Lufthansa’s showcase ‘Allegris’ business-class cabin has hit an unexpected hurdle: the airline must keep 24 of the 28 seats on each newly delivered Boeing 787-9 closed to sales until at least mid-2026. Aviation.Direct reports that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has asked for additional crash-load tests on the innovative seat-mounting system developed by Collins Aerospace, delaying final certification.
Only four seats per aircraft can currently be sold, a precaution that avoids last-minute rebookings but slashes premium revenue on lucrative transatlantic routes. Internal estimates seen by industry analysts suggest lost turnover of up to €25,000 per flight. Lufthansa is exploring short-term fixes, including re-activating parked Airbus A340s to cover summer demand.
The Allegris programme is the largest cabin investment in the carrier’s history and central to its strategy of regaining ground against Middle-East and Asian rivals. The setback comes on top of a pandemic-era FAA backlog and the 2025 US government shutdown, both of which slowed certification pipelines.
![Safety Certification Delays Force Lufthansa to Block Most Business-Class Seats on New Dreamliners]()
For international passengers already juggling flight changes and equipment swaps, visa requirements can add another layer of complexity. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) streamlines German and worldwide visa processing, allowing travellers and corporate travel managers to secure the necessary documentation quickly while Lufthansa works through its certification delays.
Corporate travellers may experience equipment swaps and reduced upgrade availability through at least June. Travel managers are advised to monitor aircraft-type changes and renegotiate flat-rate seat deals where Allegris capacity was assumed.
Lufthansa says it still expects one-third of its intercontinental fleet to feature the new product by late 2026, but analysts caution that further FAA queries could shift that timeline.
Only four seats per aircraft can currently be sold, a precaution that avoids last-minute rebookings but slashes premium revenue on lucrative transatlantic routes. Internal estimates seen by industry analysts suggest lost turnover of up to €25,000 per flight. Lufthansa is exploring short-term fixes, including re-activating parked Airbus A340s to cover summer demand.
The Allegris programme is the largest cabin investment in the carrier’s history and central to its strategy of regaining ground against Middle-East and Asian rivals. The setback comes on top of a pandemic-era FAA backlog and the 2025 US government shutdown, both of which slowed certification pipelines.
For international passengers already juggling flight changes and equipment swaps, visa requirements can add another layer of complexity. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) streamlines German and worldwide visa processing, allowing travellers and corporate travel managers to secure the necessary documentation quickly while Lufthansa works through its certification delays.
Corporate travellers may experience equipment swaps and reduced upgrade availability through at least June. Travel managers are advised to monitor aircraft-type changes and renegotiate flat-rate seat deals where Allegris capacity was assumed.
Lufthansa says it still expects one-third of its intercontinental fleet to feature the new product by late 2026, but analysts caution that further FAA queries could shift that timeline.
