Lufthansa is preparing to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 in mid-November, following an initial test flight conducted from Toulouse on October 5. The airframe, registered D-AIFA and christened "Deutschland", performed a maiden flight lasting roughly three and a half hours over France and the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft sports a dedicated livery celebrating the company's 100th anniversary and represents the 700th Airbus aircraft handed over to the Lufthansa Group.
Commercial service is scheduled to launch on December 3, 2026, linking Munich to Tokyo-Haneda. In subsequent weeks, Lufthansa plans to deploy the variant to Shanghai and Singapore. On these three long-haul routes, the carrier will alternate operations between the A350-1000 and the A350-900, both equipped with the Allegris cabin product.
Measuring 73.80 meters in length—seven meters longer than the baseline -900—the widebody accommodates 300 passengers in a four-class configuration. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 turbofans and incorporates more than 50% composite materials, titanium, and aluminum alloys. The Lufthansa Group has placed orders for 15 A350-1000s slated for delivery by 2030, with the first ten units allocated to its Munich hub.
Why it matters for your training
The entry into service of the A350-1000 introduces Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 powerplants and an extended airframe into line operations, offering long-haul flight crews broader mixed-fleet flying opportunities alongside the A350-900.
