Lufthansa Technik readies for wave of Boeing 787 cabin modifications

HAMBURG — Nearly fourteen years after the Boeing 787 entered revenue service, some operators and lessors are readying to refurbish their Dreamliners from nose to tail. Standing at the ready to facilitate these cabin modifications — and ramping up in preparation for a raft of fresh retrofit business — is maintenance, repair and overhaul giant Lufthansa Technik, which in 2024 was named the first Boeing-licensed Service Center (BLSC) for the type.

As a BLSC for 787 cabin modifications, and under its agreement with Boeing, Lufthansa Technik is authorized to design new cabin interiors, provide the associated engineering, perform the integration in accordance with customers’ wishes, and, notably, manage the certification process. To support this work, the firm is building an additional hanger at its Lufthansa Technik Malta subsidiary, which serves as the European Center of Excellence for widebody base maintenance services in the Lufthansa Technik (LHT) network.

“From autumn 2026, a new 6,400-square-meter hangar will be used to carry out base maintenance services, particularly cabin modifications on 787 Dreamliner aircraft, LHT said in a March statement. “As a Boeing-licensed Service Center, Lufthansa Technik is the only MRO provider worldwide authorized to perform the combination of 787 cabin modification engineering services and their implementation.”

Boeing is very cautious about its IP so a tight relationship between the US airframer and Lufthansa Technik is imperative to the latter firm’s 787 cabin refurbishment work. Indeed, Lufthansa Technik is presently in the midst of an ongoing 787 modification project in an existing hangar in Malta, and having that relationship and access to the necessary data has proven quite vital, LHT executives confided to Runway Girl Network at the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Moreover, because of the significant use of carbon fiber in the 787 fuselage and its more electric architecture, there are some unique considerations including in terms of software for the 787.

“That’s why it’s important to have the support and the relationship that we have with Boeing,” said Lufthansa Technik director commercial cabin solutions Ioana Predonescu, noting that LHT is “grateful and proud” of the relationship.

Lufthansa Technik has set ambitious targets for this work, and sees the 787 fleet as its addressable market in the coming years. Demand is already kicking up, with operators keen to upgrade their cabins with more premium seating, including with doored mini-suites up front, plus feature-rich inflight entertainment.

Inflight connectivity work packages are handled separately by LHT, but 787 cabin mod requirements alone could result in a potentially huge amount of business for the company.

“That’s exactly what we’re thinking,” confided Predonescu, noting that the MRO specialist can effectively offer a one-stop-shop including design certification and the actual Part 145 work at its facility in Malta. “So, we include the hands-on work in our offering.”

At present, she said, LHT and its Malta unit are “busy with projects” for 787 cabin modifications “and with ramping up and with getting ready for everything.”

Lufthansa Technik Malta will be the first location worldwide where Lufthansa Technik will carry out work on the 787 Dreamliner as a Boeing-licensed Service Center for cabin modifications. Rendering/Image copyright: Lufthansa Technik

Related Articles:

• ANA boosts legroom and recline with Recaro 787 seats
• Enjoy a blast from the past on JAL 787-8 on TSA-HND
• Austrian AeroSHARK highlights fuel efficiency gain for older jets
• Press Release: Lufthansa Technik, Boeing ink pact for 787 cabin mods
• Press Release: Air New Zealand’s first retrofitted 787 touches down
• Press Release: LATAM Airlines Brazil invests in MRO for 787

Featured image credited to Jason Rabinowitz

The post Lufthansa Technik readies for wave of Boeing 787 cabin modifications appeared first on Runway Girl.