Lufthansa has announced that it will retire its remaining Airbus A340-600 aircraft, with the final flight scheduled for October 25, 2026. This decision comes after a series of delays in the delivery of new widebody aircraft, which extended the operational life of the quadjets. According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, this date coincides with the transition from the IATA Summer Schedule to the IATA Winter Schedule, a common time for airlines to implement significant changes to their fleet.
The airline currently operates a total of 13 Airbus A340-600 aircraft, but only four are actively in service. The remaining nine have been placed in storage, reflecting a shift in Lufthansa’s strategy towards more efficient twin-engine aircraft. The A340-600s, with an average age of 19.6 years, are considerably older than the airline’s overall fleet average of 14.9 years. The last major maintenance check for these jets was completed in April, and Lufthansa had initially aimed to retire the aircraft by October 2025 before extending their service due to delays in acquiring new models like the Boeing 787.
Final Months of Service for the A340-600
In the lead-up to their retirement, Lufthansa has scheduled 1,669 flights with the A340-600 in 2026, primarily focusing on long-haul routes from its hub at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to destinations in the United States. Throughout this month, the aircraft will operate daily flights to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Notably, in January 2026, the A340-600 will only serve JFK daily, with reduced service to O’Hare.
As October 2026 approaches, Lufthansa has planned 145 flights for the A340-600, maintaining daily operations to JFK, Riyadh, and Washington D.C. (IAD) from October 1 to October 24. The final service will take place on October 25, concluding with a flight from Riyadh back to Frankfurt.
Onboard Experience of the Airbus A340-600
The Airbus A340-600 features a total of 281 seats, comprising eight first-class suites, 56 business class flatbeds, 28 premium economy recliners, and 189 economy class seats. The seating arrangement in the first-class cabin allows for direct aisle access, configured in a 1-2-1 layout, while business class offers a 2-2-2 setup that limits aisle access for window seats. The premium economy section is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, with economy seats set at eight abreast in a 2-4-2 layout.
With the impending retirement of the A340-600, Lufthansa is moving forward in modernizing its fleet to enhance operational efficiency and passenger experience. As new aircraft deliveries continue, the once-reliable quadjet will soon become a part of aviation history.
