German Carrier Changes Horses Mid-Stream in Surprising Turn

German Air Carrier Lufthansa Group will buy up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in a brow-raising change from their long streak of Airbus operation.

The company signed a firm order for 40 737-8 aircraft, with options for 60 more should they decide to exercise them.

“It is a good strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group to order Boeing 737 aircraft again for the first time since 1995,” Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa CEO, said in a news release. “Around 60 years ago, Lufthansa was co-developer and launch customer of this globally successful model. With the new modern, quiet, economical and efficient 737-8 aircraft, we are making progress both in modernizing our short- and medium-haul fleet and in achieving our carbon CO2 reduction targets.”

The selection of the 737, Boeing's most popular aircraft, underlines the Lufthansa order book of widebody aircraft from the brand. So far, Lufthansa Group has placed firm orders for 7 777-8s in freighter configuration, 20 777-9s, and 34 787s from Boeing - but the 737 hasn't seen any love from the German brand since its final one delivered in 1995. It's great news for Boeing, a point in their favor in a decades-long rivalry between the two biggest names in the airliner game.

“Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to a number of industry changing achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to an original launch customer’s fleet,” Stan Deal, president and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a news release. “The Lufthansa Group has set bold targets to decarbonize its operations. The 737-8 will help the Lufthansa Group meet those sustainability targets with significant improvements in fuel use, emissions, and community noise impacts, all while reducing costs for the airline.”

FMI: www.boeing.com