Airlines

Lufthansa presents new “First Class Suite Plus” – private room above the clouds

Lufthansa is expanding its premium First Class offering with the “Suite Plus,” a separate double cabin with ceiling-high walls and an entirely closable door, a large table and two wide seats that can be combined into a comfortable double bed if required. With this flying private room, Lufthansa is setting a new standard in comfort and individuality within its most sophisticated travel class.

The First Class Suite’s features are unparalleled anywhere in the world: Guests can warm or cool their nearly one-meter-wide seats in the suite according to their personal needs and connect their own mobile device to the entertainment system. Ample storage space is provided by a suite wardrobe so that travelers can comfortably change and have all their personal belongings at hand.

Service at the highest level also awaits: The crew serves the gourmet menu at a time requested by the guests. The meal can be enjoyed in the private suites at the large First Class table, similar to a restaurant.

“Lufthansa Allegris”

The First Class will be introduced in 2024, on the newly delivered Airbus A350s as part of “Lufthansa Allegris,” the airline’s new long-haul product. In the process, the company is improving the overall travel experience for customers in all travel classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class. “Allegris” is part of the largest product and service overhaul in the Lufthansa Group’s history, with a total investment of 2.5 billion euros by 2025.

Produktgeneration "Allegris": Lufthansa präsentiert neue Sitze und neues Reiseerlebnis in allen Klassen auf der Langstrecke, inklusive neuer „First Class Suite Plus“ – Privatzimmer über den Wolken für zwei – und Doppelsuite auch in der Business Class. ➡️ https://t.co/9EMd6DFpNa pic.twitter.com/BQ9UsE2zpX
— Lufthansa News (@lufthansaNews) February 28, 2023

Business Class: More flexible than ever

For the first time, guests in Lufthansa Business Class can also look forward to their own suite, which offers even more comfort and privacy due to chest-high walls and sliding doors. Here, travelers in the first rows can enjoy extended personal space, a monitor up to 27 inches in size and ample storage. Each suite also offers its own wardrobe and personal minibar. Inside, it is possible to connect the two suites so that business-class guests traveling together can enjoy a large degree of privacy.

With “Allegris,” the freedom of choice for Business Class guests has never been greater. Travelers can choose between six additional seat options, depending on whether they want an extra-long bed measuring 2.20 meters, extra space and work area, a seat with a baby bassinet, or simply an exclusive seat directly by the window. A double seat, in which the center console can be retracted to transform it into a reclining surface for two, is also available.

“Allegris” brings new aircraft to Lufthansa

With “Allegris”, more than 80 brand-new Lufthansa aircraft, such as Boeing 787-9s, Airbus A350s and Boeing 777-9s, will fly to destinations around the world. Aircraft already in service with Lufthansa, such as the Boeing 747-8, will also be retrofitted. The simultaneous improvement of the travel experience in all classes and the replacement of more than 27,000 seats are unique in Lufthansa’s history. In this way, the company is underscoring its clear premium and quality claim. By 2025, the Lufthansa Group will invest a total of 2.5 billion euros in product and service.

Airlines

S7 Group Begins Fan Blade Production for Western Engine Models

The privately-owned Russian aerospace giant S7 Group has reportedly commenced production of blades for Western-built aero engines at its subsidiary, the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ), located in Novosibirsk.

This development, reported by the Russian aviation publication ATO.ru, marks a significant step for the company amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.BEMZ has started manufacturing composite fan blades compatible with jet turbine engines, including the CFM International CFM56, which powers popular aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

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The technology for restoring blades of gas turbine engines used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft was previously developed by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and is now being implemented in the production of new aircraft parts at BEMZ.

Currently, BEMZ focuses on producing parts essential for maintaining the airworthiness of civil aircraft. Over the past year and a half, the plant has manufactured approximately 3,500 structural elements and components for replacement on foreign aircraft, which are utilized by airlines such as S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Aurora, and Aeroflot.

The facility is undergoing expansion, with two stages of an investment program totaling 2 billion roubles already completed. These developments are likely geared toward producing blades for the CFM56 engines, which equip more than half of S7’s operational fleet, including 28 Airbus A320-family aircraft and 19 Boeing 737-800s.

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Vasily Yurchenko, CEO of Berdsk Electromechanical Plant, emphasized the shift in focus towards maintaining the airworthiness of the Western-made fleet. The plant has delivered thousands of components to S7 and other Russian carriers since 2022. Notably, according to Russia’s Air Operators Association, 89% of the country’s passengers in 2023 traveled aboard foreign-made aircraft.

Future plans include serious investments to transform the plant into a modern, high-tech aircraft manufacturing facility. In addition to engine blades, BEMZ is also known for producing various spare parts for aircraft, reinforcing its role in the Russian aviation industry as it adapts to new manufacturing needs.