Well here’s a development that I didn’t see coming, and I’m curious what the backstory is…
In this post:
Lufthansa reportedly selling two Boeing 747-8s
Lufthansa operates a fleet of 19 Boeing 747-8s. The airline is one of only three operators of the passenger version of the jet (the others are Air China and Korean Air), and as an aviation geek, I’m always delighted that these planes have a long term part in Lufthansa’s fleet, and are even getting new (strange) interiors.
However, the fleet may soon be just a little bit smaller than planned. JonNYC reports that Lufthansa is preparing to sell two Boeing 747-8s, and this is this is corroborated by this reliable Lufthansa fleet tracking guide.
Specifically, it would appear that the 13-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYD is leaving the fleet in January 2026, while the 12-year-old jet with the registration code D-ABYG is leaving the fleet in the third quarter of 2026.
So if this all turns out to be accurate, that means Lufthansa’s long term fleet of Boeing 747-8s will likely consist of 17 frames.
Are these jumbo jets going to the US Air Force?
What’s unusual about this development is that we knew that Lufthansa wanted to keep all of its Boeing 747-8s for years to come, and even planned to retrofit them. So to see the airline suddenly dump a couple of these is surprising.
For that matter, which party would even be interested in a pair of used Boeing 747s? Typically when airlines try to sell used wide body planes, it doesn’t end well, and there’s little interest, or they take a huge loss on the deal. So I have to imagine that Lufthansa was given an offer that it couldn’t refuse.
With that in mind, reports suggest that these planes are going to the US Air Force. Why? I have absolutely no clue, though I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with Air Force One replacements.
While President Trump plans to fly a Boeing 747-8 that was accepted as a gift from Qatar as the interim Air Force One (since he’s not happy with the old modified 747-200 that currently acts as Air Force One), there are still long term plans for the Air Force One fleet to be refreshed, with two new Boeing 747-8s, of course heavily customized. The project has been years late, though — while the planes were supposed to be delivered in 2024, that timeline has been pushed back to 2028, best case scenario.
Two 747-8s — Boeing line numbers 1519 and 1523 — were initially supposed to fly for Russia’s now defunct Transaero, but never ended up being delivered. They were the planes that were supposed to become Air Force One. I’m not sure if something happened with those frames, or if there has been a change in plans?
Interestingly, news of Lufthansa selling these two Boeing 747-8s coincides with the revelation that the Air Force One project has been delayed yet again, which makes you wonder if those points might be related. After all, we’re talking about Lufthansa selling two 747s, the same number of planes that will become Air Force One.
So we’ll mark this as “developing” for now, but that’s my best guess…
Bottom line
Lufthansa is reportedly selling two Boeing 747-8s, meaning its long term fleet will consist of 17 of these planes, instead of 19. It’s rare to see an airline reduce its fleet in this way, given how hard used wide body planes are to sell. The belief seems to be that these planes are headed to the US Air Force, though we don’t have any details beyond that. Could it have something to do with Air Force One replacements?
What do you make of this Lufthansa jumbo jet development?
Could be for new doomsday plane or similar… the AF has other uses for 4 engine planes besides AF1 , and they wouldn’t buy a380s….
US Air Force already has five ex Korean Air 747-8s for the doomsday role.
Rumour Control is speculating that a New AF1 is already on the drawing boards in Toulouse, based upon an updated A350.
Rumor* control has false information...
These are used aircraft that Lufthansa obviously cycles out on a regular basis. As for what the US government wants with them, who knows. For sure they will not be used for AF1. Even the 747 gifted to Trump is too old at 14 years to be AF1. Trump only wants it because it is glitzy inside. I say let him have it and he can pay for the maintenance. AF1 needs to be a...
These are used aircraft that Lufthansa obviously cycles out on a regular basis. As for what the US government wants with them, who knows. For sure they will not be used for AF1. Even the 747 gifted to Trump is too old at 14 years to be AF1. Trump only wants it because it is glitzy inside. I say let him have it and he can pay for the maintenance. AF1 needs to be a brand new aircraft and purpose built to AF1 standards. Would you sink $400 mil into a used plane? Neither would I.
You might want to look up the story on the replacement of the USAF’s “Doomsday” 747 fleet.
There's already five ex Korean Air 747-8s for that role.
As several posters have noted, the purchase of these two 747-8s are more likely related to the airborne nuclear command post roles that the USAF needs replacement aircraft for. Contractor Sierra Nevada purchased several 747-8s from Korean Airlines to convert (https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/sierra-nevada-begins-flight-testing-e-4c-doomsday-aircraft/164369.article).
