Lufthansa

Retro skies: Lufthansa unveils historic “Parabol” livery for Centenary

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As part of its 100th-anniversary celebrations, Lufthansa is bringing a touch of the 1950s back to the modern era. Today, an Airbus A321 (registration D-AISZ) is scheduled to touch down at Frankfurt Airport sporting the iconic “parabol” design, a tribute to the golden age of aviation and the legendary Lockheed Super Star.


A Nod to the “Super Star” Era

The distinctive parable line—a streamlined design element that defined Lufthansa’s visual identity in the mid-1950s—was originally inspired by the speed and dynamism of 1930s aesthetics.

  • The Legacy: This design was famously carried by the Lockheed L-1649A Super Star, which joined the fleet in 1957 and introduced the ultra-exclusive Senator Class for non-stop Atlantic crossings to New York.

  • Heritage Preservation: Fans of aviation history will soon be able to see a restored Super Star in person when the new Lufthansa Group Hangar One visitor centre opens at Frankfurt Airport this April.

The Growing Anniversary Fleet

Lufthansa isn’t stopping with just one retro jet. The airline is rolling out a series of aircraft featuring an XXL crane and unique anniversary branding across its hubs:

Aircraft TypeRegistrationStatus/Base
Airbus A321D-AISZArriving today in Frankfurt (Retro Parabol)
Airbus A350-900D-AIXLJust landed in Munich (Blue XXL design)
Boeing 787-9—Already in service (Frankfurt)
Airbus A320neo—Already in service (Frankfurt)

Coming Soon: Lufthansa has confirmed that the anniversary fleet will continue to expand in the coming weeks to include the Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8, and the new Airbus A350-1000.

This post was published on 3 February 2026 22:20

André Orban

M. Sc. Engineering

Published by
André Orban

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