Lufthansa is to start a cabin refurbishment programme on its fleet of Boeing 747-400s, with particular emphasis on its first-class product.
The airline says it aims to follow the standards set when it introduced its new Airbus A380s in 2010. With this in mind, it is reducing the number of seats in the 747-400's first-class cabin to eight from 16, with each passenger also having a separate, full-length, lie-flat bed. Sound-absorbing curtains and underfloor sound-deadening insulation will be added to minimise noise.
Seats in the cabin will be equipped with new, 17in (43cm) entertainment monitors.
The German carrier says it aims to refurbish 10 of its B747-400s to the new pattern between April and November this year. All remaining 747-400s will have their cabins reduced to eight seats within the current configuration from May 2011, with the seat next to passengers kept free to give them more space.
Lufthansa has a fleet of 23 747-400s, plus a further six 747-400 Combis, according to Flight's ACAS database.
Elsewhere in the aircraft, business class and economy class cabins will have refreshed entrance areas and new toilets, while the new economy class seats being introduced throughout the fleet will provide passengers with an additional 2in of personal space and legroom.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
