Lufthansa Technik’s VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services product division is working on the conversion of the first of three A350-900 cabins for the German Federal Government’s Special Air Mission Wing in Hamburg, Germany. The company will create a government cabin, in what it believes to be the world’s first conversion of this kind on an A350.
As this aircraft is to be made available to the German Air Force very soon, it will initially be equipped with a special transitional cabin for the transport of representatives of the Federal Government and their accompanying delegations. The corresponding preliminary work began in November 2019 in Lufthansa Technik’s VIP workshops. Once the cabin has been installed, the aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the customer by the end of July 2020.
The transitional cabin is tailored to the specific requirements of the customer. It will be equipped with office and conference areas, adjoined to a multifunctional lounge area. The rest of the cabin space will be available to accompanying delegations. Lufthansa Technik says it features generous seat spacing, an appropriate number of washrooms and modern galley equipment.
The two sister aircraft are currently under construction. Once they have been fitted with full VIP cabins by Lufthansa Technik – scheduled for 2021 – the transitional cabin in the first aircraft will also be exchanged.
“Over decades we have formed a comprehensive partnership with the German Air Force, in the course of which we have already equipped a large number of aircraft with special cabins for government representatives,” said Kai-Stefan Röpke, vice president of VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services. “Today we are of course particularly pleased to be able to extend this cooperation to the most modern generation of aircraft and to install the first government cabin in an A350. This is not only a first for our long-standing customer German Air Force or for Lufthansa Technik, but for the entire industry.”
Image: Lufthansa Technik AG / Photographer Kai Hager
