## Lufthansa Allegedly Disposing of Two Boeing 747-8s
Lufthansa maintains a fleet comprising 19 Boeing 747-8s. The airline stands as one of just three operators of the passenger variant of this aircraft (with Air China and Korean Air being the others), and as an aviation enthusiast, I’m always pleased to see these jets maintaining a lasting presence in Lufthansa’s fleet, which are now receiving new (albeit unusual) interiors.
Nonetheless, the fleet may soon be slightly less extensive than expected. JonNYC reports that Lufthansa is gearing up to sell two Boeing 747-8s, a claim that is supported by this trustworthy Lufthansa fleet tracking resource.
In particular, it seems that the 13-year-old aircraft with the registration number D-ABYD is set to exit the fleet in January 2026, while the 12-year-old aircraft with the registration number D-ABYG is expected to depart in the third quarter of 2026.
If this information holds true, Lufthansa’s long-term Boeing 747-8 fleet will likely be reduced to 17 aircraft.
## Are These Jumbo Jets Destined for the US Air Force?
What stands out about this situation is that we were aware Lufthansa intended to retain all of its Boeing 747-8s for the foreseeable future, even planning to retrofit them. Therefore, the airline’s decision to suddenly part with a couple of these jets is unexpected.
Moreover, which entity would have interest in acquiring a pair of used Boeing 747s? Generally, when airlines attempt to sell pre-owned wide-body aircraft, it doesn’t conclude favorably, often resulting in minimal interest or significant losses. Thus, it seems plausible that Lufthansa received an offer too enticing to decline.
In this context, reports indicate these aircraft could be headed to the US Air Force. Why? I cannot ascertain the reason, but it does provoke curiosity about possible connections to replacements for Air Force One.
While President Trump has plans to utilize a Boeing 747-8 gifted from Qatar as a temporary Air Force One (due to dissatisfaction with the outdated modified 747-200 currently in use), the long-term strategy for the Air Force One fleet includes an update with two new Boeing 747-8s, which will certainly be heavily modified. However, this project has faced delays—originally slated for delivery in 2024, the timeline has now been pushed to 2028, at the earliest.
Two 747-8s—Boeing line numbers 1519 and 1523—were initially designated for Russia’s now-defunct Transaero but were never delivered. These were the aircraft intended to serve as Air Force One. I’m uncertain whether there were issues with those jets or if plans have simply shifted.
Interestingly, the news about Lufthansa selling these two Boeing 747-8s aligns with the announcement that the Air Force One project has experienced further delays, raising the question of whether these developments might be interconnected. After all, we are discussing Lufthansa’s sale of two 747s, the very same number of jets that will serve as Air Force One.
So we’ll consider this situation “developing” for the time being, but that’s my conjecture…
## Conclusion
Lufthansa is allegedly disposing of two Boeing 747-8s, which means its long-term fleet will now include just 17 of these aircraft instead of the original 19. It’s uncommon for an airline to decrease its fleet in this manner, given the challenges associated with selling used wide-body planes. The prevailing theory is that these jets are intended for the US Air Force, although further details remain elusive. Could this be related to Air Force One replacements?
**What are your thoughts on this Lufthansa jumbo jet situation?**