The Up Front
@theupfront.media
In-depth, independent aviation journalism for the digital age — up front with what we write, how we write it, and the way we operate.
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Aviation is an international business. But all politics is local.
So some of Safran's upcoming productions plans are brave, from the perspective of French political observers.
Or, at least — and not to mix any Angevin metaphors — that's what Sir Humphrey would say.
So some of Safran's upcoming productions plans are brave, from the perspective of French political observers.
Or, at least — and not to mix any Angevin metaphors — that's what Sir Humphrey would say.
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Aviation is an international business. But all politics is local.
So some of Safran's upcoming productions plans are brave, from the perspective of French political observers.
Or, at least — and not to mix any Angevin metaphors — that's what Sir Humphrey would say.
So some of Safran's upcoming productions plans are brave, from the perspective of French political observers.
Or, at least — and not to mix any Angevin metaphors — that's what Sir Humphrey would say.
JA BITTE.
Lufthansa's fantastic 100th anniversary livery will be painted on SIX aircraft types — the 787, 747-8, A380, A350-1000, A350-900 and A320neo.
More of this please.
Lufthansa's fantastic 100th anniversary livery will be painted on SIX aircraft types — the 787, 747-8, A380, A350-1000, A350-900 and A320neo.
More of this please.
November 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
JA BITTE.
Lufthansa's fantastic 100th anniversary livery will be painted on SIX aircraft types — the 787, 747-8, A380, A350-1000, A350-900 and A320neo.
More of this please.
Lufthansa's fantastic 100th anniversary livery will be painted on SIX aircraft types — the 787, 747-8, A380, A350-1000, A350-900 and A320neo.
More of this please.
Tomorrow we continue our series on the true story of Pan Am California Clipper's remarkable, forced circumnavigation of the globe in WW2.
In India, with Christmas looming, it's hard for the crew's thoughts not to turn to the families waiting for them at home. theupfront.media/the-long-way...
In India, with Christmas looming, it's hard for the crew's thoughts not to turn to the families waiting for them at home. theupfront.media/the-long-way...
November 20, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Tomorrow we continue our series on the true story of Pan Am California Clipper's remarkable, forced circumnavigation of the globe in WW2.
In India, with Christmas looming, it's hard for the crew's thoughts not to turn to the families waiting for them at home. theupfront.media/the-long-way...
In India, with Christmas looming, it's hard for the crew's thoughts not to turn to the families waiting for them at home. theupfront.media/the-long-way...
A sneak look at the next in our series on the extraordinary round-the-world flight of the California Clipper during WW2.
Our crew must work out how you can fly a Boeing 314 on regular grade gasoline.
And they must work it out over the Indian Ocean.
Start here: theupfront.media/the-long-way...
Our crew must work out how you can fly a Boeing 314 on regular grade gasoline.
And they must work it out over the Indian Ocean.
Start here: theupfront.media/the-long-way...
November 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
A sneak look at the next in our series on the extraordinary round-the-world flight of the California Clipper during WW2.
Our crew must work out how you can fly a Boeing 314 on regular grade gasoline.
And they must work it out over the Indian Ocean.
Start here: theupfront.media/the-long-way...
Our crew must work out how you can fly a Boeing 314 on regular grade gasoline.
And they must work it out over the Indian Ocean.
Start here: theupfront.media/the-long-way...
The piece is also quite the nearly 6,000-word romp through more than 20 years of Lufthansa's onboard product — from the old blue Recaro 6510 slopey sleepers to the Collins Diamond "footsie class", to "Lifthansa" and now Allegris.
theupfront.media/a-coda-for-a...
theupfront.media/a-coda-for-a...
October 16, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The piece is also quite the nearly 6,000-word romp through more than 20 years of Lufthansa's onboard product — from the old blue Recaro 6510 slopey sleepers to the Collins Diamond "footsie class", to "Lifthansa" and now Allegris.
theupfront.media/a-coda-for-a...
theupfront.media/a-coda-for-a...
