Lufthansa Boosts Boeing 747 Flights Year‑On‑Year in 2025 Expansion

Lufthansa has grown its Boeing 747 operation again in 2025, reinforcing its role as the last major airline committed to flying the “Queen of the Skies” on a broad long‑haul network. As of August 22, 2025, the airline reports more 747 flights than last year, with monthly activity rising from 760 in August 2024 to 806 in August 2025, a clear, measurable increase. That growth stands out because most carriers have retired their 747 fleets, leaving Lufthansa as the main choice for passengers who still want a classic four‑engine widebody on intercontinental routes.

The airline now operates 27 Boeing 747s—19 747‑8Is and 8 747‑400s—all based in Frankfurt. In 2025, those jets provide Lufthansa with approximately 65–67% of all global 747 passenger flights, adding up to around 12,000 flights across 21 routes this year. In May 2025 alone, Lufthansa flew 2,180 out of 3,269 total global 747 passenger flights, underscoring how much of today’s 747 market flies under the crane logo.

In the United States market specifically, Lufthansa’s share of 747 passenger flights has climbed to 74%, up from 66% in 2024, after Korean Air cut some services while Lufthansa expanded. For travelers, the message is simple: if you want to book a flight on a Boeing 747 in 2025, the odds are strong you’ll end up on Lufthansa. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the airline’s growth on the type makes it the most reliable option for flyers seeking the 747 experience this year and beyond.

Rising 747 operations and market share

The data points to steady, planned growth rather than a temporary spike. Lufthansa’s increase—806 flights in August 2025 versus 760 in August 2024—sits within a wider pattern of strong year‑round deployment.

The airline is aligning capacity with demand on routes where the 747‑8I’s range and payload fit well and where customer interest in premium cabins remains strong. This approach fits with the carrier’s strategy to keep the newer 747‑8Is flying for at least another decade while retiring the older 747‑400s by 2028, replacing them with new Boeing 777‑9s as they enter the fleet.

Key fleet and capacity facts:
– Fleet size: 27 Boeing 747s (19 747‑8Is, 8 747‑400s)
– 2025 market share: ~65–67% of global 747 passenger flights
– 2025 flights: ~12,000 flights across 21 routes
– May 2025 share: 2,180 of 3,269 global 747 passenger flights flown by Lufthansa

The 747‑8I fleet is flying the flagship missions. Each 747‑8I carries 364 seats in a four‑class layout: 8 First, 80 Business, 32 Premium Economy, 244 Economy. That density suits long‑haul trunk routes linking Germany with major cities across the Americas, Africa, and Asia, where a mix of corporate travel, premium leisure, and cargo demand supports a large aircraft year‑round.

Operational benefits of centralizing at Frankfurt:
– All 27 aircraft based in Frankfurt for tighter scheduling and maintenance planning
– Easier aircraft swaps when weather or operational needs change
– A stable, reliable operation emphasized for the 2025/26 winter schedule

Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer for the Lufthansa Group, has stressed the importance of a steady schedule and pointed to the rollout of the airline’s new premium product—Allegris—as a key part of its long‑haul plan.

Crucially, Lufthansa’s growing share of the worldwide 747 market is the result of a deliberate decision to keep the 747‑8I modern and competitive through an in‑depth cabin retrofit program, balanced with careful network planning that avoids over‑stretching the fleet. Aviation analysts note this investment choice distinguishes Lufthansa while most carriers have already moved on from the type.

Routes, cabin strategy, and customer impact

Lufthansa’s 747 map in summer 2025 shows the aircraft serving many of the airline’s most visible routes, often daily or near‑daily depending on season.

Key long‑haul routes from Frankfurt:
– Buenos Aires (EZE)
– Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
– Houston (IAH)
– Johannesburg (JNB)
– Los Angeles (LAX)
– Mexico City (MEX)
– Miami (MIA)
– Newark (EWR)
– San Francisco (SFO)
– São Paulo (GRU)
– Tokyo Haneda (HND)
– Washington Dulles (IAD)

One route now takes special status: Frankfurt to Buenos Aires. With Korean Air no longer flying the Seoul–Atlanta 747 route, Lufthansa’s Frankfurt–Buenos Aires service has become the world’s longest 747 passenger flight by distance. It’s a reminder that the 747 remains a capable, long‑range aircraft in daily use.

Regional emphasis and US market:
– A large share of flights head to the United States, where the 747‑8I’s premium seats and cargo capacity match steady demand.
– Lufthansa now flies 74% of all US 747 passenger flights, reflecting both expansion by Lufthansa and cuts by other operators.

