Lufthansa has revealed it is selling six of its eight Airbus A380 craft back to the manufacturer, perhaps the death knell of the ‘super-jumbo’ once destined to replace the Boeing 747 as the iconic aircraft of the skies, which will now cease production at the end of 2021.

Now seen as a little more than a white elephant, the Lufthansa A380s will be replaced by the purchase of 40 craft  across the group’s airlines; 20 Boeing 787-9 and 20 additional Airbus A350-900 planes that will primarily replace four-engine aircraft – to the tune of approximately 12 billion USD, according to list price.

The new planes will put a focus on fuel economy with their sustainable and eco-friendly credentials – which are at the forefront of airline planning in a world of rising fuel costs and a growing onus on companies to show greater social responsibility and environmental awareness – with passengers still demanding low ticket pricing.

“Environment is becoming more and more important”

Carsten Spohr, CEO and chairman of Lufthansa Group, said: “By replacing four-engine planes with new models, we are laying a sustainable foundation for our future in the long run.

“In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision. Our responsibility for the environment is becoming more and more important as a criterion for our decisions.”

On average, the new aircraft will only consume around 2.9 litre of kerosene per passenger and 100 kilometres flown. That is 25% below what is used by predecessor aircraft, which will likewise have a positive impact on the CO2 footprint.

The Boeing 787-9 and A350-900 s will be delivered between 2022 and 2027. The decision regarding which airline will deploy the aircraft at which hub will be made at a later