If this isn’t a sign of the times, then I don’t know what is.
In this post:
Lufthansa flying 747s & A350s to Spain
Lufthansa claims it has been a 25-fold increase in flight bookings to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, between April and the beginning of June 2021. As a result, the airline is responding with “extraordinary measures” to increase capacity between Germany and the popular Spanish vacation destination.
While Lufthansa ordinarily flies Airbus A321s to Palma de Mallorca, the airline will fly wide body jets to the destination over peak summer travel dates. Specifically:
- Lufthansa will operate a Boeing 747-8 between Frankfurt (FRA) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI) on July 17, July 24, July 31, and August 7; the flight will operate the LH1152/1153 frequency
- Lufthansa will operate an Airbus A350-900 between Munich (MUC) and Palma de Mallorca (PMI) on July 31; the flight will operate the LH2658/2659 frequency
Lufthansa notes that it will be offsetting the CO2 emissions from these “extraordinary” flights.
How will Lufthansa sell cabins on these planes?
Lufthansa’s intra-Europe aircraft are typically in a two cabin configuration, with business class simply being economy seats with a blocked middle and better service.
So, how will Lufthansa sell these planes, given that Lufthansa’s 747-8s are in a four cabin configuration and A350-900s are in a three cabin configuration?
- On the 747-8 (which has a total of 364 seats), business class passengers can assign first and business class seats, and economy passengers can assign premium economy and economy seats
- On the A350-900 (which has a total of 293 seats), business class passengers can assign business class seats, and economy passengers can assign premium economy and economy seats
Suffice to say that getting a first class seat, or even a flat bed business class seat, at the intra-Europe business class seat price, is pretty awesome.
Bottom line
Lufthansa will be flying wide body jets to Palma de Mallorca over peak summer dates, including a Boeing 747-8 from Frankfurt and an Airbus A350-900 from Munich. This sure is a nice opportunity for passengers to experience a great product on a short haul flight.
I just can’t imagine seeing a 747-8 at Palma de Mallorca’s airport — how cool!
Anyone plan on taking one of these Lufthansa wide body flights to Spain?
Any other Jumbo flights FRAPMI not only in Summer?
with the first 747-8 Frankfurt – Palma flight 2 weeks away – do we know which 748/Reg will operate the flights?
The greatest looking large passenger plane is the 747, majestic you might say,,but the most comfortable & quiet plane of all (in my opinion) is the L10 11 whisper jet,I flew often from coast to coast & loved when I got booked on the L10 11,,,,a pleasure to ride on.
It didn’t used to be unusual. Before Ryanair and easyJet started flying many frequencies a day, routes like Manchester, Gatwick and Düsseldorf would often use wide body aircraft from Palma. DC10s and L1011s were more common, but there were random chartered 747s.
Indeed.
Before the Channel Tunnel was built I remember turning up at one of the Paris airports to get back to London, and they had put on a 747. Probably because it was a Friday evening.
Doug Parker sees your 747-8 to PMI, and raises you one A380 to CUN.
As kid on holiday I remember BA one year flew a 747-2 into Mallorca then onto Tenerife before returning to the U.K. during the busy summer holidays.
Suffice to say that you'll be on those flights? J/k
No need to get too excited:
ALL First Class seats on ANY of those 747-8 flights from Frankfurt-Palma de Mallorca are already taken!
Blocked or rellay reserved, who knows, but in general Business Class on ALL those flights are already pretty much booked! :-(
1 seat left in FIRST on 24.JUL PMI-FRA only! ... and even better, available in cheaper D Booking Class.
I suppose they are still blocked and will mainly be released at Check-In for frequent travelers?
At least that’s how they did it on the 747-8 between Boston and Frankfurt which didn’t sell First class - those seats were given to Senators at check-in.
OMAAT posted this a few hours after German blog travel-dealz.de did and by then most of the seats were gone.
Some years ago, flying into Tenerife North on Iberia from Madrid or Seville, I don't remember, I hadn't checked the equipment. I was a bit surprised to be boarding a 747. It was full.
Checking the prices for the 747 flights, the business class tickets are much higher than the A321 flights. Not that they shouldn’t but, $1000 round trip for a 2 hour flight each way takes the “wow” factor away quickly.