Cabin retrofit and passenger experience:
– All 19 747‑8Is are undergoing an Allegris cabin retrofit through 2025, with broader availability planned into winter 2025/26.
– Retrofit focus: updated seats, screens, and in‑flight features across all classes, emphasizing premium cabins.
– Goal: win and retain high‑yield customers on routes where comfort, privacy, and service matter on long flights.

Cabin configuration overview (747‑8I):

Passengers should see more uniformity as retrofits continue, reducing surprises if an aircraft swap occurs. Lufthansa is also pushing punctuality and stable block times for the 2025/26 winter schedule to protect connections through Frankfurt and to ease strain on crews and maintenance teams.

Outlook: fleet transitions and what it means for travelers

Planned fleet changes:
1. Retire 747‑400s by 2028.
2. Replace some capacity with Boeing 777‑9s as deliveries arrive.
3. Keep 747‑8I in service for at least another decade.

Practical effects for travelers:
– Better chance of finding a 747 option on Europe‑to‑Americas routes, especially from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, and Washington.
– High likelihood of consistent four‑class service on 747‑8I routes, including First Class where demand supports it.
– More modern cabins as the Allegris retrofit spreads across the fleet through 2025 and into winter 2025/26.
– Some route and equipment swaps as 747‑400 retirements proceed and 777‑9s enter service later in the decade.

Why the 747 still makes sense operationally:
– The 747‑8I’s four‑class seating mix and belly cargo capacity can be more effective than multiple smaller flights, especially where airport slots are tight or curfews limit scheduling.
– Large peak‑period demand (summer holidays, late‑year breaks) often favors a 364‑seat widebody to keep fares competitive and capacity sufficient.

The numbers underline the scale of the plan: Lufthansa accounts for 65–67% of global 747 passenger flying in 2025—roughly two‑thirds of the market. That means most 747 seats sold worldwide—especially to and from the United States and the Americas—sit on a Lufthansa schedule. The airline’s reported ~12,000 flights across 21 routes in 2025 turn an older airframe design into a modern operational workhorse.

Operational, regulatory, and human factors

Keeping a 747 fleet active at this pace requires:
– Detailed maintenance programs for aging systems and parts on 747‑400s while supporting 747‑8Is with spares and tooling.
– Ongoing crew training to keep type ratings current.
– Ground operations managing boarding, catering, and cargo for >350 passengers and significant freight loads.
– Stable schedules to reduce last‑minute changes and ease operational pressure.

Traveler guidance and official rules:

For official visa and entry guidance for Germany and the Schengen area, passengers can review the German Federal Foreign Office’s information page at https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/visa-node. Government guidance on entry rules helps travelers pick the right documents before booking a long‑haul flight, especially for trips connecting over Frankfurt.

Policy and market context:
– The 747’s endurance at Lufthansa is not only about nostalgia; it’s about matching aircraft to slots, time windows, and demand on the busiest long‑haul corridors.
– Fuel prices and emissions targets push many airlines to twin‑engine jets, but the 747‑8I can still be the optimal choice for certain routes and slot-constrained airports.

What to watch next

Industry watchers and travelers will look for a few markers:
– Pace and completion of the Allegris retrofit across the 747‑8I fleet.
– Performance of the 2025/26 winter schedule on on‑time metrics and reliability.
– Timing of 777‑9 deliveries relative to 747‑400 retirements, which will reshape the route map toward 2028.

Key numbers to remember:
– 806 flights in August 2025 (vs. 760 in August 2024)
– ~12,000 747 flights in 2025 across 21 routes
– ~65–67% of global 747 passenger flying in 2025
– 74% share of all US 747 passenger flights now flown by Lufthansa

Final takeaways for travelers

• If a 747 experience matters, look to Frankfurt and Lufthansa’s long list of routes serving the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
• Check schedules early and monitor aircraft assignments to find Allegris‑equipped 747‑8Is as retrofits expand through winter 2025/26.
• For US‑bound travel from Europe, there’s a strong chance a Lufthansa 747‑8I will appear among options to major cities.
• The 747‑400 retirements through 2028 and the arrival of 777‑9s will change some route equipment, but the 747‑8I remains a core part of Lufthansa’s long‑haul identity into the 2030s.

At a time when most carriers have moved on, Lufthansa’s decision to continue building its 747 program is both a nod to aviation history and a practical response to today’s long‑haul demand. The airline has paired a clear fleet plan—keep the 747‑8I, retire the 747‑400 by 2028, and add the 777‑9—with steady network choices and a premium product push. The result: in 2025 the 747 is not just a memory in Frankfurt. It is a daily, working part of how people cross oceans, how cargo moves, and how an airline turns a classic widebody into a modern tool for a busy global network.