Overview
- The type's final commercial passenger service ran from Washington to Frankfurt, with the last A340‑600 arriving and receiving a ceremonial send‑off on Monday.
- Lufthansa has flown the remaining airframes to Düsseldorf for removal of reusable components and plans to relocate those aircraft to Teruel, Spain, for long‑term storage or dismantling.
- Airlines say the A340‑600's four Rolls‑Royce engines burn far more fuel than modern twin‑engine long‑haul jets, a cost gap that made continued operation uneconomic for Lufthansa.
- Crew, airport staff and plane enthusiasts marked the retirement with applause, photography and a firefighting water salute, reflecting the model's cultural place and 23 years in Lufthansa service.
- Beyond passenger work, the A340‑600 served special roles such as carrying a CARIBIC research lab and transporting Germany’s national team, and its exit clears room for more fuel‑efficient types like the Boeing 787 and 777X.