Lufthansa Unveils Stunning 100-Year Anniversary Livery

Special liveries are something no true aviation enthusiast can resist. Even if the aircraft inside remains exactly the same, we can't help but fall for the charm of a unique paint scheme. Ask any AvGeek, and they will easily recall some of the most iconic liveries of all time. Lufthansa‘s latest special livery is a serious contender to become an all-time favorite.

What the Lufthansa Centenary Fleet Includes

First and foremost, this new special livery was designed to celebrate a truly significant event. Lufthansa is celebrating 100 years of operations, having been founded in 1926.

As the anniversary year kicked off, the airline began introducing six aircraft with a special celebratory livery into its fleet. The design represents a modern reinterpretation of the unmistakable Lufthansa crane, with clear references to the operational centenary.

Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 D-ABPU 100 years livery taxiing Frankfurt — The Boeing 787-9 “Berlin” (D-ABPU) taxiing at Frankfurt. It was the first aircraft in the fleet to sport the centenary livery.

The Design: A Modern Take on the Iconic Crane

The concept pays homage to the symbol that has accompanied the airline for most of its history: the Lufthansa crane. The selected aircraft feature a gigantic crane on a dark blue background. Several stylized “100” logos are also present to emphasize the milestone of 100 years connecting Germany to the world.

Lufthansa 100 years livery fuselage detail stylized crane and 1926-2026 text — A close-up of the dark blue fuselage: the stylized XXL crane dominates the tail section, accompanied by the “100” logo and the centenary dates.

Which Aircraft Will Receive the Special Livery

A total of six aircraft have been selected to receive this new livery. Lufthansa specified that there will be one aircraft for each of the airline's main sub-fleets. This means the livery will be applied to:

Aereo	Reg	Tipo	Stato	Arrivo Livrea
Boeing 787-9	D-ABPU	Lungo Raggio	🟢 In Servizio	22 Dic 2025
Airbus A320neo	D-AING	Corto Raggio	🟢 In Servizio	19 Gen 2026
Airbus A350-900	D-AIXL	Lungo Raggio	🟡 Atteso	Feb 2026 (Monaco)

Lufthansa Airbus A320neo D-AING taxiing at Frankfurt Airport wearing the special 100 years centenary livery with dark blue fuselage. — The Airbus A320neo (D-AING) touched down in Frankfurt wearing the centenary livery. The “Super Crane” and dark blue dominate the fuselage, even on the short-haul fleet.

787-9 (D-ABPU): The first aircraft delivered in the “Super Crane” centenary livery. Handed over directly to Lufthansa by Boeing and currently used on routes to North America.
A320 (D-AING): An aircraft that has already been in the Lufthansa fleet for 8 years, previously named “Jena”. The aircraft has now been renamed “Kerpen” and was repainted in Norwich, returning to Germany on January 19, 2026. It re-entered service on the Frankfurt – Larnaca route.
A350-900 (D-AIXL): The first aircraft from the Munich-based fleet to wear the commemorative centenary livery.
Upcoming Arrivals: Attention now shifts to Munich for the arrival of the A350 (D-AIXL). Following that, we await paint dates for the two giants of the fleet: the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380, expected in the second half of the year.

Nose detail of D-AING. You can clearly see the name change to “Kerpen” (the aircraft was previously named “Jena”) and the Star Alliance logo on the blue background.

Boeing 787-9 “Berlin”: The First to Debut (Recap)

The first aircraft to be painted with the centenary livery was the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (D-ABPU), delivered directly from the Boeing factory.

Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 D-ABPU dark blue livery takeoff — D-ABPU taking off. The deep blue livery across the entire rear section makes it immediately distinguishable from the classic white Lufthansa fleet.

The aircraft, christened “Berlin”, arrived in Frankfurt on December 22, 2025, just in time for Christmas. It officially entered service in January 2026, becoming the trailblazer for the commemorative fleet.

An Extraordinary Livery for a Historic Milestone

I'm generally not the biggest Lufthansa fan, but I have to admit that what they've done with this livery is truly special. It looks spectacular on the 787, and I can't even imagine the visual impact it will have on a 747 or A380 in real life. A livery that celebrates a major milestone in the airline's history with style. I am certain that throughout 2026, many planespotters will be hunting for these birds.

Lufthansa 787-9 Berlin nose detail D-ABPU — Nose detail of the “Berlin” (D-ABPU). Delivered in December 2025, this aircraft opened the official celebrations.

Group News: SWISS is also updating its look. Check out the new “Wanderlust” livery on the first SWISS Airbus A350.

More News on Lufthansa and the Lufthansa Group

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Lufthansa’s New 100-Year Anniversary Livery: Full Fleet Details

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