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The A340 from the government fleet at Abu Dhabi airport in August 2023: flight canceled due to breakdowns

Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa

The Airbus A340 from the government fleet, which has been retired by the Luftwaffe, could soon be sold to Lufthansa.

According to SPIEGEL information, the German airline is one of a small group of bidders who are interested in the luxuriously equipped long-haul airliner from the federal recycling company (Vebeg).

Chancellor Angela Merkel, her successor Olaf Scholz and several federal presidents have taken numerous business trips by plane.

Insiders said that Lufthansa had offered a mid-single-digit million sum for the 20-year-old jet.

The white painted A340 with the inscription "Federal Republic of Germany", which was used for flight readiness for many years with the identification 16+01, has been for sale for a few weeks.

At the end of January, interested parties were able to view the government aircraft at Cologne-Wahn Airport.

After the number of breakdowns on government flights increased in 2023, the Air Force pulled the ripcord in the fall.

Shortly after Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's business trip to Australia was cut short due to technical problems, the Air Force decided that the A340 would no longer be used.

After a short wrangling among the ministries that can request the jet, the jet was handed over to Vebeg for recycling.

In addition to Lufthansa, a handful of other companies have submitted bids, all of which are below ten million euros.

One bidder should come from South Africa.

Vebeg is currently checking all bidders for their creditworthiness.

In addition, it should be ruled out that one of the bidders resells the jet.

A few years ago, the sale of another government plane made headlines because the jet landed in Iran via a detour.

Lufthansa confirmed to SPIEGEL that it was interested in the aircraft.

However, it should not be used for scheduled flights, it was said.

Instead, it should be handed over to the airline's technology division if Lufthansa wins the contract.

There the former government aircraft would then be cannibalized as a spare parts warehouse.

As with most airlines, the A340 model is also considered a discontinued model at Lufthansa.

The jet was equipped with a VIP cabin for government flights.

At the front there is a “private office” that can be converted into a spacious bedroom, and there is a shower in the bathroom.

There are two conference rooms directly behind it, one of which has become known as “Merkel’s living room.”

At the very back there is the business class for the delegation, followed by a few rows of economy seats for accompanying journalists and the crew.

The A340 would actually hardly be usable as a scheduled airliner.