Lufthansa's first A350-1000 will fly Munich to Tokyo-Haneda on December 3, with Allegris throughout

Lufthansa has picked the first route for its newest long-haul jet. The airline says its first Airbus A350-1000 will carry passengers from Munich to Tokyo-Haneda on December 3, 2026. Shanghai and Singapore will follow in the weeks after that.

For travelers, the headline is the cabin. Every one of these flights will have Allegris, the seats and suites Lufthansa has been rolling out slowly across its long-haul fleet. That matters, because a Lufthansa ticket has long been a gamble on which seat you would get. On these routes, the airline says the A350-1000 and the smaller A350-900 will take turns, and both will carry Allegris.

You can read the details in Lufthansa's announcement, published on October 15.

What is on board

The A350-1000 is about seven meters longer than the A350-900, and Lufthansa uses that space for premium seats. According to the airline, the plane seats 300 people in four classes:

• First: three to four seats, made up of two single suites and one larger "Suite Plus"
• Business: 49 seats, eight of them suites
• Premium Economy: 35 seats
• Economy: 212 seats

Lufthansa says the new jet has 40 percent more Business and Premium Economy seats. It does not say what it is comparing against, so read that as a broad claim rather than a precise one.

The Suite Plus is the seat to watch. Lufthansa has pitched it elsewhere as a larger First Class space that two people can share. With only one per plane, it will be hard to get, and this release does not say how the airline will sell or price it on these routes.

Business Class on Allegris comes in several types, from standard seats to suites with doors and extra room. The eight Business suites on this plane are the ones frequent flyers will hunt for. Lufthansa often charges a fee to pick the better Business seats in advance, so check the seat map and the price when you book.

Timing and the aircraft itself

The first plane leaves the Airbus plant in Toulouse and lands in Munich in mid-November. After Lufthansa finishes its own work on it, the first paid flight is set for December 3 to Haneda. Lufthansa has not yet given dates for Shanghai or Singapore beyond "the weeks that follow."

This aircraft carries the registration D-AIFA and the name "Deutschland." It wears a special livery for the airline's 100th anniversary. Lufthansa says it is also the 700th Airbus jet delivered to the group.

The group has ordered 15 A350-1000s in total, all due by 2030. The first ten will fly for Lufthansa and be based in Munich. The plane uses two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. Lufthansa says it burns about 25 percent less fuel than the older jets it replaces, and that it is quieter, too.

Heiko Reitz, the board member who runs the Munich hub, put the goal plainly: the new jet "strengthens our premium hub in Munich."

Where to wait in Munich

Lufthansa's long-haul flights leave from Terminal 2 at Munich Airport, which is one of the better places in Europe to start a trip. Long-haul departures often board from the satellite building. There, Business Class travelers and Star Alliance Gold members can use the Lufthansa Business Lounge (K/L Satellite). Senator cardholders get the Senator Lounge (K/L Satellite), and First Class passengers get the First Class Lounge (Satellite).

If your gate is in the main building's H area, the Business Lounge (H) and Senator Lounge (H) are the ones to use. The main First Class Lounge is also in Terminal 2. Check your boarding pass before you settle in, since the walk to the satellite takes a train ride.

Where to wait in Tokyo

At Tokyo Haneda, international flights use Terminal 3. Lufthansa is a Star Alliance airline, so Business Class travelers and Star Alliance Gold members heading home can use the ANA Lounge (T3, 110). It is a large lounge with plenty of showers. Priority Pass holders have the TIAT Lounge and the smaller Sky Lounge (South) to choose from.

How this fits Lufthansa's plans

The A350-1000 is part of what Lufthansa calls the largest fleet update in its history. Allegris has had a rough start, with long delays and seats that took years to certify. We looked at that history in what went wrong with Lufthansa Allegris. A new plane that arrives with the full cabin in place is a sign the program is finally moving.

Japan is also a clear focus. Earlier this month, Lufthansa said it will resume Frankfurt–Nagoya and fly daily to Tokyo-Narita in summer 2027. It also has Allegris flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore this winter. If you want the new cabin, the Munich–Haneda route from December is now one of the safest bets.

More on the airline is on our Lufthansa page.