Lufthansa reportedly plans more premium seats on its 787s

Lufthansa is reportedly planning a new cabin layout for its upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with more business class and premium economy seats than the current configuration offers. According to One Mile at a Time, Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr has indicated that the airline is working on the change, though nothing has been finalised.

The current 787 configuration

One Mile at a Time reports that Lufthansa operates 20 Boeing 787-9s. Sixteen are new aircraft with the Allegris cabin, and four were bought second-hand from Hainan Airlines. At least 22 more are on order for delivery in the coming years.

The 787s seat 287 passengers: 28 in business class, 28 in premium economy and 231 in economy. The outlet notes that three of the business seats are not yet certified, though it expects certification before the end of 2026. Until then, usable business class capacity is 25 seats.

Why a change is being considered

The report says Lufthansa Group management has concluded that this capacity does not match demand on many routes. Talks with suppliers are reportedly still under way, so the final number of extra seats is not known.

One Mile at a Time offers context, and some opinion. It points out that American is taking 787-9s with 51 business seats and United with 64, while British Airways is reconfiguring 787-9s with eight first class and 38 business class seats. It also notes that the Airbus A330s being retired have 42 business seats, about 50% more than the 787s that partly replace them. The outlet describes Lufthansa as a step behind on premium demand, which is the author's view rather than a company statement.

Possible two layouts

The outlet suggests Lufthansa could end up with two 787 configurations to suit different destinations, noting that demand on New York (JFK) may differ from Columbus (CMH), both planned Dreamliner routes in the coming months. This is the outlet's speculation, not a confirmed plan. It also says the 787 is meant to be the less premium aircraft in the Frankfurt fleet, alongside the 747-8 and 777-9, while Munich is mainly receiving Airbus A350s.

What this means for travellers

• Nothing has changed yet: aircraft already delivered keep the 287-seat layout, so business class availability on current 787 flights stays limited.
• Any new layout would apply to upcoming 787s, and it is not known when the first would enter service or whether existing aircraft would be retrofitted.
• If a second configuration is introduced, the cabin could vary by route, so it would be worth checking the aircraft and seat map before booking.
• Premium economy could also grow, which may widen choice on routes served by the 787.

Travellers comparing carriers can see how they stack up in our guides to British Airways vs Lufthansa and Lufthansa vs SWISS. Final seat counts, timing and pricing have not been announced.

Sources: One Mile at a Time