This meme is the limit of "AI" in aviation in any meaningful way, on at least a ten-year horizon.
It's useful technology! Airline or ground services company can connect it to other systems and really useful information or even trigger alerts!
But it's not what the grifters are selling as "AI".
It's useful technology! Airline or ground services company can connect it to other systems and really useful information or even trigger alerts!
But it's not what the grifters are selling as "AI".
!["is this a pigeon" meme, but it's a pushback tug instead of a butterfly, and it says "is this a [catering truck?]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreicumrivlg3tubrerlbwjnj5db26xvnt3yml4gtic44ptfdb7ffbaq@jpeg)
October 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM
This meme is the limit of "AI" in aviation in any meaningful way, on at least a ten-year horizon.
It's useful technology! Airline or ground services company can connect it to other systems and really useful information or even trigger alerts!
But it's not what the grifters are selling as "AI".
It's useful technology! Airline or ground services company can connect it to other systems and really useful information or even trigger alerts!
But it's not what the grifters are selling as "AI".
October 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
So, we're not saying that we've seen the new JSX faux-retro livery before.
Only…
…is Cold War East Germany really the market vibes JSX is going for?
Only…
…is Cold War East Germany really the market vibes JSX is going for?
October 6, 2025 at 7:35 AM
So, we're not saying that we've seen the new JSX faux-retro livery before.
Only…
…is Cold War East Germany really the market vibes JSX is going for?
Only…
…is Cold War East Germany really the market vibes JSX is going for?
Because of this history, Lufthansa's hubs are in the #5 (Frankfurt) and #4 (Munich) metro areas of its home country.
Sure, Frankfurt has finance, and Munich has business (also leberkäse), but Air France's main hub isn't in Bordeaux, and BA's isn't in Liverpool.
Sure, Frankfurt has finance, and Munich has business (also leberkäse), but Air France's main hub isn't in Bordeaux, and BA's isn't in Liverpool.
![Screenshot: Today, even in pure city terms (rather than the more accurate metropolitan area ranking) Berlin and Hamburg are larger than Munich. Cologne is next, then Frankfurt. That doesn’t even take into account the size and importance of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region, which includes Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn and a dozen or so other sizeable cities adding up to around 11 million people. That’s nearly twice the population of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region.
[An overhead view from an airplane of Frankfurt, with the main railway station and small skyscraper district in the centre. Caption: While Frankfurt's airport is the Lufthansa Group's main hub, its actual metropolitan catchment area is small relative to other European hubs, or indeed German metro areas. Image: John Walton]
Lufthansa-the-airline used to operate some point-to-point flights from some other cities, but it closed its last non-FRA/MUC longhaul base at Düsseldorf over a decade ago. It also no longer operates Lufthansa flights from non-FRA/MUC bases on a regular basis.
What that’s meant for the vast majority of Germans (47 million out of the 58 million people who live in a German metropolitan area, of a total population of 80 million) is that their airport does not have nonstops to anywhere that isn’t Frankfurt or Munich on Lufthansa.
Lufthansa doesn’t get the nonstop boost to being an airline of choice that having a home hub in a largest/capital city would bring it, because prospective passengers have to connect in Munich or Frankfurt.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreicxe2ihfn7w4zzhwqne2gakblnhvak2msflcnluva6kfqoa772cna@jpeg)
October 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Because of this history, Lufthansa's hubs are in the #5 (Frankfurt) and #4 (Munich) metro areas of its home country.
Sure, Frankfurt has finance, and Munich has business (also leberkäse), but Air France's main hub isn't in Bordeaux, and BA's isn't in Liverpool.
Sure, Frankfurt has finance, and Munich has business (also leberkäse), but Air France's main hub isn't in Bordeaux, and BA's isn't in Liverpool.
