Lufthansa is experiencing ongoing challenges with the certification of its new Allegris business class seats on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. This issue has led to a significant portion of business class seats being unavailable for sale on newly delivered aircraft, impacting passenger capacity and the airline's service offerings.
Key Takeaways
- Lufthansa's Allegris business class seats on the Boeing 787-9 face certification delays.
- Only a limited number of business class seats were initially available for sale on new 787s.
- Different manufacturers for identical-looking seats on A350 and 787 contribute to certification complexity.
- Five distinct Allegris business class seat types on the 787 each require individual certification.
- The airline plans to make more seats available from April 15, 2026.
The Allegris cabin project, a comprehensive interior refurbishment, was first announced in 2017. It aimed to introduce new seating across all classes, including economy, premium economy, business, and first class. While the new interiors debuted on the Airbus A350-900 in 2024, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet has encountered unique hurdles.
Allegris Project Overview and Delays
Lufthansa's Allegris initiative is a significant investment in enhancing the passenger experience. It includes new Recaro CL3810 seats for economy, ZIMprivacy PC-02 fixed-shell recliners for premium economy, and a custom first class product. The most notable change is in business class, where the airline is replacing its older Collins Diamond seats with a new design offering direct aisle access.
Allegris by the Numbers
- First revealed: 2017
- Initial debut target: 2020 on Boeing 777-9
- Actual debut: 2024 on Airbus A350-900
- Total Boeing 787-9s planned for Allegris: 29
- Boeing 787-9s currently delivered with Allegris: 8
The project has faced numerous delays. Initially intended for the Boeing 777-9 in 2020, its debut was pushed back multiple times. The Airbus A350-900 eventually became the first aircraft type to feature the new cabins. Even on the A350, the first class suites experienced delays due to supply chain issues from manufacturer Collins Aerospace.
The Boeing 787 Business Class Challenge
New Boeing 787-9 aircraft delivered to Lufthansa feature a three-class layout: 28 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 231 economy seats. Despite these planes being ready, Lufthansa could not immediately certify the full complement of business class seats. This prevented the airline from selling all available seats for an extended period.
"Certification challenges are hardly surprising in the industry today, due to heightened regulator scrutiny as well as the increasing complexity and customization of modern premium seats."
When the Dreamliners began flying passengers in October, Lufthansa was only able to sell four business class seats per aircraft. These were specifically the Business Suites located at the front of the cabin. This limited availability continued for several months, affecting the airline's capacity and revenue generation on these routes.
Why Certification is Complex
Modern aircraft seat certification involves rigorous safety testing and regulatory approval. The increasing complexity of premium seats, with features like privacy doors, larger screens, and custom configurations, adds layers to this process. Regulators maintain strict oversight, leading to longer timelines for new designs.
On February 16, 2026, Lufthansa announced a positive development. Starting April 15, the airline plans to sell 25 of the 28 business class seats on its 787 Dreamliners. The three seats in row two will, however, remain unavailable for sale.
Manufacturer Differences and Certification Hurdles
A key factor contributing to the delays on the Boeing 787 is the use of different seat manufacturers for seemingly identical Allegris business class seats across various aircraft types. While the Allegris business class seat is certified and operational on the Airbus A350, the seats on the 787 are not the same from a certification standpoint.
- Airbus A350 and Boeing 747: Stelia Aerospace
- Boeing 777: Thompson Aero Seating
- Boeing 787 and SWISS A330: Collins Aerospace
This means the Collins Allegris seats destined for the Boeing 787 require separate certification from the Stelia seats already flying on the A350. Furthermore, Lufthansa's decision to offer five different types of business class seats within the Allegris product line on the 787 has amplified the certification timeline. Each of these five seat types needs individual approval.
The Five Allegris Business Class Seat Types
- Classic Seats: Angled towards the aisle.
- Extra Long Bed Seats: Similar to Classic, but with a deeper footwell.
- Privacy Seats: Forward-facing, closest to the window.
- Extra Space Seats: Center seats in three-abreast rows.
- Business Suites: Front-row options with privacy doors, higher partitions, an ottoman, and a larger screen.
All seat types, except for the Classic option, come with an additional surcharge for passengers.
Broader Allegris Implementation Challenges
The 787 issues are part of a wider pattern of challenges for the Allegris project. The Boeing 777-9, originally intended to debut Allegris, has itself been delayed until 2027. Even on the A350, early deliveries lacked the first class cabin due to supplier issues, with those planes initially flying with empty economy seats in place of the suites.
SWISS, a Lufthansa Group airline, is also facing its own Allegris-related problems, branded as SWISS Senses. Reports indicate that the first class suites for their Airbus A330 fleet are so heavy that a significant counterweight of 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) must be installed in the aircraft's tail to maintain proper weight and balance.
Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8 fleet presents another unique challenge. Due to its double-deck configuration, adapting Allegris efficiently has proven difficult. The airline plans a two-part refurbishment. Initially, only the lower deck will receive Allegris business class seats, leaving the upper deck and other parts of the aircraft untouched. A full nose-to-tail refurbishment, including the upper deck, is projected for 2027 or 2028. This temporary arrangement means some 747-8s will fly with two different business class seat models on the same plane, a rare occurrence in the industry.
These ongoing complexities highlight the difficulties airlines face when implementing large-scale cabin upgrades, especially in a landscape of increasing regulatory scrutiny and sophisticated seat designs.
