Lufthansa takes first A350-1000 for Munich to Tokyo flights

Lufthansa took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 on 10 November 2026, and the aircraft is due to begin commercial service between Munich and Tokyo Haneda on 3 December, according to One Mile at a Time and AirlineGeeks. The jet is based in Munich and carries the airline's new Allegris cabins in four classes.

The aircraft

According to AeroTime, the handover took place in Toulouse. The aircraft is registered D-AIFA and named "Deutschland". It wears a dark blue livery marking Lufthansa's centennial year. AirlineGeeks says it is the seventh aircraft in a commemorative fleet of 100th anniversary liveries, and that the handover was attended by Group CEO Carsten Spohr and Airbus's Lars Wagner.

It is also Lufthansa's 700th Airbus aircraft, and the airline's first long-haul aircraft fitted with Starlink satellite internet, according to both AeroTime and AirlineGeeks. AeroTime notes that Lufthansa's first Airbus, an A300B2, arrived in 1976.

Cabin and seats

The aircraft has about 300 seats across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. One Mile at a Time gives this breakdown:

• Four first class seats (described as 3.5 in effect, with a single row)
• 49 business class seats
• 35 premium economy seats
• 212 economy seats

By comparison, the same outlet lists the A350-900 as having 267 seats, including 38 in business, 24 in premium economy and 201 in economy. Heiko Reitz, Lufthansa's Hub Manager for Munich, is quoted by One Mile at a Time as saying the new aircraft has 40 per cent more Business and Premium Economy seats.

Routes and order

The sources disagree on the first flight date. AeroTime gives 23 December 2026, while One Mile at a Time and AirlineGeeks both give 3 December. The latter date is used here as two outlets agree on it. AirlineGeeks reports the aircraft was due to fly to Munich the day after delivery.

One Mile at a Time reports that Shanghai Pudong and Singapore are expected to follow within weeks, although the schedule had not yet been updated. It adds that the A350-1000 will initially not operate daily and will alternate with the A350-900. Chicago and Newark are expected to be the first US cities, with no exact timeline.

Lufthansa Group has 15 A350-1000s on order: 10 ordered in March 2023 and five more in December 2024, per AeroTime. AirlineGeeks says the first 10 will fly for the Lufthansa core brand from Munich. One Mile at a Time reports deliveries between late 2026 and 2030, with three more aircraft expected before the end of the year.

What this means for travellers

• Passengers flying Munich to Tokyo Haneda from 3 December may be on the new aircraft, but because it will alternate with the A350-900, it is worth checking the aircraft type when booking.
• Those wanting the new product should check seat maps, as the A350-1000 has more business and premium economy seats than the A350-900.
• Shanghai and Singapore are expected to follow, but dates are unconfirmed. Timings for Chicago and Newark are not yet known.

Sources: One Mile at a Time, AeroTime, AirlineGeeks.