FRANKFURT, Germany — Lufthansa has ended scheduled Airbus A340-600 passenger operations, closing a 23-year chapter for its distinctive four-engine long-haul jet.
The final service, LH419 from Washington, D.C., landed in Frankfurt on 19 October. Aircraft D-AIHW carried 267 passengers and 15 crew, according to the airline.
Lufthansa said some passengers had booked specifically for the farewell flight. Spotters gathered for its arrival, while passengers received commemorative booklets.
### A change of generation
The airline took delivery of its first A340-600 in November 2003 and operated 24 in total. Its early destinations included Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile.
The retirement forms part of a wider fleet overhaul, with the Airbus A350-1000 and additional Boeing 787s among the incoming aircraft. Lufthansa expects newer-generation types to account for 70% of its long-haul fleet by 2028.
That remains a fleet target. The completed milestone is the end of Lufthansa’s scheduled A340-600 service, rather than retirement of every A340 worldwide.