Lufthansa has confirmed that it will retire its remaining Airbus A340-600 aircraft, with the final flight scheduled for October 25, 2026. This decision comes amid ongoing fleet modernization efforts and will see the airline cease operations of the quadjet as it transitions to more efficient twin-engine aircraft. According to scheduling data from the aviation analytics firm Cirium, the last service will operate from Riyadh to Frankfurt, marking the end of an era for the long-serving model.
The A340-600 has had a long career with Lufthansa, but its days have been numbered for some time. The airline currently has 13 units of the aircraft in its fleet. However, only four of these remain active, while the remaining nine have already been placed in storage. The aircraft have an average age of 19.6 years, significantly older than the fleet-wide average of 14.9 years. As Lufthansa shifts focus to more modern aircraft, such as the Boeing 787, it has been gradually phasing out the A340-600.
Final Operations and Flight Schedule
Lufthansa has scheduled a total of 1,669 flights using the A340-600 in 2026, primarily focused on long-haul routes to destinations in the United States. For instance, this month, the aircraft will operate daily flights from Frankfurt Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago O’Hare. In January, JFK was the sole destination receiving daily service from the A340-600, while O’Hare saw a reduction to 21 rotations.
As October approaches, Lufthansa plans to operate 145 flights with the A340-600, including daily routes to JFK, Riyadh, and Washington D.C.’s Washington Dulles International Airport from October 1 to 24. The final flight will occur on October 25, concluding with a journey from Riyadh back to Frankfurt.
Passenger Experience and Aircraft Features
Onboard, the Airbus A340-600 offers a total of 281 seats, arranged across multiple classes. The configuration includes eight first-class suites, 56 business-class flatbeds, 28 premium economy recliners, and 189 economy seats. Notably, some of the aircraft’s lavatories are located below the main cabin, which is a unique design feature.
The first-class cabin provides direct aisle access for all seats, arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. Business class, on the other hand, features an angled six-abreast configuration with 2-2-2 seating, limiting aisle access for some window seats. Premium economy seats are configured in a 2-3-2 layout, while economy seating is arranged eight abreast in a 2-4-2 configuration.
As Lufthansa prepares to bid farewell to the A340-600, the airline has not yet provided further details regarding the retirement process. The aviation community awaits an official statement from the German flag carrier, which is expected to shed light on the transition ahead.
With the A340-600’s retirement, Lufthansa continues its commitment to modernizing its fleet, ensuring it remains competitive in the evolving landscape of international aviation.
