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Lufthansa Schedules Over 850 Airbus A340 Flights in October

Lufthansa Schedules Over 850 Airbus A340 Flights in October
Lufthansa is poised to operate more than 850 flights using its Airbus A340 fleet throughout October, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Despite the gradual decline of the A340 in global airline fleets, the German carrier continues to depend on the four-engine widebody aircraft as it awaits the delivery of newer, more fuel-efficient models.
The Airbus A340’s Role in Lufthansa’s Fleet
Introduced in the early 1990s, the Airbus A340 was designed to serve long-haul intercontinental routes during an era when four engines were deemed necessary for extended flights. However, with fewer than 400 units produced and manufacturing ceasing in 2011, the A340 never achieved the commercial success of other widebody aircraft. Most airlines have since transitioned to twin-engine jets, which offer superior fuel efficiency, accelerating the retirement of the A340 worldwide.
Lufthansa has been a significant operator of the A340 since its inception. The airline was the launch customer for the A340-200 in 1993 and subsequently expanded its fleet to include 30 A340-300s—17 of which remain active—and 24 A340-600s, with eight still in service. The October schedule underscores the aircraft’s continued importance to Lufthansa, with deployments on several key long-haul routes.
Among the busiest A340 routes in October are Frankfurt to Boston, with 55 one-way flights offering over 15,000 seats, and Frankfurt to New York JFK, with 33 flights providing 9,219 seats. Other destinations served by the A340 include Mumbai, Detroit, Riyadh—each with 31 flights—as well as Chicago, Delhi, Hong Kong, Chennai, Dallas/Fort Worth, Abuja, Washington Dulles, and Montreal.
Starting October 26, coinciding with the onset of the northern winter schedule, Lufthansa will extend its A340 operations to Canada. The airline will temporarily replace Boeing 787 Dreamliners with A340s on the Frankfurt–Montreal route, making Lufthansa only the second carrier after Tunisair to operate the increasingly rare A340 to Montreal in 2024. Lufthansa last flew the A340 to Montreal in August 2023, having ended regular service on this route in October 2022.
Strategic Considerations Behind Continued A340 Use
Although the A340 is no longer considered state-of-the-art due to its four engines and relatively high fuel consumption, Lufthansa continues to operate 17 A340-300s and 14 A340-600s. This persistence is largely driven by delays in the arrival of new widebody aircraft. The airline currently has outstanding orders for 15 Airbus A350-1000s, 13 A350-900s, 29 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and 21 Boeing 777-9s. The A340-600s are slated to be replaced by A350-1000s, while the A340-300s will eventually be phased out in favor of a combination of A350-900s.
Lufthansa’s reliance on the A340 comes amid a challenging competitive landscape and ongoing internal restructuring. Rival carrier Condor is engaged in legal disputes with Lufthansa and may intensify its opposition through further legal or lobbying efforts aimed at contesting Lufthansa’s market dominance. Concurrently, Lufthansa’s plans to reduce its workforce by 4,000 jobs by 2030 and to raise profitability targets have elicited mixed reactions from the market. The airline intends to enhance efficiency through digitalization and automation, though these initiatives may encounter resistance from competitors and labor groups alike.
As Lufthansa manages fleet renewal, competitive pressures, and internal transformation, the Airbus A340 remains a vital, albeit aging, element of its long-haul operations for the foreseeable future.

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