Lufthansa operates one of the most varied fleets in European aviation. As of 2026 the airline flies aircraft from Airbus and Boeing across narrowbody and widebody categories, with a fleet size approaching 350 mainline aircraft and a complex set of subsidiaries including Lufthansa Cityline, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Austrian Airlines. This article focuses on Lufthansa mainline, the core German operation.
This is a guide to every aircraft type Lufthansa operates on its mainline routes.
Narrowbody fleet
Airbus A319-100. The A319 has been a core part of Lufthansa's intra-European fleet for decades. It seats 138 passengers in Lufthansa's configuration and is used on short-haul routes from Frankfurt and Munich. The A319 fleet has been shrinking as newer A321neo and A320neo aircraft replace it.
Airbus A320-200. The A320 is Lufthansa's primary European workhorse, seating 168 passengers in a two-class configuration. The aircraft operates across the extensive European network that connects Frankfurt and Munich to dozens of cities.
Airbus A320neo. The A320neo entered Lufthansa's fleet in 2016 and has been expanding steadily. It offers fuel savings of around 20 percent over the A320ceo and is used on the same routes, with preferential deployment on longer intra-European services.
Airbus A321-200. The A321 seats 200 passengers and is used on higher-density European routes where the A320 would be too small. The ceo variant is gradually being replaced by the A321neo.
Airbus A321neo. The A321neo expansion has been a core part of Lufthansa's fleet renewal. The aircraft has the range to operate some shorter transatlantic routes and is used extensively on intra-European and limited long-haul services.
Widebody fleet
Airbus A330-300. Lufthansa operates the A330-300 on medium-haul long-haul routes, particularly transatlantic services to secondary American cities where a larger widebody would be oversized. The aircraft seats 255 to 293 passengers depending on configuration.
Airbus A340-300 and A340-600. Lufthansa is one of the last major operators of the four-engine A340 family in passenger service. The A340-300 seats 278 passengers and the A340-600 seats 297. Both types are being progressively retired as the A350 fleet expands.
Airbus A350-900. The A350-900 is Lufthansa's current long-haul flagship. It seats 293 passengers and is used on Lufthansa's longest routes, particularly to East Asia and the Americas. The airline has been adding A350s aggressively and has a large order book for additional deliveries.
Airbus A380-800. Lufthansa was one of the largest A380 operators and operates the aircraft on flagship routes from Munich. The fleet size has reduced from pre-pandemic levels as some A380s were retired, but the remaining aircraft are used on high-capacity premium routes.
Boeing 747-8. Lufthansa is the launch customer for the Boeing 747-8 passenger variant and remains the largest operator. The 747-8 seats 364 passengers in Lufthansa's configuration and is used on major transatlantic and some transpacific routes. The aircraft is the final evolution of the 747 family and one of only a handful of 747 passenger operators left in the world.
Boeing 747-400. Lufthansa operates a reduced 747-400 fleet, also on long-haul routes. The 747-400 is being progressively retired in favor of A350s and the newer 747-8.
Boeing 787-9. Lufthansa began receiving 787-9 aircraft in 2022 and has been adding them to the fleet. The aircraft seats 294 passengers and is used on long-haul routes, complementing the A350 and 747 fleets.
Boeing 777-9 (future). Lufthansa has ordered the upcoming Boeing 777-9, the stretched variant of the 777X family. The aircraft is expected to enter service later in the 2020s.
Regional fleet (Lufthansa CityLine and partners)
Lufthansa CityLine and Eurowings Discover operate smaller regional aircraft on behalf of the Lufthansa mainline network, including:
Bombardier CRJ-900. Regional jet service on European routes from Munich and Frankfurt.
Embraer E190. Used on similar regional routes.
Airbus A220-300. Operated by Swiss International Air Lines, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary.
Fleet strategy
Lufthansa's fleet strategy reflects the airline's position as Europe's largest flag carrier and a core member of the Star Alliance. The fleet is sized and structured around hub-and-spoke operations at Frankfurt and Munich, with aircraft selected for each route based on capacity, range, and operating economics.
The A350 fleet expansion has been the defining fleet story of the 2020s for Lufthansa. The aircraft offers significantly better fuel economy than the A340 and 747 it is replacing, and the ramp-up has been aggressive. By the end of the 2020s, the A350 will likely be Lufthansa's most common widebody type.
The 747-8 and A380 fleets are being preserved for the foreseeable future, but their long-term role is uncertain. Both aircraft require high load factors to be economically viable, and Lufthansa's ability to sustain premium pricing at Munich and Frankfurt is the critical variable in whether these very large aircraft remain competitive.
Retired types
Boeing 737-500, 737-300. Retired in the 2010s as Airbus narrowbodies replaced the Boeing fleet on European routes.
McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Operated briefly in freighter configuration; retired.
Airbus A310, A300. Retired in the 2000s and 2010s.
What to expect when booking
If you are flying Lufthansa within Europe, you are on an A319, A320, A320neo, A321, or A321neo. The specific type depends on the route and time of day, but the cabin experience is similar across all of them.
For transatlantic flights, the aircraft varies widely. Lower-density routes use the A330-300 or A350-900. Higher-density routes use the 747-8, A350-900, or 747-400. Some routes from Munich use the A380. New routes being launched in the 2020s are typically A350-900 or 787-9.
For transpacific flights, the 747-8 and A350-900 are most common, with some use of the A380 on flagship routes from Munich.
Lufthansa operates what is probably the most traditionally premium network among European flag carriers, with a well-regarded business class and first-class product on long-haul routes. The specific aircraft type affects the cabin layout and seat design, but the overall service standards are consistent across the fleet.
