Pioneers of passenger aviation

In the mid-1950s, the Lockheed Super Constellation and its flagship model, the L-1649A Starliner – marketed by Lufthansa as the “Super Star” – launched Lufthansa into the wide world of North Atlantic routes. In 1955, an L-1049G inaugurated the transatlantic service to New York, followed in 1957 by the “Super Star” as the new flagship, carrying up to 99 passengers and, from 1958 onward, featuring the exclusive Senator Class. Four powerful piston engines and large auxiliary fuel tanks enabled nonstop flights from Hamburg to New York – journeys of up to 17 hours across the ocean that offered a high level of comfort for the time and a range of over 10,000 kilometers.

In technical terms, the American Lockheed Super Constellation represented the culmination and, at the same time, the end of large propeller-driven, long-haul aircraft at Lufthansa. Today, a faithfully restored L-1649A has returned as the centerpiece of the new Lufthansa Conference and Visitor Center, and as a brilliant reminder of an era when luxury airliners with radial engines on its wings and triple tails were conquering the Atlantic. The legendary “Super Star” design of that era now lives on, as it features in the retro-styled livery on the fuselage of an Airbus A320-200.

When Lufthansa launched its first Boeing 747 on the Frankfurt–New York route on April 26, 1970, it represented a new kind of flying. The “Jumbo” weighed over 300 tonnes fully fueled, boasted seating for 365 passengers, and its two aisles made service faster and more personalized. On board, passengers could look forward to film screenings, musical programs, and a staircase leading up to the exclusive lounge on the upper deck – a flying living room above the Atlantic.

The 747, soon reverently dubbed “Queen of the Skies”, became a symbol of global innovation: It lowered unit costs, opened up long-haul flights to a growing middle class, and definitively established Frankfurt as an international hub. The year 1972 saw the advent of the freighter version of the 747 with its hinged nose, capable of carrying up to 100 tonnes of cargo, or, figuratively speaking, the equivalent of 72 VW Beetles – another milestone in the success story of this exceptional aircraft.

Working together with Boeing, Lufthansa went on to develop the Jumbo further, with the Boeing 747-400 in the late 1980s and its successor, the 747-8, from 2012 onwards representing iconic examples of this collaboration.

With the Airbus A300, Lufthansa became the first German airline to introduce a true wide-body jet on short- and medium-haul routes in the mid-1970s. As one of the key customers of the fledgling Airbus consortium, Lufthansa directly incorporated its operational requirements into the development of the aircraft, from cabin layout to ground handling. The result was a twin-engine wide-body that competed with American designs and at the same time set new European standards.

The A300’s two-aisle cabin – 39 meters long and just over 5 meters wide – was designed to carry some 250 passengers, 24 in First Class and 229 in Economy. Three generously sized galleys enabled a level of service previously the preserve of long-haul jets. Below deck, the A300 could accommodate standardized containers and pallets – a step towards the seamless integration of passenger and cargo operations.

With the Airbus A350-900, Lufthansa has had its most technologically advanced long-haul aircraft in the fleet since 2016, thus gradually phasing out the four-engine era. The twin-engine aircraft, with its consistent lightweight design, modern Rolls-Royce engines, and approximately 293 seats, is gradually replacing the A340-300 and the A340-600.

Inside, generously sized windows, higher cabin pressure, improved humidity, and a flexible lighting concept make the travel experience even more comfortable. The cabin is specifically designed for long-haul overnight flights and busy daytime routes. For crews, the A350 is considered a “next-generation cockpit.” A cockpit with large digital screens, modern systems, and a long range make the A350 a versatile long-haul aircraft serving North America, Asia, and, in the future, premium markets with increased First Class demand – fitted increasingly with the new Lufthansa Allegris generation of cabins.