Lufthansa raises white flag: new "Allegris" cabins will (possibly) arrive after summer
If it is not a historical debacle, it is close. Of course there are no official statements, but the lack of announcements [...]
Lufthansa
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If it is not a historical debacle, it is close. Of course there are no official statements, but the lack of announcements is precisely confirmation that the new cabins devised by Lufthansa will not arrive in time for the summer season, and that cascading all time targets will be shifted by another 12 months, a truly unthinkable thing for a German company to imagine.
Summary of previous episodes
The first time the German group leaked mockups of the new business class cabins was 2017, the assumed target for debut was 2020. That was the year of the pandemic, but that is not the reason why installation has not begun.
After years of silence February 2023 LH surprises everyone with "physical" presentation Of the new cabins renamed Allegris. A total revamp from economy to first class. In some cases they are easy products, such as the tourist seats, in others evolution of products already seen (Swiss premium economy), but they are business and first configurations to leave everyone speechless: unseen products created from scratch by German engineers and designers.
During the grand presentation, the management of the group about to enter the shareholding of ITA Airways, provides for a phased release of the new cabins between late summer '23 and early fall with deliveries of the new A350 and B787, pending theeternal latecomer (read B777x).
A roadshow is also organized over the months. which takes a truck, with prototypes of the new cabs inside, around Germany, Austria, Switzerland and also arrives in July in Milan, the only stop "outside" the group's hubs.
The in-service date in months is already shifted to late 2023: Two planes were planned to be in service between November and December. To then also begin the retrofitting the current fleet including her majesty the Queen of Skies and also the giant A380. There are even rumors of the possibility that the first A350s to enter service will be left incomplete, that is, there will be no installation of the new first class due to material procurement problems.
However, things do not go as planned and new problems arise, both supply chain and engineering, the new cabins would be too heavy and Therefore, they could not be installed on the upper decks of B747s and A380s short of an expensive upgrade and a different balance of the aircraft's center of gravity (read installing a tail ballast). Thus, there is talk of a debut for spring 2024, i.e., the start of the peak season, a crucial time for airlines and a desperate need for Lufthansa to "get rid of" From the current (old and uncomfortable) business class.
Latest developments
In the early-year email that LH CEO and CCO sent to customers, there is (very little) mention of Allegris and only at the end. No certain time reference, only what was already known which is that the debut will take place within the year and on new deliveries of A350 and B787, planes that as mentioned were supposed to enter the fleet in the past months and now it seems, will not arrive, before the second half of the year.
Lufthansa update:
The launch aircraft for Lufthansa Allegris products will be on A359 without First Class ex MUC from MAY to JUL 2024 (first 6 aircrafts)JUL - AUG 2024 aircraft B789 ex FRA
SEP - NOV 2024 new First Class on A359 ex MUC
A380 will get a different Business...
- ?? JonNYC ?? (@xJonNYC) January 11, 2024
Giving the numbers in this case is an industry "guru" who says on X what many already feared. Allegris will debut in May 2024, but without the first-class cabin installed. The first six planes will fly from Munich throughout the summer without first class, but it is unclear whether the "hole" will be plugged with a larger business or whether it will be an unstalled part of the plane awaiting installation.
In Frankfurt, on the other hand, the first Dreamliners will arrive between late July and August, there will be are 3 classes on board this model: business, premium economy and economy. Between September and November, LH will ground the new A350s to install the new first class cabins, something really never seen before today.
Smpre JonNYC launches the rumor that Lufthansa's A380s will not have Allegris business classes, confirming the weight-related issue.
In conclusion
If this is not a bad figure, it is very little short of one. There is a downside, however, judging by the excellent performance of the LH group it seems that passengers care little whether they fly in an "allegris" seat or a "sad" one
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