15 years in the service of science: Lufthansa Airbus celebrates research anniversary

The Lufthansa Airbus A340-300, named after the city of "Viersen", is celebrating a special anniversary: When the long-haul jet is scheduled to operate flight LH405 from New York to Frankfurt from July 7 to July 8, 2026, it will have been collecting important data for climate research in scheduled service for exactly 15 years to the day.

15 Years of Climate Research in the Skies
- The Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 “D-AIGT” has been collecting climate-relevant data since July 8, 2011, marking 15 years of continuous service in 2026.
- This aircraft was the first to integrate the IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System) system into scheduled passenger flights, enabling long-term atmospheric monitoring.

Global Impact
- Today, up to three Lufthansa Group aircraft collect atmospheric data daily, including two Airbus A330-300s operated by Discover Airlines.
- The data is transmitted to CNRS in Toulouse and is freely available to the global research community. Around 400 organizations worldwide use it to refine climate models and improve weather forecasts.

Scale of Contribution
- Since 1994, Lufthansa has completed more than 37,500 measurement flights, building one of the world’s most extensive datasets on ozone and water vapor.
- The program is a cornerstone of the World Meteorological Organization’s global aircraft-based observation system.

Sustainability Commitment
- Beyond IAGOS, Lufthansa is also researching non-CO₂ effects, climate-optimized flight planning, and advanced weather data integration.
- This initiative reflects Lufthansa Group’s broader sustainability strategy, combining aviation with scientific collaboration to better understand and mitigate climate impacts.