Lufthansa will not operate the Boeing 747-400
between Frankfurt and New York JFK in winter 2025/2026. While the German giant had scheduled flights on the variant, they were removed in the latest schedule update. This is unsurprising, as it did not use the 371-seater last winter either. Elsewhere, the 747-400 returned to Boston on May 1, while Lufthansa has confirmed the return of the Airbus A380 to San Francisco.
Based on IATA slot seasons, northern carriers, including Lufthansa, will switch to winter schedules on Sunday, October 26, 2025. They will maintain them until Saturday, March 28, 2026. During this period, and subject to change, the Star Alliance member plans to use its 747-400s from Frankfurt to two US airports: Boston and Chicago O’Hare. More on that later in the article.
Lufthansa Switches Winter 747-400 Flights To JFK To The A340 and 747-8i
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
Until the past weekend’s update, Lufthansa had planned to use the 747-400 on one of its two daily Frankfurt to JFK flights. It was to be on LH400 outbound, leaving the carrier’s busiest hub at 10:55 (during its largest North America-bound departure bank) and arriving at 13:55 local time. Returning, the variant was to be on LH401, departing the Big Apple at 15:45 and arriving home at 05:25+1.
While the 747-400 continues to operate these flights during the summer, the last departure (for now) is on October 25. Between October 26 and January 15, Lufthansa’s double daily operation from Frankfurt will use the A340-300 and the A340-600—the same as last winter. On January 12, the 747-8i is down to replace the 747-400. The 747-400 will then replace the 747-8i on March 29, 2026, day one of next year’s northern aviation summer season. This is the situation as of May 26 and may change.
No Airline Will Use Passenger 747-400s To JFK In The Winter
Photo: Anna Zvereva | Wikimedia Commons
As Lufthansa is the last remaining operator of passenger 747-400s to the US’s leading long-haul gateway, the variant will not be used at JFK during the winter. Indeed, using Cirium Diio data to examine every US departure between October 27 and March 28 shows that just 124 takeoffs will be on the 747-400, down by more than a fifth year-on-year. For obvious reasons, the writing is on the wall for the old and fuel- and maintenance-heavy 747-400, offset by being paid off, with Lufthansa’s examples to be replaced by the delayed 777-9.
Of course, things are somewhat different for the newer and larger 747-8i. In the coming winter, each of the world’s three commercial passenger operators—Air China, Korean Air, and Lufthansa—is still planning to fly the variant to JFK, as summarized below. Korean Air’s entry is particularly notable. Last winter, the 747-8i was only flown daily, with the variant operating alongside the A380. For now, at least, the plan entails a double daily 747 service.
Airline
JFK’s winter 747-8i flights (scheduled as of May 26)
Air China
Five weekly from Beijing Capital
Korean Air
Double daily from Seoul Incheon
Lufthansa
Daily from Frankfurt between January 12 and March 28
Related
Lufthansa’s Airbus A380s Are Returning To San Francisco After 5 Years
This development means Lufthansa’s double-deckers will be seen at Los Angeles and San Francisco in the winter.
Where Lufthansa Will Fly Its 747-400s During Winter 2025/2026
Photo: Jonathan E. Hendry | Simple Flying
As an initial look at the upcoming winter, Lufthansa’s 747-400 route network is as follows. Its eight aircraft are down to operate 730 departures from Frankfurt, with an average of five daily takeoffs. A high of six daily departures will be available on 46 dates from February onwards, including each day in March.
Six daily flights correspond to more 747-400 activity to the US. Between January 12 and March 28, the variant will operate 124 departures to the US, 53% more than the equivalent period in 2025, when Washington Dulles saw it daily. However, unless things change again, the jumbo will now be flown to Chicago and Houston instead.
Frankfurt to…
747-400 winter flights (scheduled as of May 26)
Bengaluru
Daily
Chicago O’Hare
Daily from January 12
Delhi
Daily
Houston Intercontinental
Five weekly from February 1 (daily from March 1)
Shanghai Pudong
Daily
Singapore
Daily
