Lufthansa and Boeing celebrated 50 years of their relationship last month. The carrier ordered its first Boeing aircraft — the B707 on 30 January 1960. The airline also bought the 727 in February 1961, and in February 1965 the airline’s board authorised the purchase of 21 737s. The relationship continued with deals for the 747 and later, through Condor for the 757 and through the AeroLogic joint venture also for the 777 freighter.

Lufthansa is the launch customer for the passenger version, the 747-8 Intercontinental and expects to take delivery of the aircraft in December 2011.

It plans to field five of them by the end of 2012, five more in each 2013, 2014, and 2015.