Lufthansa Technik this week at the Dubai Airshow announced the impending first head-of-state cabin conversion of an Airbus A350, ordered by the German federal government’s Special Air Mission Wing. Slated to begin in April, preparations for the conversion have already commenced at the company’s VIP workshops in Hamburg, Germany.

The cabin will feature an office and conference area, adjoined by a multifunctional lounge, with the rest of the interior available to accommodate accompanying delegations. To make the aircraft available as soon as possible, it will be equipped with a transitional cabin encompassing the delegation section.

Lufthansa Technik supported the A350’s initial development, while the German Air Force was the company's first external customer, noted Wieland Timm, senior director sales of VIP and special mission aircraft. “With our wide-ranging expertise for the Airbus A350, we are well equipped to meet the high expectations of the new government aircraft.”

The company is currently is a major provider of engineering and maintenance services for the A350, while it has provided cabin interiors for more than 45 widebody aircraft to date.