Lufthansa’s First Airbus A350-1000 Arrives in Special Centennial Livery
Lufthansa is preparing to expand its special anniversary fleet with the arrival of a highly significant new aircraft. In the coming weeks, the airline is set to welcome its first Airbus A350-1000, a long-haul aircraft that carries both a distinctive commemorative design and an important milestone in the history of the Lufthansa Group.
The aircraft has already completed one of the most visually prominent stages of its preparation. At Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France, the A350-1000 was painted in Lufthansa’s special anniversary livery, created to celebrate the airline’s 100th anniversary in 2026. The aircraft features the airline’s signature blue color, complemented by a large white crane emblem and the anniversary markings “1926 | 2026” and “100.”
The striking design is intended to reflect Lufthansa’s century-long history while also highlighting the airline’s ongoing fleet modernization. The special livery has already generated considerable interest among aviation enthusiasts, passengers and plane spotters around the world, and the new A350-1000 is expected to attract even greater attention as the largest aircraft in Lufthansa’s current Airbus widebody fleet.
The painting process itself required substantial quantities of material. A total of 432 liters of blue paint and 246 liters of white paint were used to complete the aircraft’s special design. Applying the livery represents an important step in the aircraft’s journey toward entering commercial service, although several stages of preparation remain before the aircraft is officially handed over to Lufthansa.
The aircraft is scheduled to be transferred from Toulouse to Munich in the fall. Before that transfer can take place, the A350-1000 must complete several test flights and undergo additional work on its cabin interior. Lufthansa and Airbus will also carry out the final acceptance inspection before the aircraft is formally delivered to the airline.
The aircraft will carry the registration D-AIFA and is planned to bear the name “Deutschland.” An official naming ceremony is expected to take place at a later date. The naming will add another symbolic element to an aircraft that already holds a special place in the history of both Lufthansa and the Lufthansa Group.
The delivery is particularly significant because the aircraft will become the 700th aircraft Airbus has delivered to the Lufthansa Group. This milestone underlines the long-standing relationship between the airline group and the European aircraft manufacturer. Over decades, Airbus aircraft have become a central part of the Lufthansa Group’s fleet strategy, supporting the group’s operations across short-, medium- and long-haul markets.
The A350-1000 also represents an important expansion of Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet. Measuring 73.80 meters in length, the aircraft is seven meters longer than the Airbus A350-900. Its larger size provides additional capacity while retaining the efficiency benefits associated with Airbus’ A350 family.
Lufthansa’s A350-1000 will be configured to accommodate 300 passengers across four travel classes. The cabin will offer First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class, giving the airline the flexibility to serve a wide range of passenger segments on long-haul routes. The aircraft is designed to combine long-range capability with improved fuel efficiency and a modern passenger experience.
Lufthansa has ordered 15 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to continue through 2030. The aircraft are expected to play an increasingly important role in the airline’s long-term fleet modernization program. As older widebody aircraft are gradually retired, the A350-1000 will help Lufthansa operate larger and more efficient aircraft on selected international routes.
The arrival of the first A350-1000 will also strengthen the airline’s anniversary fleet. It will become the seventh aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet to wear the special livery celebrating the company’s 100-year history. The anniversary design has already been introduced across multiple aircraft types and segments of the fleet.
Among the long-haul aircraft already operating with the special design are an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A380, a Boeing 787-9, and a Boeing 747-8. The special anniversary livery has also been applied to two Airbus A320neo aircraft serving short- and medium-haul routes.
The decision to apply the design across a diverse range of aircraft reflects It’s desire to connect its historical identity with its modern fleet. From the iconic Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 to the next-generation A350 and A320neo, the special livery demonstrates the breadth of the airline’s operations and its evolution over the past century.
The anniversary markings are particularly meaningful because It’s history spans major transformations in the global aviation industry. Since its early years, the airline has witnessed the development of commercial air travel from a relatively limited mode of transportation into a worldwide network connecting millions of passengers every year.
The new A350-1000 therefore represents more than simply a new aircraft delivery. Its arrival combines a major fleet milestone, a significant Airbus delivery milestone and a celebration of It’s centenary. The aircraft’s “Deutschland” name, D-AIFA registration and commemorative design are all expected to make it one of the most recognizable aircraft in the airline’s fleet.
Once the remaining test flights, interior work and final inspection have been completed, the aircraft will make its way to Munich. From there, It will prepare the A350-1000 for its future role in the airline’s long-haul network.
The aircraft is expected to attract significant attention from aviation enthusiasts even before it begins commercial operations. Special liveries have long been popular among plane spotters and passengers, particularly when they mark important milestones in an airline’s history. It’s centenary design has already generated strong interest worldwide, and the arrival of the first A350-1000 is likely to further increase that enthusiasm.
As It moves toward its 100th anniversary in 2026, the new aircraft serves as a visual representation of the airline’s past, present and future. The historic “1926 | 2026” markings acknowledge the company’s century of aviation history, while the Airbus A350-1000 reflects the next phase of its fleet development.
With 15 aircraft planned for delivery by 2030, the A350-1000 is set to become an important part of Lufthansa’s future long-haul strategy. The first aircraft, however, will remain unique because of its special anniversary livery and its place as the 700th Airbus aircraft delivered to the It Group.
For It, the aircraft’s arrival will be a landmark moment in a year already defined by a major historical celebration. For Airbus, it will mark another milestone in a long-running partnership with one of Europe’s leading airlines. And for passengers and aviation enthusiasts, the aircraft will offer a striking new addition to the skies—combining modern long-haul technology with a distinctive design celebrating 100 years of Lufthansa.
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