One of the things people often forget about Lufthansa — as they pelt down Frankfurt Airport's interminably bleak corridors, or glide through the Lufthansa-co-owned terminal at Munich Airport designed for efficiency — is that it is a product of history.
German history.
*West* German history.
German history.
*West* German history.
October 4, 2025 at 7:56 PM
One of the things people often forget about Lufthansa — as they pelt down Frankfurt Airport's interminably bleak corridors, or glide through the Lufthansa-co-owned terminal at Munich Airport designed for efficiency — is that it is a product of history.
German history.
*West* German history.
German history.
*West* German history.
FICE/Allegris/Swiss Senses first class suite goes floor-to-ceiling now apparently.
Except it LITERALLY DOES NOT, there is a VISIBLE SPACE, in Swiss' OWN VIDEO.
Also, there are only 5 types of FICE business seat now? LH previously said 7, but used to show 8. (I count 11 with actual differences.)
Except it LITERALLY DOES NOT, there is a VISIBLE SPACE, in Swiss' OWN VIDEO.
Also, there are only 5 types of FICE business seat now? LH previously said 7, but used to show 8. (I count 11 with actual differences.)
![Slide segment: • Landmark First Class suite
[Allegris F image]
First Class suite with
lockable doors and
floor-to-ceiling walls for
maximum privacy
• Broad seat choice in Business Class
[Alllegris J overhead layout]
Five distinct Business
Class seat types,
offering customers
maximum choice
• Innovative seat
reservation system
[picture of laptop and phone]
Advanced seat reservation
system for personalized
choices & optimized
monetization](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreifwhjwduc4u4g5w46tuwfyrhflod2lqlqttwzfulk22uof4nxqpg4@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
FICE/Allegris/Swiss Senses first class suite goes floor-to-ceiling now apparently.
Except it LITERALLY DOES NOT, there is a VISIBLE SPACE, in Swiss' OWN VIDEO.
Also, there are only 5 types of FICE business seat now? LH previously said 7, but used to show 8. (I count 11 with actual differences.)
Except it LITERALLY DOES NOT, there is a VISIBLE SPACE, in Swiss' OWN VIDEO.
Also, there are only 5 types of FICE business seat now? LH previously said 7, but used to show 8. (I count 11 with actual differences.)
The idea that Swiss Senses and Lufthansa Allegris are in any way "do it once" — unless "do it" is "actually get it certified on one of the 9 aircraft types it needs to be on by 2030" — is patently risible.
I mean, they *literally* did it twice in terms of all the colour, materials and finish.
I mean, they *literally* did it twice in terms of all the colour, materials and finish.
![Slide: Swiss Senses & Lufthansa Allegris: group-led innovation, locally tailored
• Group-led innovation "do-it-once" [Allegris image]
• Distinct local touch tailored to local market [Swiss Senses image]
• Flexibly adjusted configurations aligned with market demand [Swiss A350 image]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreifgegi4bvdwhao6gtkbsker2lssaogcasujctdmqyj2gpdt3pckmq@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The idea that Swiss Senses and Lufthansa Allegris are in any way "do it once" — unless "do it" is "actually get it certified on one of the 9 aircraft types it needs to be on by 2030" — is patently risible.
I mean, they *literally* did it twice in terms of all the colour, materials and finish.
I mean, they *literally* did it twice in terms of all the colour, materials and finish.
We now come to the "Premium Customer Offering" section of the Capital Markets Day, which — as you might well imagine — feels the most divorced from reality.
"Lufthansa Group leads in high margin premium segment", it says, and I don't know when that was last true, but it certainly isn't today.
"Lufthansa Group leads in high margin premium segment", it says, and I don't know when that was last true, but it certainly isn't today.
