FRANKFURT– Lufthansa (LH) is facing resistance from its own flight attendants as the airline prepares to launch Project FOX, a €70 million onboard service revamp aimed at redefining the passenger experience.
The flag carrier had planned to test the new service model on flights from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) this month, but the official cabin crew union has pulled out of the trials, citing disputes over staffing levels on long-haul operations.
Photo: LufthansaLufthansa Flight Attendants Reject Project FOX
Project FOX, short for Future Onboard Experience, is Lufthansa’s attempt to transform service standards across all cabins in time for its centenary year.
The airline had set ambitious goals, including flexible meal times in Business Class, expanded dining options in Premium Economy and Economy, refreshed tableware, and upgraded amenities.
Validation flights were supposed to begin with union involvement, but disagreements have derailed cooperation.
At the core of the dispute is Lufthansa’s decision to reduce the number of crew members in First Class. Historically, two attendants were assigned to the cabin, but with the new Allegris First Class offering just four seats, Lufthansa wants to cut that number to one.
Union representatives argue that reducing staffing while adding new service elements places unsustainable pressure on the crew.
In an internal letter, leaders accused management of being “resistant to advice,” warning members that the situation had reached a breaking point.
Despite the standoff, Lufthansa plans to push ahead. Selected crew members will still participate in the test flights, and passenger feedback will be collected to refine the service, though union cooperation remains absent, PYOK reported.
Photo: LufthansaThe Wider Allegris Program
Project FOX is only one part of Lufthansa’s broader transformation effort, known as Allegris. While FOX focuses on the “soft product” of service and onboard experience, Allegris represents the “hard product” — the new seating and cabin designs across the fleet.
Allegris has faced repeated delays and technical hurdles. The flagship First Class suites on the Airbus A350 encountered certification issues, forcing Lufthansa to launch the aircraft with empty space at the front where the cabin was meant to be. Some Economy seats also had to be blocked due to problems with seatbelt airbag certification.
The rollout continues to be complex across different aircraft types:
- Boeing 747s will receive Allegris, but the upper deck won’t initially feature the new Business Class due to space constraints.
- Airbus A380s will be refitted, though an off-the-shelf Business Class product will be installed instead of Allegris.
- Boeing 787 Dreamliners are arriving with Allegris cabins, but the Business Class section will remain closed until FAA certification is secured, which is not expected until late 2025.
Photo: Lufthansa What This Means for Lufthansa
The dispute over Project FOX highlights a deeper issue for Lufthansa: the struggle to balance cost control with genuine service improvements.
While the airline invests heavily in revamping both cabins and service, progress is slowed by regulatory obstacles, certification setbacks, and now, labor resistance.
For passengers, the promise of a redesigned experience remains enticing — more dining options, better amenities, and modernized cabins. But without alignment between management and crew, delivering those improvements consistently could prove far more difficult than Lufthansa anticipated.
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Lufthansa to Retrofit Airbus A350 Fleet with Allegris Cabins in 2027
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