Guy Norris/SEATTLE
Lufthansa is studying a possible new version of the Boeing 767 being evaluated as a potential spin-off development of the new -400 entering production.
The German flag carrier could be interested in a longer-range version of the 767-300ER and an extended-range variant of the -400ER, which is dubbed the -400ERX. Lufthansa corporate purchasing vice-president Dr Dietmar Kirchner says the longer-range -300, which would have the larger span wing and other features of the -400ER, would "make a fantastic transpacific aircraft", .
The extended-range -400ER, unofficially dubbed the 767-800 by Kirchner, would be a "Germany to California aircraft with a 12.5h range". This would allow it to be used on long routes such as Germany to Mauritius and Bangkok, he says.
The aircraft "would not be an alternative to the A340", says Kirchner, "but would fit into some of Lufthansa's long routes". The new twinjet derivatives would exploit a possible gap in the Airbus A300/A310 product line, he adds.
The derivative is seen as a 211,100kg (465,000lb) gross weight aircraft with an extra 7,580 litres (2,000USgal) of fuel capacity in the horizontal stabiliser.
Kirchner says Lufthansa is "not looking at the 777", but the prospect of crew commonality with the new flightdeck of the 767-400ER gives some appeal, he says. "Now that Boeing could have a transpacific 767 with the same dual type rating as the 777, you could swap in size on a daily basis [to suit demand]. That's what flexibility is all about."
Turning to other fleet requirement areas, Kirchner says: "Lufthansa Cargo is soaking up all the Boeing MD-11s it can. They are trying to get as many as possible, and trying to get maybe more than Boeing is willing to sell. They will get secondhand aircraft."
Kirchner, formerly managing director of Lufthansa's sister airline Condor Flugdienst, was speaking on the eve of the delivery of the first 757-300 to the holiday airline. Condor is to take seven -300s this year and six next year.
Source: Flight International
