It's a soap opera that Lufthansa would willingly have forgone: certification by the FAA, the American civil aviation authorities, of Allegris seats on its business class. This had initially started with the Airbus A350-900. The new cabin, launched in summer 2024, had received approval from the Americans concerning Allegris but not for the new First cabin. Barely resolved, Lufthansa had to face a refusal of approval from the same authorities for the Allegris seat on its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
A position that would seem irrational at first glance. However, the Allegris seating on the 787-9 does not come from the same manufacturer as that on the A350. Furthermore, the FAA must certify each seat for safety reasons. This ultimately explains why, in an initial version, the FAA had only approved the first row of Allegris seats on the Boeing 787-9. That's nine in total! This time is (almost) the one. 25 out of 28 seats have finally received the "blessing" of the Americans.
On Sunday 15 March 2026, the Dreamliner named "Potsdam" made its first certified flight from Frankfurt to Toronto with all its Business Allegris seats operational. The eight other 787-9s equipped with this cabin have begun service with the Allegris cabin or will do so by 18 March. Passengers can now book these premium seats on all available routes.
15 Boeing 787-9 destinations in the Allegris cabin this summer
Until the end of the month, the Lufthansa B787-9 already serves Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Austin, Hyderabad, Bombay and Toronto. With the start of the summer schedule on March 29, Lufthansa will add Austin, Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Cape Town, Shanghai, Hyderabad and Hong Kong to the 787-9's schedule. From June onwards, New York-JFK and Los Angeles will also be offered, followed by Delhi in July. All these flights depart from Frankfurt.
Passengers can select their Allegris Business Class seat when booking their flight. The Classic Seat remains free and offers all the advantages and comfort of this new class. For business travellers looking for even greater comfort, there are a number of paying options available: Business Class Suite, Extra Space Seat, Privacy Seat or Extra Long Bed with a 2.20 metre reclining surface.
To date, ten aircraft have arrived, nine are in service, and Lufthansa plans to have 29 Boeing 787-9s by the end of 2027.
