Airbus and Lufthansa Group have celebrated the 50th anniversary of their partnership and agreed on further strategic cooperation at the opening of ILA Berlin Air Show.
The partnership began in 1976 with the delivery of Lufthansa’s first Airbus A300. Five decades later, the two companies are preparing for another major milestone, with the 700th Airbus aircraft for the Lufthansa Group scheduled to be delivered later this year.
The agreement announced in Berlin covers several areas of cooperation, including a new component services agreement for the Lufthansa Group’s Airbus A220 fleet and a renewed commitment to sustainable aviation technologies.
Lars Wagner, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said the upcoming 700th aircraft delivery reflects the long-term role Airbus and Lufthansa have played in developing aviation as one of Germany’s key industries.
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa Group, described the relationship between Airbus and the Lufthansa Group as long-standing, trusted and special. He noted that over the past half-century Lufthansa Group has taken delivery of more aircraft from Toulouse and Hamburg than any other airline group in the world, while also contributing to the development of several aircraft models as a launch customer.
Lufthansa Group has operated all major Airbus aircraft families, including the A220, A300, A320, A330/A340, A350 and A380. The Group has also recently finalised a firm order for 10 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, complementing its existing fleet of 43 A350-900s. In total, Lufthansa Group has now ordered 75 A350 aircraft, including the soon-to-be-delivered A350-1000.
As part of the new cooperation, Lufthansa Group signed a component services agreement covering its entire Airbus A220 fleet. The agreement is designed to support efficient operations of the smallest member of the Airbus aircraft family across the various airlines within the Lufthansa Group.
Sustainable aviation was also a central part of the announcement. Airbus and Lufthansa Group reaffirmed their commitment to the future of lower-emission aviation. As one recent example, the two companies presented a SharkSkin aircraft coating for the Airbus A330, designed to further reduce fuel consumption by improving aerodynamic efficiency.
The signing took place in the presence of German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz at ILA Berlin Air Show, underlining the industrial significance of the partnership for Germany and Europe.
The 50-year partnership between Airbus and Lufthansa Group has evolved from aircraft deliveries into a broader strategic relationship covering fleet development, aircraft services, operational efficiency and sustainable aviation technology. With the 700th Airbus aircraft delivery approaching, the two companies are positioning their cooperation as a foundation for the next phase of European aviation.
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