Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) is in discussions with Boeing over which of the first-built B777-9s it would accept into service, with the German airline seeking financial compensation from the OEM if it takes early-production jets requiring later modifications.

This was the word from Group CEO Carsten Spohr during a recent second-quarter 2026 earnings call, when he likened Lufthansa's position to that of Emirates, which has publicly said it does not want the earliest B777-9s because of the extensive work needed to bring them to final production standard.

"Like our friends in Dubai, we are in talks with Boeing about which of these airplanes we will not be accepting for commercial service and which of these aircraft will be able to be modernised. And then, of course, with the financial contribution of Boeing, we would be willing to take," Spohr said.

He said Lufthansa was less public about the issue than Emirates, but described the issue as essentially the same.

Spohr's comments followed a question by an industry analyst whether Lufthansa, as a launch customer of the B777-9, was comfortable accepting the first-built aircraft after Emirates indicated it did not want the earliest examples.

Contingency plans

Spohr said Boeing continues to target summer 2027 as the entry into service date for the B777-9, with the first deliveries expected in the first quarter of 2027.

However, he said, Lufthansa has contingency plans should the already delayed widebody programme slip again.

Spohr said the airline group has prepared for two scenarios: one in which the B777-9 enters service as planned; and another where additional delays force it to continue operating older aircraft types.

"If there are further delays, we would reactivate A340-300s, which we have kept for this purpose to cover the network," he explained.

Spohr pointed out that Lufthansa's published schedules currently assume that the A340-300 will remain in service because that presents the more reliable planning assumption until Boeing's delivery timetable becomes more certain.

Lufthansa has twenty B777-9s, the first member of the B777X family, on order, according to ch-aviation data, while Emirates's order totals 235 B777-9s, plus thirty-five B777-8s, according to ch-aviation data.

In July, Boeing announced the B777‑9 programme had passed the halfway mark in certification testing and was focused on finalising the remaining regulatory steps ahead of the first deliveries in 2027. This included obtaining approval to begin extended operations (ETOPS) demonstrations. The OEM said the B777-9 programme so far has logged more than 4,800 flight test hours across the B777-9 test fleet. In total, more than 650 B777X aircraft have been ordered, the manufacturer said.