German flagship carrier Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) has finalized a substantial deal with Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA), ordering 80 planes with future purchasing options, valued at $9 billion, according to an announcement on Tuesday.
The agreement entails the delivery of 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes and 40 Airbus A220-300s between 2026 and 2032. Additionally, the deal includes 60 future purchasing options for the Boeing 737 MAX 8, 20 options for the Airbus A220, and 40 options for Airbus A320s.
This marks Lufthansa’s first purchase of Boeing narrow-body planes in approximately three decades, including its inaugural acquisition of the 737 MAX model. While the airline was a launch customer for an earlier version of the Boeing 737 in the late 1960s, it transitioned to an all-Airbus single-aisle fleet after phasing out the 737 in 2016. Lufthansa has, however, continued to invest in Boeing wide-body aircraft, maintaining a backlog that includes 787 Dreamliners, 777 freighters, and the upcoming 777X mini-jumbo.
Recognized as one of the aviation industry’s most discerning buyers, Lufthansa Group was the original launch customer for the Bombardier CSeries in 2008. After Airbus acquired the small passenger plane program in 2018 and renamed it A220 following Bombardier’s financial difficulties, Lufthansa has continued its association with the aircraft model.
