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Discover Airlines A350 plan: 13 jets, new routes and what changes in the cabin
Discover Airlines will take four former Lufthansa A350s from 2027 and nine new ones from 2029, and the first deliveries bring Belize City onto its map.
Thirteen A350s on the way
Discover Airlines will take over four former Lufthansa A350-900s in 2027 and 2028, then receive nine factory fresh A350-900s from 2029 onward. [1] If you fly Discover's long-haul routes, or Lufthansa's route to Costa Rica, this fleet plan affects the aircraft you will board. [2]
This piece covers the delivery schedule, the routes tied to the first jets, the cabins and the reason behind the move. It also tells you what to watch for as a traveller.
The delivery schedule
The first former Lufthansa A350 is expected to join the fleet in June 2027. [1] The second is due in December 2027, with service added to San Jose and Belize City. [1]
The third and fourth A350s are due in summer 2028, and they will arrive in the northern summer of that year. [1][2]
The nine new aircraft are part of a larger Lufthansa Group order. [1] They are already in Lufthansa's order book and are due to begin arriving in 2029, according to airliners.de. [2]
Where the second jet goes
The second A350, arriving in December 2027, will enable the transfer of the Costa Rica route to Discover and the addition of Belize to its network. [2] Belize City joins Discover's network for the first time. [2]
Lufthansa launched nonstop Costa Rica service in March 2018 with two weekly A340-300 flights. [2] For the 2026-2027 winter season, that service moved to five weekly flights, and the Boeing 787-9 with Allegris cabins replaced the A340. [2]
What the cabins look like
The four ex-Philippine Airlines A350s are registered D-AIVA, D-AIVB, D-AIVC and D-AIVD. [2] They come from Lufthansa's Munich fleet, and Discover will receive them with the existing cabin. [2]
Lufthansa picked up those four jets in 2021 while Philippine Airlines was reorganizing. [1] Lufthansa kept their cabin interiors, which have Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats. [1] The four going to Discover are expected to keep their interiors. [1]
Lufthansa's own A350s with the old business class are eventually going to be reconfigured with Allegris cabins. [1] The interiors of the nine factory fresh A350s are not yet known. [1]
On the current fleet, most Discover A330s have the typical old Lufthansa business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. [1] Discover is rolling out a new off-the-shelf business class product on its existing A330s. [1] The A350s will gradually replace the A330-300s. [2]
Why Lufthansa Group is doing this
Lufthansa is the least profitable airline of Lufthansa Group. [1] The group is continuing to outsource flying as its response to that profitability issue. [1]
Lufthansa Group also sees a lot of potential in its low cost operations. [1]
Fleet growth at Discover and a planned new business class product were first reported in 2024. [1] In 2025, it was reported that Discover would start acquiring Airbus A350s. [1] Edelweiss' A350s, by comparison, are former LATAM jets that were retired early. [1]
What it means for you
If you fly to Costa Rica, watch for December 2027, when the second A350 is due and the route is set to transfer to Discover. [1][2] Lufthansa's current service runs five weekly flights with the Boeing 787-9 and Allegris cabins. [2]
If Belize City is on your list, it is a new Discover destination, and service there is tied to the same December 2027 aircraft. [2][1]
For the seat you will get, check which aircraft your flight uses. The four former Philippine Airlines A350s are expected to keep their existing interiors. [1] The interiors of the nine new A350s are not yet known. [1]
Over time, the A350s will gradually replace the A330-300s, and the new off-the-shelf business class is arriving on the existing A330s in the meantime. [2][1]
Sources
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