U.S.WEIRD NEWS
Lufthansa retires its beloved long-bodied Airbus A340-600 jet
One of the few airlines still flying the stretched four-engine Airbus A340-600, Lufthansa is taking it out of service; fans are losing the plane with the downstairs restrooms.
On air: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on BBN NewsroomPublished
At a glance
- First reported by The New York Times: “Lufthansa’s Final A346 Flight Marks the End of an Aviation Love Story”.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 2:30 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- The New York TimesLufthansa’s Final A346 Flight Marks the End of an Aviation Love Story
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWelcome back. Lufthansa is flying its last Airbus A340-600, the four-engine jet with the stretched body and the restrooms down a flight of stairs.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt's one of the last carriers still flying the model, and the New York Times says it has a devoted following among aviation fans.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA fan club for a plane. I love that for them, because loyalty is rare, and so is a bathroom with its own staircase.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorRestrooms downstairs. So the one moment you really need to hurry, there's a staircase.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPeople climbed down it for years.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd came back up changed, Hank. Lighter, if you know what I mean. It's a journey, and now the journey is over.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFour engines going to two. That's the trend, Vera. Eventually we'll all fly in one engine and a prayer.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOr a very efficient engine with excellent self-esteem.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe plane is retiring. The staircase to the toilet is retiring with it. Nobody asked the staircase.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIt's the only one in aviation history that was ever worth the walk.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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