It's Saturday morning, just before seven o'clock. I'm standing in Terminal 1B at counter 494 of Frankfurt Airport, checking in for a very special flight. I'm flying to the ILA Berlin Air Show on a Boeing 747-8! That alone is a highlight enough. But Lufthansa is going one step further and is using the "winner's plane," the one that flew our national team from Rio de Janeiro to Berlin for the 2016 ILA, to fly to the trade fair.
This year's ILA 2016 air show is themed around sustainability, and for this reason, flights to Berlin are CO2-neutral, using a Boeing 747-8. Together with the "myclimate" foundation, Lufthansa is investing in environmental projects that offset the CO2 emissions of our flight.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 as special flight LH9988 from Frankfurt to Berlin-Schönefeld
As with any regular flight, we have to go through security here as well. Our gate is B1. Boarding begins half an hour before departure, and we take a bus to the plane. We board via the stairs at the rear of the jumbo jet. For the outbound flight, I sat in seat 35 AC, which gives me a nice view of the wing.
The doors close and we begin pushback with the nose pointing west. We take off eastbound from runway 07C. The four GEnx-2B engines accelerate our Boeing 747 effortlessly, and it only takes a short while before we're airborne. We fly past Frankfurt, over Erfurt, Merseburg, and Dessau to Berlin-Schönefeld. The flight time is just 50 minutes.
In between, the friendly Lufthansa crew serves a small breakfast; the coffee is especially welcome! And before you know it, you're on final approach to the southern runway of BER, which was opened especially for the ILA. Taxiing and towing to the exhibit position takes almost as long as the flight from Frankfurt to Berlin. :-) The stairs connect to our winning aircraft, and off we go!
But before my feet even touch the ILA grounds, I have the unique opportunity to visit the two pilots in the cockpit. Flight Operations Manager and Captain Uwe Strohdeicher, along with his Senior First Officer, flew us to Berlin this morning. From the jumpseat, I can ask a few questions about his flying career and the Boeing 747-8. I also learn a lot of interesting facts about the special flight LH2014, which brought our German national football team from Rio de Janeiro to Berlin after the World Cup final. Following the discussion, we meet with other guests in Business Class for interviews.
Sustainability at Lufthansa
The Lufthansa Group is currently implementing the largest investment program in its history. A staggering 251 aircraft will be delivered to the group by 2025, including 59 new long-haul aircraft of the Boeing 777-9X and Airbus A350-900 types. The total investment amounts to approximately €40 billion. The first Airbus A320neo took delivery this year. Captain and technical pilot Bernhard Zinser shared his experience and data from around 100 scheduled flights.
The A320neo's performance is outstanding, and its efficiency is immediately noticeable in daily flight operations. Lufthansa currently operates two aircraft of this type, deployed on routes from Frankfurt to Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin. The ongoing engine starting issue was also discussed. However, Captain Zinser clarified that this will be significantly reduced in the coming weeks through hardware and software modifications. The third A320neo, ready for delivery, will already be equipped with the latest technology.
Efficiency and sustainability play a crucial role not only in the future but also in the present. Since 2007, Lufthansa has partnered with the non-profit organization "myclimate," enabling passengers to offset their individual CO2 emissions from their flights. Jörg-Stefan Fitz, Team Leader for Fuel Efficiency at Lufthansa, presented further measures. A total of 1,200 projects are underway, of which 460 have been implemented. Technical, operational, and infrastructural measures are leading to a significant increase in efficiency – the ultimate goal is an average fuel consumption of 2.9 liters per passenger per 100 kilometers. Balancing the need for "every kilogram counts" with the demands of a premium carrier offering comfortable seats in Business and First Class, as well as impeccable service, is not always easy. Nevertheless, the successful implementation of these projects validates the team's approach.
The ILA 2016 – A look at the air show
Now we're off to the ILA grounds. Crowds have already gathered in front of our winning aircraft; everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the jumbo jet. Besides the large passenger planes, the large military transports and bombers of the US Air Force are always a big draw for spectators.
The next big highlight on the agenda is the flight demonstration of the Airbus A350 XWB and the Lufthansa A320neo. I find a good spot by the fence to see as much as possible. Lufthansa is expected to receive its A350-900s in December of this year and will permanently base ten aircraft in Munich.
Air show Airbus A350-900 XWB
Airbus A320neo Lufthansa
Now you can experience firsthand what the technology is capable of. The noise level during takeoff, landing, and overflight is phenomenally quiet. This is primarily due to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (an internal planetary gear system allows the low-pressure turbine to run faster than the fan), as well as aerodynamic improvements, resulting in a significant increase in efficiency and noise reduction.
Preparing for the return flight
It's now late afternoon, and I'm making my way to the other end of the ILA grounds. The German Air Force's air show is unmistakable and is reaching its peak performance. The meeting point for the return flight is at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT). We all have to go through security again and take the bus back to the aircraft. Before we can board, there's a short photo shoot with the crew for our German national team. A nice gesture, meant to bring good luck so we can build on the success of 2014.
A good hour before the scheduled departure, all passengers are back in their seats, visibly exhausted from the heat. The crew lovingly provides us with drinks and snacks. We are slowly towed from our parking position towards the runway to ensure a timely takeoff. The engines are started and we taxi onto the southern runway of BER. Before heading straight back to Frankfurt, the Lufthansa crew bids us farewell with a celebratory flyover of the ILA Berlin Air Show.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 as special flight LH9989 from Berlin-Schönefeld to Frankfurt
Prominently displayed at the entrance is the most important certificate for today. The "myclimate" foundation certifies that Lufthansa AG operated a CO2-neutral flight with the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 747-8 on the Frankfurt-Berlin-Frankfurt route. The emitted 67.25 tons of CO2 will be offset by the foundation's climate protection projects.
On the short hop to Frankfurt, I can take a window seat in Business Class and have a great view of the wing and engines. The pilots accelerate our Boeing 747, and shortly after takeoff, we turn right onto the return leg. We fly low over Brandenburg and then follow the final approach to the south runway in another right turn. We glide lower and lower, passing over runway 07R at what feels like a constant altitude of just 5 meters. How amazing! The thrust levers are pushed forward, and the jumbo jet accelerates. As a farewell, the Boeing 747-8 of the ILA 2016 "waves" – WOW! Experiencing something like this is simply unique and makes any aviation enthusiast's heart beat faster!
We're heading back towards Frankfurt Airport and quickly climbing to cruising altitude. There's a little something extra – all in keeping with the football theme. Of course, a post-flight beer is a must. The short flight time is just enough time for a quick chat with the crew about flying and travel before the seatbelt sign lights up again and we begin our approach to Frankfurt Airport.
The approach is from the west. We glide over Mainz into final approach and land smoothly. We dock again at the same gate as this morning, and as the engines shut down, it hits me that this incredible journey has now come to an end. With a heavy heart, but overjoyed, I leave this fantastic plane. One last look, and then it's back to the terminal by bus. My journey began here just over twelve hours ago – where can you turn back time here? :-)
Participation in this trip was supported by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. We would like to extend our sincere thanks once again for their cooperation and support. This article represents our free and independent opinion.
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