Lufthansa’s fifth Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registration D-ABPB, was officially named ‘Wiesbaden’ on Wednesday (May 31st), with Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein carrying out the honors.
On Wednesday (May 31, 2023), Lufthansa announced that their fifth Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has been named ‘Wiesbaden’. At Wednesday’s ceremony at Frankfurt Airport, Hesse’s Prime Minister Boris Rhein carried out the official honors by dousing the forward fuselage of the aircraft with a bottle of sparkling wine. Lufthansa’s newest 787-9 has been in service since May 22, 2023, serving destinations in Canada and the U.S., with the inaugural flight to Dallas, Texas. The aircraft was originally transferred from Boeing’s Everett, Washington facility to Germany on March 31st, and the Dreamliner was originally operated up to three times daily between Frankfurt and Munich for crew training.
In Wednesday’s announcement, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, Carsten Spohr, said,
“The Boeing 787-9 sets standards in sustainability and comfort. It is one of the quietest and most economical long-haul aircraft in our fleet and offers all customers a premium flying experience. With these qualities, it is a perfect fit for Wiesbaden, the capital of the state of Hesse, whose name it will carry around the world as an international ambassador.”
Also commenting on the naming of the new Dreamliner, The State Of Hesse’s Minister President, Boris Rhein, said,
“Lufthansa is one of the largest and most important employers in our state. The airline is a guarantee of prosperity for Hesse. By deploying the new aircraft, Lufthansa is not only helping to secure the region's outstanding location factor, it is also committed to sustainable travel. With the name 'Wiesbaden', this aircraft will become an ambassador for the capital of Hesse and the state of Hesse. I wish the aircraft, its passengers and crew a good flight at all times.”
The Lord Mayor of the State Capital of Wiesbaden, Gert-Uwe Mende, added,
“Lufthansa is once again giving wings to the state capital Wiesbaden - we are very pleased about that. The new aircraft carries the name of Wiesbaden out into the world. Many passengers and crew members will hopefully experience the new aircraft as a safe, comfortable and efficient means of transport, technically up to date. I wish the new aircraft always an unscathed return and always a bit of Wiesbaden lifestyle at every flight altitude and on the way to every destination.”
Lufthansa Celebrates the Naming of Their Newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 'Wiesbaden.' - Courtesy Lufthansa
The new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the fifth aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet to carry the name Wiesbaden. On July 15, 1964, then Lord Mayor Georg Buch christened a Boeing 727 with the name of the spa city for the first time at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Airport. The predecessor to the new Dreamliner was an Airbus A340 which was named in the state capital in 2009 and decommissioned during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Lufthansa