Update (November 2026)
This report was originally published on March 1, 2013. In light of current developments regarding fleet utilization, we have added an update to the article.
The fleet modernization program initiated back then continues to have a long-term impact. While the first generation of “Sharklets” paved the way for fuel savings across the European route network, the Lufthansa Group is now further advancing its fleet renewal with brand-new models from the A320neo family, aiming to maximize CO2 efficiency in point-to-point operations.
It is not just Lufthansa that is radically modernizing its medium-haul fleets; leisure airlines are doing the same. Read on for full details regarding Condor’s new short- and medium-haul fleet, which is used on routes including those to North Africa.
Archived report from March 1, 2013; updated July 18, 2026
Today, Lufthansa pilots are collecting the airline’s first Airbus A320 from the Airbus facility in Hamburg-Finkenwerder—an aircraft equipped with 2.4-meter-tall wingtip extensions. Known as “Sharklets,” these devices are designed to reduce fuel consumption by approximately one to four percent—depending on the length of the flight—while also lowering CO2 emissions accordingly.
The inspiration for “Sharklets” comes from nature: large birds, such as cranes or condors, angle their outer feathers upward, allowing them to fly with significantly greater energy efficiency. Sharklets reduce lift-induced drag and improve the aerodynamics at the wingtips. Furthermore, aircraft equipped with them are capable of steeper climbs, which helps to reduce noise emissions during takeoff.
Based on the fuel savings achieved in this way, Airbus anticipates a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 1,000 tonnes per aircraft per year—an amount equivalent to the CO2 output of roughly 200 average passenger cars.
All 22 brand-new A320 aircraft, which are set to join Lufthansa’s fleet by early 2015 to replace older planes, will be equipped with this new feature. Since fuel savings are primarily achieved during the cruise phase of a flight, Lufthansa’s operations planning team will deploy these A320s—fitted with “Sharklets”—mainly on longer European routes.
The Lufthansa Group is continuously investing in the modernization of its fleet. By 2025, the group has 239 latest-generation aircraft on order. Based on list prices, the total value of this fleet renewal program amounts to approximately 23 billion euros.
