Aircraft tariffs: Delta and Lufthansa are fighting with creative tricks!

Aircraft tariffs: Delta and Lufthansa are fighting with creative tricks!

The tariff conflict between the USA and the EU continues to bring new challenges for airlines and manufacturers. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, recently emphasized that his company will not buy Airbus aircraft while high tariffs are incurred. According to Bastian, these tariffs would question the economic viability of the new machines. In this context, European airlines such as Lufthansa, which are also affected by tariffs on Boeing aircraft, are rumbling about similar solutions.

Both sides of the Atlantic are looking for creative ways to get around the problems. Delta Air Lines has come up with an unconventional tactic: new aircraft are declared as used. An example shows this impressively: A new A350-900 was flown from Toulouse to Tokyo before flying on to the USA in order to be considered used in international traffic. This gives Delta a way to avoid paying high tariffs, although it remains unclear how long US authorities will accept this loophole.

Challenges for Lufthansa and Boeing

Lufthansa faces similar challenges to Delta. In order to avoid tariffs on Boeing aircraft, the airline plans to register its new aircraft in Switzerland. However, the trade conflict also has direct consequences for Lufthansa aircraft already in the USA. There are currently 15 completed Boeing 787s at the Seattle factory, with delays in safety testing for new seats the main cause of the downtime. These delays are preventing Lufthansa from getting its new long-haul jets operational, forcing the airline to rely on older, maintenance-sensitive and less efficient aircraft.

Looking ahead, a Lufthansa board delegation recently held discussions in Charleston to expedite the process. Grazia Vittadini, Lufthansa’s chief technology officer, reported “good progress” in the negotiations. But despite these positive tones, uncertainty remains omnipresent in the industry.

Global impact on industry

The tariff conflict between the USA and China also has far-reaching effects. China has announced that it will no longer buy Boeing aircraft. This decision comes at a time when Apple, the technology giant, is heavily affected by the trade dispute between the US and China. To escape tariff threats, Apple is moving its production to India. A large factory is being built in Bangalore, which will cover an area of ​​1.2 million square meters as part of the Elephant project. India is proving to be an attractive location as the country is largely spared from various tariff threats.

Developments in the aviation and technology sectors show how interconnected global economic dynamics are. As companies find creative ways to adapt to new conditions, uncertainty surrounding tariff policy and its impact remains a key issue.

BR.de reports that High tariffs on aircraft are perceived by airlines as a serious problem. Also the article by Süddeutsche.de highlights the challenges facing industry players and shows that trade relations remain tense.