Photo: LUFTHANSA Lufthansa Group announces large-scale upgrade to Airbus A320 fleet. In a desire to improve flight efficiency and cut CO2 emissions, the company will equip 134 aircraft with a digital communication system that will be used to send four-dimensional flight path data in real time.
The 2026 system upgrade will enable continuous transmission of the aircraft's position, altitude, heading, and estimated time to air traffic control, thereby adapting the flight path to real-time conditions. This will, in turn, create routes that are more fuel-efficient, while cutting harmful emissions and improving aircraft take-off and landing times.
The technology is already fully functional in Maastricht airspace, the first in Europe to meet all operational requirements. At the same time, Lufthansa is working with other European regulatory authorities to expand its use, including flight trials in cooperation with French air traffic control.
Starting in 2028, all new aircraft delivered in the European Union will be required to be factory-equipped with the system, but Lufthansa has chosen to get ahead of the curve and make adjustments to the existing fleet as well.
It should be noted that by that year, the group is expected to operate almost 200 A320-family aircraft that have undergone upgrades in this area.
Lufthansa notes that the upgrade for more than 130 aircraft is part of a broader set of steps to improve operational efficiency and promote sustainable aviation, fleet renewal, the use of sustainable fuels, the development of solutions for private and business customers, and the expansion of transport integration.