Lufthansa Group has confirmed an order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft as part of its long-term plan to modernise its short and medium-haul fleet. The German airline group exercised existing purchase options for the aircraft after receiving approval from the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The decision increases Lufthansa Group’s firm Boeing 737 MAX order to a total of 60 aircraft. Deliveries of the newly ordered Boeing 737 MAX 10s are expected to begin in the early 2030s
Lufthansa Converts Existing Options Into Firm Orders
The latest order is connected to an agreement Lufthansa Group reached with Boeing in 2023. Under that agreement, the group placed a firm order for 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and secured purchase options for up to 60 additional aircraft from the 737 MAX family.
What has changed?
Lufthansa has now exercised the first 20 of those options, choosing the larger Boeing 737 MAX 10. The group therefore currently has firm orders for 40 MAX 8s and 20 MAX 10s.
The group still holds purchase rights for another 40 aircraft from the Boeing 737 MAX family.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 to Replace Older Airbus Aircraft
Lufthansa Group plans to use the new MAX 10 aircraft as part of the renewal of its European short- and medium-haul fleet. According to the company, the aircraft will gradually replace older Airbus A320 family jets currently operating across the group.
| Aircraft | Firm Order | Role in Lufthansa Group |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 40 aircraft | Allocated to Eurowings |
| Boeing 737 MAX 10 | 20 aircraft | Operating airline has not yet been announced |
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest member of the 737 MAX family and provides greater seating capacity than the MAX 8 aircraft already ordered by Lufthansa Group.
Lower Fuel Consumption and Operating Costs
Lufthansa Group expects the MAX 10 to deliver significant efficiency improvements compared with the older aircraft it is expected to replace.
These improvements are expected to help Lufthansa Group lower operating costs and reduce CO2 emissions on European routes.
Order Valued at Around $3.4 Billion
Lufthansa Group said the 20-aircraft order has a list value of approximately $3.4 billion.
The group operates several airlines across Europe, making fleet planning an important part of its long-term strategy.
Deliveries to Begin in the Early 2030s
Passengers will not see the new MAX 10 aircraft in Lufthansa Group operations immediately.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the early 2030s, making the order part of Lufthansa Group’s longer-term capacity and fleet planning.
While the 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from the original order have been allocated to Eurowings, Lufthansa Group has not yet announced which airline within the group will operate the newly ordered MAX 10s. With the latest decision, Lufthansa Group is expanding its commitment to Boeing’s 737 MAX family while continuing to operate and order aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus. The arrival of the higher-capacity MAX 10 will give the group another option for busy European routes as it continues the renewal of its short- and medium-haul fleet.
