German airline looks to swap plane orders

Deutsche Lufthansa AG is in talks with planemakers about swapping some orders for larger aircraft to smaller long-distance models, helping to adapt its fleet to an enduring slump in intercontinental business travel as the coronavirus crisis transform upends demand.

Europe’s largest airline group is in negotiations with Airbus SE and Boeing Co. about existing orders, with the manufacturers showing flexibility in the discussions, officials said.

The German company has orders for 20 Boeing 777X aircraft and 41 Airbus A350-900s. Some 777 customers are looking to switch to smaller 787 Dreamliners, of which Lufthansa already has 20 on order, while Airbus offers the A330neo as a smaller wide-body as well as new, longer-range versions of its single-aisle A321neo.