Lufthansa’s First Anniversary Aircraft Touches Down in Frankfurt

Germany

Brand-new Boeing 787-9 with XXL crane livery marks the start of the airline’s 100th anniversary fleet

Lufthansa’s first anniversary aircraft has arrived in Frankfurt. The brand-new Boeing 787-9, featuring a striking special livery to mark the 100th anniversary of the airline’s founding, landed on Tuesday at Germany’s largest airport. Numerous plane spotters, travellers and spectators gathered to welcome the aircraft, which was delivered from Boeing’s production facility in Everett, Washington. The Dreamliner, registered D-ABPU and named “Berlin”, was personally received by the divisional board of Lufthansa Airlines.

A symbolic arrival for the anniversary year

The arrival of the Boeing 787-9 marks a key milestone in Lufthansa’s preparations for its centenary celebrations in 2026. The aircraft serves as the first visible ambassador of the anniversary and highlights the airline’s focus on innovation and fleet modernisation alongside its historic legacy.

Jens Ritter, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Airlines, said: “These are particularly beautiful and unforgettable moments in our job. It is always special to take delivery of a brand-new aircraft – but today’s landing of this anniversary Boeing 787-9, with its extraordinary special livery commemorating the founding of the first ‘Luft Hansa’ 100 years ago, was even more exciting and fascinating.”

Iconic design unites tradition and future

The Dreamliner, known by its radio call sign “Papa Uniform”, features an iconic design that blends heritage and forward-looking ambition. The blue fuselage is dominated by a white XXL crane, whose wings visually extend into the aircraft’s wings, turning the jet into a flying anniversary symbol. A “100” is displayed on the left side of the fuselage, while the inscription “1926 | 2026” appears on the right. An additional “100” is also visible on the underside of the aircraft.

Six aircraft to form anniversary fleet

Lufthansa will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2026. The airline was established on January 6, 1926, with its official maiden flight taking place on April 6 of the same year. To mark this occasion, Lufthansa will deploy a special anniversary fleet comprising six aircraft. Leading the fleet is the Boeing 787-9, followed by an Airbus A380, an Airbus A350-1000, an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 747-8. The aircraft will be gradually repainted in the anniversary livery, with the full fleet expected to be completed by autumn 2026.

Entry into scheduled service imminent

The newly delivered Boeing 787-9 will enter scheduled service for Lufthansa in the coming weeks, allowing passengers to experience the anniversary design on regular routes well ahead of the official centenary year.