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Lufthansa to add larger Business Class cabins on new 787‑9 Dreamliners
Lufthansa is negotiating with Boeing to equip selected incoming Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners with larger Business Class cabins. The discussion was confirmed on 3 November 2026 and targets the airline’s 26 Dreamliners still awaiting delivery, affecting future long‑haul capacity planning.
In this story
At a glance
- What changes
- Lufthansa plans larger Business Class cabins on selected incoming 787‑9 Dreamliners
- Timing
- Announcement made on 3 November 2026, implementation pending delivery and certification
- Who is affected
- Passengers on future Lufthansa long‑haul flights using the new Dreamliners
The details
- Announced by
- Lufthansa
- Previous rule
- Current Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners in Lufthansa’s fleet have either 26 Business Class seats (earlier configuration) or 28 seats in the Allegris layout, with a fixed economy and premium economy distribution.
- New rule
- Lufthansa is discussing the delivery of selected 787‑9 aircraft with a revised cabin layout that would increase the number of Business Class seats and may also adjust Premium Economy and Economy allocations.
Announcement and background
On 3 November 2026 Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr confirmed advanced talks with Boeing to receive some of the 26 Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners still awaiting delivery with larger Business Class cabins. The move follows rising demand for premium international travel and a mismatch between existing cabin capacity and market needs.
The airline already operates two cabin configurations on its Dreamliners: an earlier layout with 26 Business Class seats and the newer Allegris layout with 28 seats. Both configurations also differ in Premium Economy and Economy seat counts.
Proposed cabin configuration changes
The proposed redesign would add additional Business Class seats to selected aircraft. While exact seat numbers have not been disclosed, the airline indicated that the new layout could also free up space for more Premium Economy seats by removing some Economy rows.
Any revised configuration would need to pass technical planning, production adjustments and certification by aviation authorities before entering commercial service.
- Larger Business Class cabin could increase premium seat inventory on long‑haul routes
- Potential addition of Premium Economy seats may come at the expense of Economy rows
Delivery pipeline and certification timeline
Lufthansa expects 26 Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners to be delivered after an October handover. These aircraft provide the immediate opportunity to implement the new cabin layout, but the airline has not confirmed how many will receive the revised design.
The airline is also seeking FAA certification for three Allegris Business Class seats that remain unavailable. Lufthansa hopes to secure this approval before the end of 2026, which would allow full use of the existing 28‑seat configuration on those aircraft.
- Certification of existing Allegris seats targeted for completion by end‑2026
- Final cabin redesign details will be defined during production and certification phases
What this means for travellers
Trip planning
- No immediate change to existing bookings; current seat maps remain in use until new cabins are certified
- Future long‑haul itineraries may show increased Business Class availability once the revised Dreamliners enter service
Cost and documents
- No new fees or documentation are introduced by the announced cabin changes
- Passengers should continue to meet existing ticketing and travel document requirements
What you need to do
- Monitor Lufthansa communications for final seat‑map releases and certification updates
- Travel agents and corporate travel planners should note the potential for expanded premium capacity on upcoming routes
Who this affects
-
Future Lufthansa long‑haul passengers
The airline plans to install larger Business Class cabins on selected incoming 787‑9 Dreamliners.
What to do Watch for updated seat maps and availability when booking future flights.
-
Travel agents booking Lufthansa flights
Changes could affect the inventory of premium seats offered to clients.
What to do Stay informed of Lufthansa’s cabin configuration announcements.
-
Corporate travel managers
Potential increase in Business Class seats may improve booking flexibility for business trips.
What to do Consider the upcoming capacity boost when planning long‑haul corporate itineraries.
Frequently asked questions
When will Lufthansa's larger Business Class cabins be available?
Lufthansa announced the plan on 3 November 2026, but the new cabins will only be installed after the selected 787‑9 Dreamliners are delivered and the revised layout receives certification, with no specific launch date provided.
How many Business Class seats will the new cabins have?
The airline has not disclosed the exact seat count for the larger Business Class cabins; it only indicated that the configuration will increase the number of premium seats compared with the current 26 or 28 seats.
Will the cabin changes affect Economy Class seats?
The proposal may involve removing some Economy rows to add Premium Economy seats, which could reduce the total Economy seat count on the affected aircraft, but no final numbers have been released.
Do I need to provide additional documents for the new cabins?
No new documentation is required. Passengers must continue to meet the standard travel document and visa requirements applicable to Lufthansa flights.
Will ticket prices change because of the larger Business Class cabins?
The announcement does not mention any price adjustments. Airlines typically set fares based on demand, competition and inventory, so any pricing impact will be determined later.
How does the new cabin plan relate to Lufthansa's existing Allegris seats?
Lufthansa is simultaneously seeking FAA certification for three Allegris Business Class seats still unavailable, aiming for approval before the end of 2026, while the larger cabin design would be a separate, future modification.
