Saturday, May 31, 2025
Lufthansa is preparing to retire its Airbus A340-600 fleet at the beginning of 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize its long-haul aircraft and boost fuel efficiency. The German carrier plans to gradually replace the older four-engine jets with newer, more environmentally friendly twin-engine aircraft, primarily the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. With a growing order book for the 787s, Lufthansa expects to receive between eight and ten additional Dreamliners by the end of this year, which will accelerate the phase-out of the A340-600s.
A Long-Anticipated Phase-Out
The retirement of Lufthansa’s A340-600s has been anticipated for several years. These large, four-engine widebodies, once the backbone of the airline’s long-haul operations, were initially withdrawn during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when global travel demand plummeted. However, the airline reactivated some of these aircraft shortly afterward to provide interim capacity as it faced significant delays in the delivery of new planes.
Originally, Lufthansa had planned to retire the A340-600 fleet by the end of the 2025 summer season. Yet, Boeing’s production delays and other certification issues have pushed this timeline back. Now, the carrier will keep the A340-600s in service through early 2026, ensuring stable operations as it continues to modernize its fleet.
Confirmed by official statements and validated by schedule data published both on Lufthansa’s website and aviation analytics firm Cirium, the final operational month for the A340-600 is slated to be January 2026. The last scheduled flight for this iconic aircraft type will occur on January 12, 2026, connecting Lufthansa’s Frankfurt hub with Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh will be one of the final strongholds for the A340-600 within Lufthansa’s route network.
Final Routes and Flight Frequencies
During its final weeks in service, the A340-600 will serve only a select few routes. Lufthansa has trimmed the aircraft’s deployment to just three destinations where it will operate daily flights. These routes are Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
This summer will mark the last full operating season for the A340-600 with Lufthansa. While the aircraft will be deployed on more routes during the summer peak than in the winter months, the overall number of flights will remain consistent.
To offer a clearer picture of its remaining summer schedule, here are the weekly frequencies and days of operation for the A340-600 in August:
- Hong Kong – 7 flights per week (daily service)
- Chicago O’Hare – 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday)
- Shanghai Pudong – 3 flights per week (Tuesday, Friday, Sunday)
- Riyadh – Daily service
The Hong Kong and Shanghai services reflect Lufthansa’s continuing focus on key Asian markets, while the US routes underline the aircraft’s role in transatlantic travel during its final months.
Shrinking Fleet and History
The gradual reduction of Lufthansa’s A340-600 fleet reflects broader aviation trends favoring more fuel-efficient aircraft. The A340-600, a four-engine widebody developed in the early 2000s, has long been considered less economical compared to modern twin-engine aircraft. Lufthansa once operated a sizeable fleet of 24 A340-600s at its peak, deploying them widely on long-haul routes.
The phase-out began as early as 2016 when Lufthansa first started retiring these jets in favor of newer models. This process was accelerated dramatically by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The collapse in international travel demand led to a reduced need for less fuel-efficient aircraft, prompting the airline to accelerate the retirement of older types.
By May 2022, as the aviation market began to recover and delivery delays persisted for newer aircraft, Lufthansa temporarily brought 10 A340-600s back into service to meet capacity demands. Since then, the fleet has again been downsized, with only seven of these aircraft currently active.
Delivery Delays and Cabin Certification Issues
One of the primary reasons for Lufthansa’s prolonged use of the A340-600s has been delays in the delivery of its replacement aircraft, particularly the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Boeing has faced ongoing production challenges and quality control setbacks, which have slowed the arrival of new aircraft to Lufthansa’s fleet.
Additionally, Lufthansa’s introduction of its new Allegris premium cabin has encountered delays in certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This certification process is essential for launching new aircraft with the updated cabin interiors, impacting Lufthansa’s ability to fully deploy the new fleet.
These combined factors have forced Lufthansa to keep its A340-600s flying longer than originally planned to maintain schedule integrity and route coverage.
Temporary Support from Airbus A350s
To help bridge the capacity gap caused by the shortage of new Boeing 787s and the phased retirement of the A340-600s, Lufthansa has redeployed some of its Airbus A350 widebody aircraft to Frankfurt, its primary hub for these long-haul flights.
This summer, six A350s will support Lufthansa’s Frankfurt schedule, helping mitigate the impact of aircraft shortfalls. The A350 is a newer, fuel-efficient widebody that offers improved operational economics and passenger comfort, making it a vital asset during this transitional phase.
A Dwindling Global A340-600 Fleet
Lufthansa remains one of the very few airlines worldwide still operating the Airbus A340-600. According to data from ch-aviation, there are only 18 A340-600s still active globally. These include passenger aircraft, VIP-configured jets, and cargo variants.
Here is a snapshot of current operators and their A340-600 fleets:
| Airline | Number in Service | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa | 7 | Passenger (281 seats) |
| Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) | 1 | VIP configuration (80 seats) |
| Conviasa | 1 | Passenger (308 seats) |
| Mahan Air | 4 | Mixed (3x 308 seats, 1x 316 seats) |
| Alpha Star Airlines / Sky Prime Aviation | 1 | VIP (50 seats) |
| European Cargo | 3 | Cargo aircraft |
| USC | 1 | Passenger (317 seats) |
This dwindling number underlines how the A340-600 is nearing the end of its operational life in commercial aviation.
The End of an Era for Lufthansa
The complete retirement of the A340-600 by early 2026 will mark the close of an important chapter in Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet history. These aircraft have served the airline for over two decades, connecting Europe with major destinations in North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
As Lufthansa ushers in more fuel-efficient, technologically advanced aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, the airline is positioning itself for a more sustainable future while enhancing passenger comfort and reducing operating costs.
The move away from four-engine, fuel-hungry jets like the A340-600 aligns with the wider aviation industry’s push towards environmental responsibility and cost efficiency. With its final flights scheduled, the iconic A340-600 will soon exit Lufthansa’s skies, making way for a new generation of aircraft designed for modern aviation challenges.