![Premium customer offering slide — " Lufthansa Group leads in high margin premium segment”
Leading in premium and RASK: Highest pax share of higher margin
premium long-haul traffic
Highest revenue per ASK in 2024
• Product experience
In-flight experience with
reimagined cabins and elevated
comfort
Full roll-out until 2030
[Allegris image]
• Airport experience
Industry-leading hub operations
with premium service and lounges
[MUC/FCO/FRA/ZRH Skytrax nonsense badges]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreifljjsixnbahutfamjze7pqakzlmpjyhjur35dzny3fyhrckqwcne@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 10:55 AM
We now come to the "Premium Customer Offering" section of the Capital Markets Day, which — as you might well imagine — feels the most divorced from reality.
"Lufthansa Group leads in high margin premium segment", it says, and I don't know when that was last true, but it certainly isn't today.
"Lufthansa Group leads in high margin premium segment", it says, and I don't know when that was last true, but it certainly isn't today.
Just one example, catering, from 2024–25, on:
• Austrian-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa-operated Lufthansa
• airBaltic-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa City-operated Lufthansa
What is uniquely and differently German vs Austrian about these meals? Why do they need to be different for LH/OS?
• Austrian-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa-operated Lufthansa
• airBaltic-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa City-operated Lufthansa
What is uniquely and differently German vs Austrian about these meals? Why do they need to be different for LH/OS?
September 29, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Just one example, catering, from 2024–25, on:
• Austrian-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa-operated Lufthansa
• airBaltic-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa City-operated Lufthansa
What is uniquely and differently German vs Austrian about these meals? Why do they need to be different for LH/OS?
• Austrian-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa-operated Lufthansa
• airBaltic-operated Austrian
• Lufthansa City-operated Lufthansa
What is uniquely and differently German vs Austrian about these meals? Why do they need to be different for LH/OS?
Brass tacks: the bit at the top of the slide is what LHG is going to be consolidating between all its airlines.
The five bits at the bottom are why it has 9 airline brands:
• Marketing
• Branding
• Hub
• Cabin Crew
• Catering
Is that enough? (No, in our opinion.)
The five bits at the bottom are why it has 9 airline brands:
• Marketing
• Branding
• Hub
• Cabin Crew
• Catering
Is that enough? (No, in our opinion.)
September 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Brass tacks: the bit at the top of the slide is what LHG is going to be consolidating between all its airlines.
The five bits at the bottom are why it has 9 airline brands:
• Marketing
• Branding
• Hub
• Cabin Crew
• Catering
Is that enough? (No, in our opinion.)
The five bits at the bottom are why it has 9 airline brands:
• Marketing
• Branding
• Hub
• Cabin Crew
• Catering
Is that enough? (No, in our opinion.)
SPOTTED: tucked away in a small image, Lufthansa seems to be planning a "Lufthansa Group Lounge" product, crane logo and all.
This would make sense for multi-group-airline outstations, like the US or LHR, where LH might be the minority of Group flights, but would have real branding implications.
This would make sense for multi-group-airline outstations, like the US or LHR, where LH might be the minority of Group flights, but would have real branding implications.
September 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM
SPOTTED: tucked away in a small image, Lufthansa seems to be planning a "Lufthansa Group Lounge" product, crane logo and all.
This would make sense for multi-group-airline outstations, like the US or LHR, where LH might be the minority of Group flights, but would have real branding implications.
This would make sense for multi-group-airline outstations, like the US or LHR, where LH might be the minority of Group flights, but would have real branding implications.
We'll skip through some more slides on commercial steering — this part of the consolidation basically means LH is making its airlines work more closely together.
But if LH thinks the Lufthansa Group brand is strong — let alone that premium customer offering — I don't know what to tell it.
But if LH thinks the Lufthansa Group brand is strong — let alone that premium customer offering — I don't know what to tell it.
September 29, 2025 at 10:23 AM
We'll skip through some more slides on commercial steering — this part of the consolidation basically means LH is making its airlines work more closely together.
But if LH thinks the Lufthansa Group brand is strong — let alone that premium customer offering — I don't know what to tell it.
But if LH thinks the Lufthansa Group brand is strong — let alone that premium customer offering — I don't know what to tell it.
