Lufthansa Large on Luxury with A380s

Lufthansa set the future in motion in late 2001 when it ordered 15 A380s from Airbus. The German-based aviation firm has been a visionary of the airline industry from its inception in 1926. Lufthansa will have the largest fleet of A380s of any airline in Europe. The large A380s accommodate 550 passengers, which is 40 percent more than a Boeing 747's capacity. The spacious airbus will be deployed for point-to-point long routes as well as connecting passengers at central hubs. The A380s will be primarily used for the airline's long intercontinental flights from North America to Asia.

If you take an Airbus A340 and mount it onto a Boeing 747, the end result is an Airbus A380. The mammoth of an aircraft with a length of 239.5 feet, a wingspan of more than 260 feet, and a height just a shade taller than 79 feet flies approximately 9,200 miles between fuel refills.

Lufthansa is an airline that defers to its customers demands. The firm interviewed thousands of customers to determine how to design the cabins of the A380s.

All three sections of the spacious aircraft are being designed to be as comforting and accommodating as possible. However, the first-class passengers' quarters are truly special. These are "air suites" with luxury amenities on parity with those of world-class premier hotels. Each individual first-class seating section offers ample space and privacy to relax even during the longest flights. The amenities are topped off with a food and wine menu fit for a gourmand and an all-inclusive in-flight entertainment system that includes high-speed Internet access.

Lufthansa Means Business

Lufthansa is an airline with an array of appealing flight options. Many flyers in search of special accommodations enjoy flying Lufthansa Business Jet, as it is a smaller aircraft that luxuriantly accommodates passengers with more individual attention and super-size seating areas. The extra space gives travelers more flexibility and privacy.

Lufthansa's Airbus A319, which has a 48-seat business class, and its 44-seat business section on Boeing 737 are lined with the extraordinary roomy Lie-Flat Seats, out more than 6.5 feet. There is ample space with a reading lamp and a power connection for portable computers.

Customers flying in an Airbus aircraft A300 to A600 and on Business Jet flights have Mobile Media Players to personalize their in-flight entertainment. Passengers can choose from 65 video options, including 30 movies. Additionally, there are 25 TV programs, 10 music magazines, 100 CDs, various audio-books, radio programs, board games, games of skill, action and strategy, and language courses. It takes the doldrums out of those long-haul flights.

More Lufthansa

Did you know that Lufthansa Technik, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, redesigns commercial airplanes into VIP aircraft for private and commercial usage? Last year the firm announced a partnership with Andrew Winch Designs to redesign a Boeing 787, which normally seats more than 300 passengers, to a 30-to-50-passenger air palace with a forward lounge area, a movie theater, a conference area, a VIP master bedroom, and additional guest bedrooms. Other subsidiaries of the diverse aviation firm include Luthansa Systems, which is a leading IT service provider for the airline and aviation industry; Lufthansa Cargo, a leading airfreight delivery company; and LSG Sky Chefs, an in-flight service provider.

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