Recent news articles state the USAF will take over the role of Looking Glass from the US Navy (https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/air-force-poised-to-retake-looking-glass-mission-from-navy/).
For long-range, long-endurance missions, the USAF would prefer four-engine 747s over any of the twin-engine...
As several posters have noted, the purchase of these two 747-8s are more likely related to the airborne nuclear command post roles that the USAF needs replacement aircraft for. Contractor Sierra Nevada purchased several 747-8s from Korean Airlines to convert (https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/sierra-nevada-begins-flight-testing-e-4c-doomsday-aircraft/164369.article).
Recent news articles state the USAF will take over the role of Looking Glass from the US Navy (https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/air-force-poised-to-retake-looking-glass-mission-from-navy/).
For long-range, long-endurance missions, the USAF would prefer four-engine 747s over any of the twin-engine airliners Boeing produces now (or any Airbus aircraft like the A380), hence the need to purchase used 747-8s.
I am trying to write this without sounding to partisan one way or another. My politics are a bit different from either the right or left.
If the Boeing 747's are going to the USAF.. good. Still thinking that for Boeing or Airbus to totally end offering either the B747 or A380 was dumb. t minimum they should be available by a special build.
Frankly in my view, as part of safety by anonymity, the...
I am trying to write this without sounding to partisan one way or another. My politics are a bit different from either the right or left.
If the Boeing 747's are going to the USAF.. good. Still thinking that for Boeing or Airbus to totally end offering either the B747 or A380 was dumb. t minimum they should be available by a special build.
Frankly in my view, as part of safety by anonymity, the POTUS should be on a normal military jet whenever they are transferred. This way no one really knows which plane he is on really...
Don’t be silly, he’ll announce it (IN CAPS) on Truthsocial.
It's gonna be the bestest plane, maybe the best, YUGE
You can't just spin up a small run of airliners for "special build". Firstly you would have to store all the tooling somewhere "just in case" which is a massive amount of large stuff, then you have to make production space somewhere in a place that's already full making planes that actually make a profit, then you have to have all your suppliers do the same because the airframe manufacturers don't actually make the majority...
You can't just spin up a small run of airliners for "special build". Firstly you would have to store all the tooling somewhere "just in case" which is a massive amount of large stuff, then you have to make production space somewhere in a place that's already full making planes that actually make a profit, then you have to have all your suppliers do the same because the airframe manufacturers don't actually make the majority (and those suppliers are often on thinner margins).
Living in cloud cuckoo land if you think the manufacturers would do all that for maybe 8 airframes between them
Silly Story. Most likely becoming airborne command and control. Love the deranged comments by your readers.
The US flies a whole bunch of flying command posts, doomsday aircraft (google "operation looking glass"), and similar. Many are aging out (B707 airframes among others) so one speculation was replacing them based either on modern airliners or C130 variants. This might be where the airliners would be coming from.
I believe they will be used for his deportation airlines.
Good give Eskimo his boarding pass
What is up with the TDS and horrid political comments in these travel blog readers??? HOw can so many have drunk the Koolaide????
Seriously, the USAF owns thousands of airplanes, not sure why a purchase of two planes triggers TDS. Including the author, turning into Matt at LALF.
People realize the government flies a lot more planes than just Air Force One right? With the plane end of life, it would also make sense to stockpile a couple airframes for spare parts. There will be 2-3 Air Force one planes, have to have at least 1 backup. And there will be some other military command planes, same capability as Air Force one without all the luxury for the president.
This comment section is an echo chamber of propaganda and delusion. You sad attacks and “orange man bad” have rung hollow for years now. Just mad he’s finally taking out the trash.
I'm not a seppo so no skin in the game, but make sure you keep that energy up when one of your friends or family gets arrested
Worth noting that there's a few ex Korean Air 747-8s sitting on the apron of my home airport of DAY right now. Sierra Nevada Corporation is converting them into replacements for the E-4 as others have noted. There's three on the ground there and KE's other out of service 747-8 flew to Anchorage last week which would be enough to replace the 4 E-4's they already have but maybe they want to expand the fleet a bit?
Fuel tankers.
Remember; the gifted Qatar jet being retrofitted to serve as AF1 will be donated to the Trump Library at the end of his term. My guess is the new 747s will not be ready by that time so the USAF is buying these two to serve in the interim.
How would that work? The two ex-LH planes would need to be modified. How could they possibly be ready before the two that have years of work done already. I recognize the orange idiot wants the ex-Qatari plane for his library. One hopes that, after maybe a billion dollars of work, the U.S. doesn't just hand over a plane with many years left.
