Lufthansa Group has disclosed its intent to standardise the specifications of Airbus A320neo fleets operated by its mainline carrier and subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and Swiss.
"At the same time, the airline brands will be preserved by a different brand look," adds the group.
The standardisation initiative, which applies to aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2019 onwards, is focused on the "large, cost-intensive components such as cabin design and the galley", but extends further.
"Even components such as emergency equipment or electronic flightbag systems should comply with a uniform and group-wide standard in future," says Lufthansa. "Further standardisation, for example with regard to freight loading, is being developed in co-operation with the manufacturer."
Lufthansa foresees that standardisation will allow aircraft to be converted "within a short time and with little effort" for transfer between the Star Alliance group's airlines.
"This will allow the Lufthansa Group to react more quickly and flexibly to current developments, and to move aircraft and capacities more easily and efficiently between the airlines and the group's hubs," it predicts. "Costs for conversion and layover time can be significantly reduced. Moreover, standardisation will result in further synergies when purchasing aircraft."
The group expects to receive around 100 brand-new A320neo-family jets by 2025.
Flight Fleets Analyzer show that Lufthansa already has 10 Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neos in service, and another 35 on order along with 15 PW1100-powered A321neos. The group has chosen CFM International Leap-1A engines for 16 A320neos and 25 A321neos it has on order. No engine selection has yet been made for its further 15 on-order A320neo-family jets, comprising 10 A320neos and five A321neos.
The group is to receive 15 of its 106 on-order A320neo-family jets this year, include its first Leap-powered one, Flight Fleets Analyzer indicates.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