Skipping a few slides on ITA integration here. Basically:
• low cost base
• already restructured
• fleet commonality
• Rome is an "attractive 5-star hub", and you know how much Manager Magazine's 2017 Manager of the Year Carsten Spohr LOVES a Skytrax 5-star rating
• low cost base
• already restructured
• fleet commonality
• Rome is an "attractive 5-star hub", and you know how much Manager Magazine's 2017 Manager of the Year Carsten Spohr LOVES a Skytrax 5-star rating
September 29, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Skipping a few slides on ITA integration here. Basically:
• low cost base
• already restructured
• fleet commonality
• Rome is an "attractive 5-star hub", and you know how much Manager Magazine's 2017 Manager of the Year Carsten Spohr LOVES a Skytrax 5-star rating
• low cost base
• already restructured
• fleet commonality
• Rome is an "attractive 5-star hub", and you know how much Manager Magazine's 2017 Manager of the Year Carsten Spohr LOVES a Skytrax 5-star rating
Awful Buzzword Bingo — "group-level synergy realization" — but there's an excellent overview chart of where Lufthansa (thinks it) is and where it wants to be.
(Mind you, if I were an investor I'd have BIG QUESTIONS about why so much of what should already be on the right side of chart 2 is not.)
(Mind you, if I were an investor I'd have BIG QUESTIONS about why so much of what should already be on the right side of chart 2 is not.)
September 29, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Awful Buzzword Bingo — "group-level synergy realization" — but there's an excellent overview chart of where Lufthansa (thinks it) is and where it wants to be.
(Mind you, if I were an investor I'd have BIG QUESTIONS about why so much of what should already be on the right side of chart 2 is not.)
(Mind you, if I were an investor I'd have BIG QUESTIONS about why so much of what should already be on the right side of chart 2 is not.)
Not included in this pack in any real way: any mention of Lufthansa's 50/50 (with Turkish) joint venture airline SunExpress, whose route network has a LOT of potential for the point-to-point markets in DACH.
www.flightroutes.com/XQ
www.flightroutes.com/XQ
September 29, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Not included in this pack in any real way: any mention of Lufthansa's 50/50 (with Turkish) joint venture airline SunExpress, whose route network has a LOT of potential for the point-to-point markets in DACH.
www.flightroutes.com/XQ
www.flightroutes.com/XQ
"Nothing beats a Je—" *pulled off stage by hook*
European outbound leisure is *massive*, and fundamentally different from US leisure (not least because we get 6 weeks of holidays).
On the premium side, there's a crest of well-to-do Euroboomers coming who have 20+ years of retirement coming too.
European outbound leisure is *massive*, and fundamentally different from US leisure (not least because we get 6 weeks of holidays).
On the premium side, there's a crest of well-to-do Euroboomers coming who have 20+ years of retirement coming too.
![Slide: In 10 years,
Lufthansa Group has
tripled its share of
touristic offer
25%
vs. only 8% in 2015
Combined Fleet
20 Widebody A/C
149 Narrowbody A/C
EW Holidays leveraging
asset-light leisure
growth
Discover Airlines
New complementary
touristic + secondary
market offer
Edelweiss
Strong expansion of
network to new holiday
destinations
Only European airline
group with dedicated
long-haul touristic
airlines from hubs
Strong margin
contribution across
all three airlines
[discover logo, Eurowings logo, Edelweiss logo]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreifwh6qeumf2467j4eq5e6lg6yervb2n2ismu57kkjlgnxuj75j7uq@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 9:21 AM
"Nothing beats a Je—" *pulled off stage by hook*
European outbound leisure is *massive*, and fundamentally different from US leisure (not least because we get 6 weeks of holidays).
On the premium side, there's a crest of well-to-do Euroboomers coming who have 20+ years of retirement coming too.
European outbound leisure is *massive*, and fundamentally different from US leisure (not least because we get 6 weeks of holidays).
