Carsten Spohr is not sugarcoating it. In his words: "It is already foreseeable that 2027 will be another year of transformation, as we will once again face uncertainties regarding the fleet." The to-do list is familiar and expensive: unpredictable aircraft handovers, persistently high oil prices, and pressure on costs at home. "Ultimately, it will come down to a matter of pursuing the strategy of becoming more efficient and synergistic," Spohr said.
Lufthansa is the launch customer for Boeing's 777X, but timing is wobbly. Boeing has said the first examples should be handed over in the first quarter of 2027. Even so, addressing reporters in Frankfurt on Monday, Spohr said, "There are big question marks regarding how many we will actually have available to deploy in the summer," and he added it is still uncertain when the aircraft will actually start flying in Lufthansa service.
With zero 777X jets on the current summer schedule, Lufthansa is leaning on older Airbus A340-300s to fill gaps while it upgrades its long-range fleet with additional Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s. The airline anticipates taking delivery of its first A350-1000 in November.
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This is not just a Lufthansa problem. Airlines everywhere want new, fuel-saving jets with modern cabins, and Airbus and Boeing continue to fall short on punctual deliveries. As Spohr spoke, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it is holding off on certifying the long-delayed 737 Max 10 after an unexpected software issue prompted a review of whether it posed a safety of flight concern.
Those strains are feeding a shakeout that could squeeze weaker carriers and open doors for stronger ones. Lufthansa is eyeing that opening. It is vying with Air France-KLM for a stake in Portugal's TAP, and Portugal's Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz said Monday the government expects improved offers by Wednesday and plans to pick a buyer within 15 days.
Spohr expects elevated oil prices, tied to the conflict in Iran now six months in, to spill into next year. Lufthansa has said pricier fuel will add €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) to this year's bill, and Spohr signaled that number will almost certainly be higher when the company next reports. Cutting expenses at the mainline carrier remains tough, with high costs and money-losing short-haul routes weighing on gains from long-haul flying. Lufthansa plans to install high-speed internet from Starlink on 50 aircraft by year end.
Investors took note. On Monday, the shares fell up to 1.2% during Frankfurt trading and are now 8.6% lower year-to-date. If you are watching travel demand and fuel trends, this is a reminder that airline earnings can swing with delivery schedules and oil moves, not just ticket sales.
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