Are we sure these aren't going to be used as ICE Deportation planes?
If the us government needs so many 747-8 airframes…why didn’t they just buy them off the line. The line just shutdown like 3 years ago. The incompetence of DoD acquisitions never ceases to amaze.
The line was shut down. No more production, tooling destroyed. Unless a firm commitment for 100s of frames no way Boeing reopen production. Cost billions
I would guess a 12yo 747 is cheaper than a new one, even if they were still being produced. If they fit their eventual role, I love the government getting a bargain. You don't?
One has to ask …. Is Ben really the head of this blog or is he being dictated too by the likes of 1990, etc?
The monkeys definitely have more to say than the organ grinder on these pages. Furthermore, what the monkeys are doing is simply repeating themselves due to their lack of original thought, yes?
Has ICAO approved this?
They need to expand the Doomsday fleet to make sure Trump can get all of his grifting family, mistresses, Nazi buddies, and crypto criminals a seat on board. He will then offer special $20M packages on board Trump Survival One for those who want to purchase a reserved seat.
Please don't scare me, because this makes sense
Now, I know that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but really OMAAT, the login misappropriation is turning this website into a real circus and making Ben look like the head clown, yes?
Quiet piggy!
So the US will take
2 NTU Transaero frames (AF1)
1 BBJ gift from Qatar (who knows)
5 ex Korean Air (doomsday planes - E4-C)
2 ex Lufthansa (unknown).
Should also be pointed out that there is one more NTU BBJ frame that I could see the US givernment taking. Was orignonally supposed to go to a wealthy person in Saudi Arabia but it's just been sitting on Boeing property for...
So the US will take
2 NTU Transaero frames (AF1)
1 BBJ gift from Qatar (who knows)
5 ex Korean Air (doomsday planes - E4-C)
2 ex Lufthansa (unknown).
Should also be pointed out that there is one more NTU BBJ frame that I could see the US givernment taking. Was orignonally supposed to go to a wealthy person in Saudi Arabia but it's just been sitting on Boeing property for like 15 years. There was another one that sat for ten years, sold in 2022 to the Egyptian government finally and spent three years being outfitted, and just got officially delivered two days ago.
Also don’t forget that Korean Air is selling 5 747-8 to the U.S. government.
Probably Doomsday plane, sort of an airborne command center.... nothing Trummp related at all
Unless Ben didn't tell us he joined the White House and demanded 2 new planes for himself.
Could be more doomsday planes, but there's already the five Korean Air planes doing that replacing just four existing... going from four to seven would be a big expansion. Plus, Korean Air is likely to sell another three to four of their remaining 747-8s soon.
I doubt these two 747's will become AF1's. It takes to much time and money to invest in middle-aged airframes. My bet is that they'll go to Air Mobility Command to move troops rapidly in the event of a war in the Pacific or Eastern Europe. While the Air Force frequently use external providers for troop transport it makes sense to increase internal capacity that is ready on a moments notice should a shooting war...
I doubt these two 747's will become AF1's. It takes to much time and money to invest in middle-aged airframes. My bet is that they'll go to Air Mobility Command to move troops rapidly in the event of a war in the Pacific or Eastern Europe. While the Air Force frequently use external providers for troop transport it makes sense to increase internal capacity that is ready on a moments notice should a shooting war emerge. They'll have the ability to upgrade comms and perhaps add a defensive system that they couldn't rapidly do with an external vendor plane.
In regard to the gifted 747, my understanding is that the two current, aged AF1's are spending more and more time in maintenance. The gifted frame will have limited updating for its new role, and only be used as a back-up for flights over North America. Trump won't own it when he leaves office. It'll go to his planned presidential library once the two long delayed new AF1's come on line and a back-up is no longer needed.
What happens when it's in his presidential library. Can it continue to fly? Or is it just a static "asset" at that point?
The one at the Reagan library just sits indoors and looks pretty. I always think its a little sad to see an aircraft permanently gounded.
So, how many aircraft does the POTUS need? There are already the two 747-8s (originally NTU/Transaero) being modified by Boeing, plus this year's gifted ex-Qatar Royal 747-8. Is there now a need for another two from Lufthansa?
As the Christmas Carol singing season is in full swing, one thought it only appropriate to offer up a rendition of a popular Christmas Carol …..
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye,
O come ye to Ben’s website.
Come and abuse it
Just like the login stealers.
O come, let us abuse it,
O come, let us humiliate it,
O come, let us make...
As the Christmas Carol singing season is in full swing, one thought it only appropriate to offer up a rendition of a popular Christmas Carol …..
