Lufthansa is set to undertake a partial overhaul of the cabins of its nineteen Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The primary challenge lies in the distinctive shape of the aircraft, which, while making it the most iconic plane in history, poses difficulties when it comes to installing a new cabin.
Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8 aircraft are scheduled to incorporate the cabin concept known as Allegris. This is the company’s new product, designed for intercontinental flights, which was introduced about a year ago. However, the current plans of the company suggest that initially, the 747-8s will feature a hybrid cabin. According to information published by aeroTELEGRAPH, due to the unique shape of the upper deck, which is narrower than the main deck, special seat adaptations will be necessary. This task will be handled by Stelia Aerospace, a subsidiary of Airbus.
As a result, Lufthansa’s fleet of 747-8 aircraft will be equipped with a hybrid cabin for two years. Initially, only the main deck will have the Allegris cabin. The initial step involves introducing a new business class, premium economy, and economy class. However, the first class, located in the lower front part, will remain unchanged for the time being.
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The upper deck, which exclusively features business class seats, is not scheduled for an upgrade at this stage. It will be renewed in conjunction with the first class. This issue arises from the weight of the new seats and their compatibility with the 747-8’s fuselage structure.
Since the new first and business class seats are significantly heavier than their predecessors, the aircraft’s center of gravity could shift, resulting in excess weight in the nose. To counter this, in the initial phase of the modernization, an additional 700 kilograms of weight will need to be added to the rear of the aircraft, either by installing a plate or a water tank. With the complete renovation, this issue could even lead to the inability to carry cargo in the front section.
These challenges could necessitate a significant increase in the budget for the 747-8 cabin upgrades. Lufthansa has stated that it has not yet made any decisions regarding the continuation of its 747-8 modernization program.
