Lufthansa Group is retrofitting its existing Airbus A320 fleet to optimise flight routes, add efficiency and lower emissions.
Starting in 2026, 134 Airbus A320s will be equipped with the FANS-C digital communication system. The ADS-C EPP (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract Extended Projected Profile) technology automatically transmits 4D flight path information – i.e., data on position, altitude, direction, and time – to air traffic control in real time. This allows flight routes to be better adapted to actual conditions in the air. The result: more fuel-efficient flight routes, lower CO₂ emissions, and greater punctuality.
The new technology is already in regular use in Maastricht airspace (MUAC), which is the first airspace in Europe to meet all the requirements for this. The Lufthansa Group is working with other air traffic control authorities to ensure that fuel-efficient flying can be implemented as quickly as possible in more and more European airspaces. This includes, for example, flight trials in collaboration with French air traffic control. From 2028, the new technology must be installed ex-factory in all newly delivered aircraft and ATC ground systems in the EU. With the complete retrofitting of its existing A320 aircraft, the Lufthansa Group is exceeding legal requirements and is once again leading the way in the introduction of innovative technologies. Nearly 200 retrofitted and upgraded aircraft of the A320 family will be in service for the Lufthansa Group in 2028.
“We are focusing on digitalization to make flying even more efficient. The retrofitting of our Airbus A320 fleet is a strong sign of innovation and responsibility. We are delighted that the EU is taking this step together with us. Only if all partners in the industry make their systems fit for the future in time will Europe soon be able to benefit from a better-connected and thus more sustainable airspace,” said Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer of the Lufthansa Group.
The new technology for transmitting flight path information in real time automatically transmits 4D flight path information generated by the aircraft’s flight management system to air traffic control at any time. This so-called 4D flight trajectory describes the further course of a flight in three spatial dimensions (latitude, longitude, and altitude) and time as the fourth dimension. Based on this more precise information about the further flight path of an aircraft, air traffic control can manage airspace more efficiently and optimize the aircraft’s route.
Back in 2024, the Lufthansa Group decided to equip all new additions to its A320neo fleet with FANS-C technology and is now taking the next logical step by retrofitting its existing fleet. The measures are being supported by the European Commission with up to 50 percent funding as part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program. The new technology is currently certified for aircraft in the Airbus A320 family and the Airbus A330neo.
