Lufthansa was the first airline to operate a commercial flight using the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.
Lufthansa began passenger service with the 747-8 Intercontinental in June 2012, flying from Frankfurt to Washington, D.C. The airline was the launch customer for the passenger version of Boeing’s latest 747 generation.
The 747-8 Intercontinental introduced a stretched fuselage, redesigned wings, new engines, and improved fuel efficiency compared with earlier 747 models. Its passenger cabin retained the familiar upper-deck shape while offering more seats and updated interiors.
The aircraft is distinct from the 747-8 Freighter, which entered service earlier with Cargolux in 2011. That difference explains why Lufthansa is credited with the first passenger operation even though another airline flew the freighter version first.