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye,
O come ye to Ben’s website.
Come and abuse it
Just like the login stealers.
O come, let us abuse it,
O come, let us humiliate it,
O come, let us make fun of it,
‘Cos that’s what it likes.
The organ grinder’s monkeys do make this website entertaining at last, thank you. They are continually providing evidence that website security is nonexistent.
More pee-nuts for those little monkeys who have nothing better to do than wallowing in their own dung.
Coming from the head monkey himself, this is hilarious.
Dirty AeroB13B
I am the original AeroB13a! This person talking about "monkey" all the time is an imposter! Shameful!
Maybe just stop this rant? It's becoming quite boring.
Corruption to the highest degree!
Could you elaborate? I see no obvious corruption in the US buying used planes, given we don't know how they will be used.
Ben, can you not grasp the predicament in which you are placing yourself? These login hijackers are making you look foolish and inert.
Why do you allow these monkeys the freedom to make a mockery of your inability to act decisively?
Shut up.
Ooooohhh, someone is butthurt lol
Please, can we all just stop responding to this guy? Let's not give him the attention he so desperately craves.
Probably for the E4 nightwatch program. Those old 747s are going to need replacing.
There's already five ex Korean Air planes being converted for that, to be E4-Cs, replacing the existing four E4-Bs (three of which started life as E4-As).
Air Force will refurbish on behalf of SCOTUS. Because they shouldn't 'only' receive vacations from the private sector billionaires. Executive branch can do even better.
How cool for if he, yes him, has a 747-8i at his disposal under the innuendo callsign JUSTICE ONE.
John Oliver's offer can't even compare.
Yes, a truly petulant little dog right? Fortunately this pitiful fool is inconsequential and likely has little undescnded grapes in lieu of you-know-whats.
Now I gotta deal with the fake AeroB13a too?
Never to be disappointed by the organ grinders monkeys, they have to display their ignorance by hijacking one’s login details.
They do not realise that all they are doing is confirming how ridiculous the security measures are applied to this website.
Thank you for highlighting this unfortunate state of affairs for everyone to see …. you have made a mockery out of this site …. thank you.
Lolz
Someone’s butthurt.
Whether it’s these frames or not, Mango Mussolini has made it clear he will get a new AF1 while he’s still in office. Don’t worry about inflation, disease, or anything else - gotta keep the Tangerine Toddler happy with new a new toy.
You seem like a very mature and rational person. Do you have any idea how many people Mussolini killed? Disgusting fool.
In fact I do know how many Mussolini killed. We’re headed down a similar path - so far over 200 deportees killed in Honduras alone, death toll on the Venezuelan “drug boat” strikes is near 100, related to this term. In his prior term, approximately 400,000 excess deaths attributed to COVID based on the US’ failure to mount a proper public health emergency response. The US is not launching any kind of coordinated attack on...
In fact I do know how many Mussolini killed. We’re headed down a similar path - so far over 200 deportees killed in Honduras alone, death toll on the Venezuelan “drug boat” strikes is near 100, related to this term. In his prior term, approximately 400,000 excess deaths attributed to COVID based on the US’ failure to mount a proper public health emergency response. The US is not launching any kind of coordinated attack on the current Measels outbreak so that number will grow too. We are well on our way to Mussolini levels of death. By all means, brand me a “disgusting fool” but the data speaks for itself, for those that wish to educate themselves.
Is an offer LHG couldn't refuse a threat of closing US airspace access if they don't pony up the planes for a dollar?
With the current government by dementia who knows what could be possible?
One will revisit this comments page later to laugh at the comments from the organ grinder’s monkeys …. the foolish primates never fail to supply readers with a pitiful grin …. :-)
That is how many of us feel about you …. :-)
Please, can we all just stop responding to this guy? Let's not give him the attention he so desperately craves.
The E-4B Nightwatch "doomsday planes" replacements having already been delivered, it's not them...
Become… VC-25B, which will operate as Air Force One only when a POTUS is on board. I understand Congress hasn’t yet authorised a replacement for the E-4B Nightwatch planes for SECDEF. But I also understand this new administration doesn’t play by the book, so… who knows
They might be something to do with the E-4C programme which is having the same delay issues as the AF1 project.
This makes sense.
If these airframe do end up going to the USAF to join the Air Force One fleet, I wonder what will happen to the ex-Transaero airframes. I assume they would be scrapped, but if they are still airworthy, could we maybe see LH take them up?
That makes no sense to me (a guy with mo specific experience in what it takes to transform the planes). How could ot make sense to modify two now commercial jets over two that have been worked on for years?