Lufthansa to base Airbus A350-900 fleet in Munich

The first ten Airbus A350-900 aircraft to join the Lufthansa fleet will be based in Munich, starting from January 2017.

This will equip the German flag-carrier’s second-largest hub with the world’s most modern, long-haul passenger aircraft.

The A350-900 is also one of the most environmentally friendly aircraft.

“We are delighted that we are able to offer the most modern aircraft type to our long-haul passengers flying out from Munich.

“The A350 also constitutes an active step towards noise protection,” said Thomas Winkelmann, chief executive, Lufthansa Hub Munich.
Delhi and Boston are expected to be the first destinations of the A350.

The aircraft will accommodate 293 passengers: 48 guests in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 224 in Economy Class.

The A350-900 will gradually replace the A340-600.

Lufthansa has ordered a total of 25 Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a list price of around US$310 million each.

The deployment of the remaining 15 aircraft has yet to be decided.

Next summer the fleet in Munich will consist of 26 long-haul aircraft consisting of 19 A340-600 and seven A330-300.

The A350-900 marks the entry into the two-litre class: it is more economical to fly than any other type of aircraft.

On average, the new aircraft will consume only 2.9 litres of kerosene per passenger and 100 kilometres flown.

That is around 25 per cent less than the models currently used.

The latest Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB engines and an aerodynamic design reduce noise emissions to levels well below the currently prescribed limits.

As a result, the noise footprint generated by the aircraft is up to 50 per cent smaller than that of comparable aircraft.

Furthermore, new insulation methods and sound-absorbing materials make the aircraft cabin particularly quiet.