Although it’s still a few years off, Lufthansa is clearly upping its pinnacle product with the highly anticipated new Allegris First Class Suites. Set for delivery in 2024, the suites will first hit a new fleet of forthcoming factory-delivered Airbus A350-900s, which the German airline is receiving in 2025, before being retrofitted onboard the current 747-8s aircraft.
Germany’s flag carrier has reportedly invested US$2.7 billion (AU$4 billion) as part of the overhaul project, which will also include slick upgrades to both its Business Class and Premium Economy products onboard the aforementioned aircraft. It’s hoped that the entire refurbishment will be completed by 2025, but as always, the roadmap for these ambitious fitouts is never set in stone.
After teasing the upgrades late last year, Lufthansa has now revealed a closer look at what we can expect when the new Allegris First Class and Business Class Suites are installed. And the former is particularly exciting, seeing as all flights will include a 3.7-square-metre Suite Plus, designed as a private double cabin with a closable door (as opposed to a sliding one) and two metre-wide seats that can be turned into a comfortable double bed for anyone travelling with a partner.
On the A350-900s, there be only three First Class Suites while the rest of the aircraft is dedicated to Business Class and Economy products. Two of these will be window seats while the third is centrally positioned, affording a larger overall area dubbed “Suite Plus” for two passengers. In fact, the Suite Plus is so much wider than its window-adjacent siblings that it can comfortably fit four passengers.
With individual heating and cooling systems, each seat in a Lufthansa First Class Suite is framed by ceiling-high walls and complemented with a generous amount of space from the large table with wireless charging stations to the personal wardrobe for all belongings. Rounding out the First Class Suites is a table for in-air dining, a full entertainment system that pairs with your phone, and wireless charging stations for all devices. And when passengers don’t feel like being confined to their respective suites, they can mingle at a large communal table designed to help fliers connect and keep out of their own cacoons on long hauls.
The rigorous upgrades seem to be geared towards Lufthansa competing more directly with the top Middle Eastern and Asian carriers, while we already know Qantas and Air France-KLM are planning similar upgrades to their premium in-flight products.
As for Lufthansa’s new Business Class product. That premium product will be arriving much sooner than the First Class Suites, set for installation later this year on the new Boeing 787-9s. Designed by Pearson Lloyd, the Lufthansa Business Class cabin will have 28 seats, including four Business Class Suites, while the new A350s will have 38 seats and eight suites. Any suite in the centre of the cabin will be dubbed a “Double Suite,” similar to First Class, with a larger surface area for two passengers.
While not as distinct from the current product as the First Class Suites, Lufthansa’s Business Class seats all come with sliding doors.