On the premium side, there's a crest of well-to-do Euroboomers coming who have 20+ years of retirement coming too.
Skipping past the delusion of "loyal, affluent passengers" driving high yields for Lufthansa, I can't let the idea of a "consistent premium experience" go by.
Not only does the Group not have consistency, but even Lufthansa has lost the consistency it once had, with no plans to get it back.
Not only does the Group not have consistency, but even Lufthansa has lost the consistency it once had, with no plans to get it back.
![Slide title: Premium, multi-hub model creates value for shareholders
Subhed: Local brand strength & leadership
[Pic of DE-BE-CH-AT-IT with the hub airlines]
Fully capitalizing on local high-
value demand: High yields from
loyal, affluent passengers
Subhed: Unmatched connectivity
[Image of NYC-ATH with connections via:
BRU
FRA
NYC
ZRH
VIE
MUC
GVA
FCO
ATH
Best option for many Europe-
World streams – yield & load
optimization through hub system
Subhed: Consistent premium experience
[Overhead pic of Allegris cabin identifying seat types]
Top-notch customer satisfaction
driving loyalty and premium yield
profile](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6neozl3pgi7pn2byzjvggpas/bafkreiapdwk7l2rig3f47fpliobr7ztampiypmls6jexxvox2wnkytlxm4@jpeg)
September 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Skipping past the delusion of "loyal, affluent passengers" driving high yields for Lufthansa, I can't let the idea of a "consistent premium experience" go by.
Not only does the Group not have consistency, but even Lufthansa has lost the consistency it once had, with no plans to get it back.
Not only does the Group not have consistency, but even Lufthansa has lost the consistency it once had, with no plans to get it back.
Want more detail on what's going on with Lufthansa?
We've got you covered on The Up Front, including the FOX — "Future Onboard Experience" — that Lufthansa hopes will transform its premium cabins.
theupfront.media/tag/lufthansa/
We've got you covered on The Up Front, including the FOX — "Future Onboard Experience" — that Lufthansa hopes will transform its premium cabins.
theupfront.media/tag/lufthansa/
September 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Want more detail on what's going on with Lufthansa?
We've got you covered on The Up Front, including the FOX — "Future Onboard Experience" — that Lufthansa hopes will transform its premium cabins.
theupfront.media/tag/lufthansa/
We've got you covered on The Up Front, including the FOX — "Future Onboard Experience" — that Lufthansa hopes will transform its premium cabins.
theupfront.media/tag/lufthansa/
Lots of focus on lower-cost, non-hub, point-to-point Eurowings, which has 30–40% seat capacity share in CGN, DUS, HAM, STR.
This "strategic initiatives" slide is rather sus, though. Who knew the 737 MAX 8 had 1000km more range than the A320neo? (It doesn't.)
This "strategic initiatives" slide is rather sus, though. Who knew the 737 MAX 8 had 1000km more range than the A320neo? (It doesn't.)
September 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Lots of focus on lower-cost, non-hub, point-to-point Eurowings, which has 30–40% seat capacity share in CGN, DUS, HAM, STR.
This "strategic initiatives" slide is rather sus, though. Who knew the 737 MAX 8 had 1000km more range than the A320neo? (It doesn't.)
This "strategic initiatives" slide is rather sus, though. Who knew the 737 MAX 8 had 1000km more range than the A320neo? (It doesn't.)
🚨 #avgeek and spotter klaxon: Lufthansa Group fleet planning: nothing really new here, but the reitrement dates for the 346, 332, 763, 744, 343 and 772 are all included.
Note the big question-mark at the A380 as well.
Note the big question-mark at the A380 as well.
September 29, 2025 at 8:05 AM
🚨 #avgeek and spotter klaxon: Lufthansa Group fleet planning: nothing really new here, but the reitrement dates for the 346, 332, 763, 744, 343 and 772 are all included.
Note the big question-mark at the A380 as well.
Note the big question-mark at the A380 as well.