Lufthansa is preparing to mark a major milestone: one hundred years since the founding of the original Lufthansa in 1926. To commemorate the occasion, the airline is introducing a dedicated “anniversary fleet” — selected aircraft across several sub-fleets that will carry a special centennial paint scheme throughout 2026.
The concept blends heritage with the airline’s modern visual identity. The fuselage is painted in a deep blue tone, over which a large white crane stretches across the aircraft, with its wings visually merging into the aircraft’s own wings. A stylized “100” is displayed on the left side of the fuselage, while the right side features the inscription “1926 / 2026”. The number 100 is also painted on the underside of the aircraft, making the anniversary marking visible from above and below.
Each of Lufthansa’s key sub-fleets will receive one aircraft in this design: the Airbus A380, Airbus A350-1000, Airbus A350-900, Airbus A320 and the Boeing 747-8. The repainting process will continue gradually throughout 2026, with the full “100-year fleet” expected to be completed by autumn next year.
The central and first aircraft to feature the new look is the brand-new Boeing 787-9 “Berlin”, registered D-ABPU. The aircraft received its special paint at Boeing’s facility in Charleston before being transferred to Everett for final preparations. Its arrival in Frankfurt is expected just before Christmas, marking the symbolic start of Lufthansa’s centennial commemorations.
D-ABPU is scheduled to enter regular service in January 2026, serving both as an ambassador of the new design and as the first physical reminder of a century in which the crane became one of Europe’s most recognisable aviation symbols.
Lufthansa has confirmed that additional members of the anniversary fleet will enter service with the new paint scheme throughout 2026, offering passengers and aviation enthusiasts a unique visual highlight during the airline’s centennial year.
