Lufthansa (LH) has received its first-ever Airbus A350-1000 wide-body aircraft. The jet was painted at Airbus’s Toulouse plant in a blue scheme featuring a white XXL crane and the lettering “1926 | 2026” and “100,” using 432 liters of blue paint and 246 liters of white paint. The livery marks Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary, which falls in 2026.
The A350-1000 is scheduled to move from Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS) to Munich Airport (MUC) this fall. The transfer will happen after test flights, cabin work, and a final acceptance check. This aircraft matters because it becomes the 700th plane Airbus has delivered to the Lufthansa Group, and it is the first of a brand-new type joining the airline’s long-haul fleet.
Registration D-AIFA and the Name Deutschland
The new jet will carry the registration D-AIFA and the name “Deutschland.” Lufthansa will hold an official naming ceremony at a later date. This naming approach follows a long airline tradition of tying flagship aircraft to national or civic identity.
The delivery is notable because it makes this jet the 700th aircraft that Airbus has delivered to the Lufthansa Group. That milestone places the A350-1000 at the center of two anniversaries at once. It marks both a fleet record and the airline’s centenary year.
A350-1000 Specifications Compared with the A350-900
The Airbus A350-1000 measures 73.80 meters in length, which makes it seven meters longer than the smaller Airbus A350-900, which is deployed in some of the longest non-stop flights in the world. The A350-1000 can carry up to 300 passengers across four cabin classes. Below are the key details Lufthansa has confirmed for the type:
- Length: 73.80 meters, seven meters longer than the A350-900
- Seating capacity: up to 300 passengers
- Cabin classes: First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class
- Total orders: 15 aircraft, with deliveries running through 2030
- Registration of the first unit: D-AIFA, named “Deutschland”
Fifteen A350-1000 aircraft are on order, with deliveries continuing until 2030. This gives Lufthansa a long runway to expand the type across its long-haul network.
Seventh Jet to Wear the Centenary Crane Livery
This A350-1000, whose ULR variant will be deployed by Qantas to the longest flight in the world (in an effort known as project Sunrise), is not Lufthansa’s first aircraft to wear the anniversary design. It becomes the seventh aircraft in the fleet to carry the special livery marking the airline’s 100th anniversary, joining an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A380, a Boeing 787-9, a Boeing 747-8, and two Airbus A320neo jets already flying with the design.
Flightradar24’s tracking coverage confirms the rollout began well before this delivery. The first aircraft featuring the new livery arrived in Frankfurt on December 23, 2025, as an early Christmas gift, and more aircraft carried the design throughout 2026.
Flightradar24 also placed this A350-1000 at the very end of that rollout schedule. The outlet described Lufthansa’s first Airbus A350-1000 as the last aircraft expected to join the fleet in October, wearing the centennial colors straight from the factory. That timing lines up closely with what Lufthansa itself has now confirmed.
How this Delivery Fits Lufthansa’s Centenary Story
Lufthansa’s official Newsroom had signaled this delivery months in advance. Back in January 2026, Lufthansa said three more aircraft would receive the special livery by fall 2026: an Airbus A380, a Boeing 747-8, and the first Airbus A350-1000, expected to arrive in October. That earlier statement matches the fall 2026 transfer window Lufthansa has now confirmed for the aircraft.
The design itself traces back to the airline’s founding symbol. Artist Otto Firle created Lufthansa’s crane emblem in 1918, and the symbol has represented the airline since its founding in 1926. For the centenary livery, designers stretched that crane across the entire fuselage of every aircraft in the anniversary fleet.
Lufthansa’s broader centenary campaign extends beyond livery alone. The airline is marking 100 years since it operated its first flight as “Luft Hansa” on January 6, 1926, with the maiden flight following on April 6 of that year. Under the slogan “We are the Journey,” Lufthansa is framing the anniversary around a century of connecting people, cultures, and continents.
Public and Industry Reaction to the Anniversary Fleet
Passenger interest in the anniversary jets has been strong across the rollout. Lufthansa’s Newsroom states the special livery is drawing significant attention and enthusiasm from passengers and plane spotters around the world.
Flightradar24’s blog comments section echoed that response, with readers tracking individual tail numbers and asking when specific aircraft might reach their local airports.
Coverage from Lufthansa’s own channel and independent outlets like Flightradar24 and Simple Flying generally agrees on the facts. The differences lie mainly in emphasis. Lufthansa’s official statements focus on paint volumes and delivery timing, while independent trackers focus on where and when spotters can see each jet in person.
What Happens Next for the A350-1000
Before the aircraft enters commercial service, Lufthansa must finish several steps. These include additional test flights, further interior work, and a final acceptance inspection. Only after those steps does the jet make its planned transfer flight to Munich.
Once in Munich, the aircraft will need crew training and route planning before it flies passengers. Lufthansa has not yet named the launch route for the type. Given the airline’s pattern with earlier anniversary aircraft, an early long-haul flight to a flagship destination is likely once the jet enters revenue service.