German flag carrier Lufthansa is preparing to welcome the first Airbus A350-1000 into its fleet. The long-haul widebody sports a commemorative livery celebrating the airline’s centennial history, while also marking a milestone delivery record with the European planemaker.
A Commemorative Design Painted In Toulouse
In just a few weeks, Lufthansa’s special anniversary fleet will welcome a major new addition. The first Airbus A350-1000 slated for delivery to the German carrier has already been painted at the Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France.
This special livery stands out with an oversized, white “XXL” crane logo and the serialized inscription “1926 | 2026” alongside the number “100,” symbolizing the airline’s centenary. Bringing this unique design to life in the paint shop required a total of 432 liters of blue paint and 246 liters of white paint.
Next Steps and the 700th Delivery
The ferry flight of the Airbus A350-1000 from Toulouse to its hub in Munich, Germany, is scheduled for this fall. Before the formal transfer of ownership takes place, the aircraft must clear several critical milestones. These include a series of mandatory test flights, completion of passenger cabin outfitting, and the final customer acceptance inspection.
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Registered as D-AIFA, the aircraft will be officially christened “Deutschland” in a formal naming ceremony scheduled for a later date. Beyond its striking aesthetics, this airframe represents a major industrial milestone: it will be the 700th aircraft formally delivered by Airbus to the Lufthansa Group.
A350-1000 Technical Specifications and Capacity
- Fuselage Dimensions: At 73.80 meters in length, the aircraft is exactly seven meters longer than the smaller Airbus A350-900 variant.
- Passenger Capacity: The widebody is configured to comfortably accommodate a total of 300 passengers.
- Cabin Configuration: The interior layout is split across four distinct travel classes: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.
- Delivery Schedule: The airline holds a firm order for 15 aircraft of this type, which will be progressively integrated into the fleet between now and 2030.
Expanding the Centennial Fleet
This new long-haul giant becomes the seventh Lufthansa aircraft to sport the 100th-anniversary commemorative design. Upon arrival, it will join other long-haul widebodies already operating with this special livery: an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A380, a Boeing 787-9, and a Boeing 747-8.
Additionally, the carrier already operates two Airbus A320neo narrowbodies on short- and medium-haul routes bearing the same visual identity—a design that continues to capture the attention of passengers and the global aviation enthusiast community alike.
The addition of D-AIFA solidifies Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet modernization strategy, delivering improved operational efficiency and expanded seating capacity in high-demand markets.
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Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.