Lufthansa’s last scheduled Airbus A340-600 flight carried 267 passengers and 15 crew members from Washington Dulles to Frankfurt — and many passengers bought tickets for the farewell itself, the airline said.
Lufthansa’s last scheduled Airbus A340-600 flight landed in Frankfurt on Monday after an overnight trip from Washington Dulles International Airport, ending the four-engine jet’s nearly 23-year run with the German airline.
Lufthansa said in its farewell announcement that Flight LH419, flown by the aircraft registered D-AIHW, carried 267 passengers and 15 crew members. Every passenger received a farewell booklet, the airline said.
The flight left Dulles on Sunday, Oct. 18, and reached Frankfurt Airport on Monday, Oct. 19. Lufthansa said the crossing took eight hours and five minutes and arrived on schedule.
The aviation trade publication AeroTime reported before the flight that LH419 was scheduled to depart at 5:55 p.m. and arrive at 7:55 a.m., local time.
Why Lufthansa Is Retiring the A340-600
The farewell follows a plan Lufthansa Group laid out April 16. In that company announcement, the group linked a faster rollout of fleet and capacity measures to higher fuel costs and the burden of labor disputes. It also scheduled its last four A340-600s to leave the fleet in October.
Reuters reported the four-aircraft withdrawal plan the same day.
Lufthansa Group said the early retirement of older aircraft types fits its strategy of cutting the number of different sub-fleets as quickly as possible.
AeroTime reported that additional Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-900s had supported the withdrawal of the older jets.
In its final months, the A340-600 flew mainly from Frankfurt to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles, AeroTime reported.
Inside the Lufthansa A340-600’s Last Flight
Francesco Sciortino, Lufthansa Airlines Board Member and Hub Manager Frankfurt, served as captain of the final flight.
“We will never forget this last flight with the A340-600,” Sciortino said in the airline’s announcement.
Sciortino also said Lufthansa is preparing for the largest fleet modernization in its history, with latest-generation aircraft that are quieter, more efficient and more comfortable taking the A340-600’s place.
Lufthansa said passengers applauded on board and spectators awaited the aircraft’s arrival. Many passengers bought tickets specifically for the farewell, the airline said.
According to AeroTime, D-AIHW was one of Lufthansa’s last four A340-600s, along with D-AIHX, D-AIHY and D-AIHZ.
Four-Engine Flying Continues at Lufthansa
The farewell ends Lufthansa’s scheduled A340-600 passenger service, but not its four-engine operations. AeroTime reported that the airline continues to fly Airbus A340-300s, Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.
The A340-300 is a different variant of the same jet family. Lufthansa said in Monday’s announcement that it plans to retire the A340-300 by 2027.
A Nearly 23-Year Run
Lufthansa took delivery of its first A340-600, registered D-AIHB, on Nov. 25, 2003, according to the airline.
AeroTime reported that the carrier introduced the type in 2003 and ultimately operated 24 of the jets, each powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 500-series engines.
Sciortino said in the announcement that the A340-600 carried more than 40 million passengers during its years at Lufthansa.
What Comes Next for Lufthansa’s Long-Haul Fleet
Lufthansa said Monday it is targeting next-generation aircraft to make up 70% of its long-haul fleet by 2028.
In an Oct. 15 fleet announcement, Lufthansa said its first Airbus A350-1000 would be ferried from Toulouse, France, to Munich in mid-November, with its first scheduled passenger flight to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport set for Dec. 3.
The Lufthansa Group has 15 A350-1000s on order for delivery through 2030, with the first 10 assigned to Lufthansa at Munich, according to the same release.
Airbus says the A350 offers a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide emissions over previous-generation competing aircraft. That figure is the manufacturer’s general comparison, not a measurement for any specific Lufthansa route.
Key Takeaways
- Lufthansa’s last scheduled Airbus A340-600 flight, LH419 from Washington Dulles, landed in Frankfurt on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
- Aircraft D-AIHW carried 267 passengers and 15 crew members; passengers received farewell booklets, Lufthansa said.
- Lufthansa Group scheduled the withdrawal in April, citing higher fuel costs and labor dispute burdens.
- Lufthansa still flies A340-300s, A380s and Boeing 747s, and plans to retire the A340-300 by 2027.
- Lufthansa’s first A350-1000 is set to make its first scheduled passenger flight, to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, on Dec. 3.