 10 Boeing 787-9s. These aircraft will replace older models starting in 2032. Group CEO Carsten Spohr revealed at an employee event that the group plans to make a new ordering decision in 2027, targeting either the Airbus A350-1000 or the Boeing 777-9.

Lufthansa expects the first Airbus A350-1000 to be delivered in the fall of 2026, and the first Boeing 777-9 in the first quarter of 2027. The group has confirmed orders for 15 A350-1000s and 20 777-9s, and holds multiple options on both programs, allowing it to order up to 25 additional A350-1000s and 24 additional 777-9s.

In its fleet planning, the A350-1000 is positioned as a potential replacement for the A380 at the Munich hub and for the Boeing 777-300ER at Swiss International Air Lines' Zurich hub, playing a key role. Lufthansa has reached an agreement with the airport operator in Munich on the expansion of the T2 joint venture, where an extension of the satellite terminal (called the T-shaped pier) will increase the terminal's annual passenger capacity by 10 million. Lufthansa plans to manage more long-haul and transfer operations through the Munich hub.

In short-haul operations, Lufthansa expects further cuts after its subsidiary Cityline ceased operations in April 2026. Spohr stated at the event that "there are still too many loss-making routes." According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Lufthansa plans to reduce capacity by up to 15 more aircraft in its calculations. Lufthansa Group board member Dieter Vranckx is implementing a new traffic control plan for Lufthansa covering the group's six hubs, which could lead to further cuts in short-haul routes by 2028. Vranckx told the Handelsblatt that the group will cut capacity where "economically necessary," but will continue to connect strong regions through at least one hub. This strategy is particularly evident in the core brand Lufthansa Classic, which, due to high labor costs, is considering focusing the core company more on long-haul operations.