Boeing Delivers First Airline Intercontinental to Lufthansa

Boeing signed over the first 747-8 Intercontinental passenger airliner to Lufthansa today, ahead of a May 1 flight to its Frankfurt base. The manufacturer has now delivered three Intercontinentals, including two VIP airplanes, and 14 freighter variants to another five customers.

Boeing expects to accelerate production from 1.5 to two of the GEnx-2B-powered aircraft per month this summer in an effort to meet its delivery target of between 35 and 42 airplanes by the end of the year.  Lufthansa, meanwhile, confirmed to AIN that its first Intercontinental revenue flight will connect Frankfurt and Washington Dulles International Airport some time in early summer. It expects to take delivery of its full complement of twenty 747-8Is by 2015.