Lufthansa-owned Discover Airlines is preparing to roll out the largest investment in its five-year history, outfitting its entire fleet of 16 Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft with completely redesigned cabins starting in spring 2027.
The retrofit will introduce what the Lufthansa Group leisure carrier calls a “top-tier customer experience” across all three travel classes, featuring everything from Business Class suites with sliding doors to free Starlink internet throughout the aircraft.
The first aircraft with the new cabin configuration will enter service in April 2027, with the remaining fleet scheduled for conversion by mid-2028. Once complete, each A330 will seat 288 passengers: 227 in Economy, 31 in Premium Economy, and 30 in Business Class—a layout designed to balance capacity with the enhanced product offering.
Discover Airlines operates as the Lufthansa Group’s premium leisure airline in Germany, flying travelers from Frankfurt and Munich to beach and resort destinations worldwide. The carrier launched in summer 2021 to complement the group’s offerings in the growing leisure travel segment and currently operates 30 aircraft with approximately 2,100 employees.
Interestingly, the airline started in 2020 as an internal project called “Ocean,” and air traffic controllers worldwide still use the call sign Ocean (OCN) when communicating with its cockpit crews.
Design philosophy: Ocean Blue
The new cabin carries the name Ocean Blue, drawing inspiration from ocean colors and the sense of discovery associated with travel. The design language runs through all three classes with vibrant shades of blue, clean lines, and carefully selected color accents intended to create what the airline describes as a sophisticated ambiance that evokes a holiday atmosphere while signaling its Lufthansa Group affiliation.
The cabin also incorporates what the airline calls Human Centric Lighting, which uses varying light colors designed to support passengers’ biorhythms during long flights. The Ocean Blue name serves as a deliberate callback to the airline’s origins as the internal “Ocean” project.
What passengers get in each class
Economy Class passengers will see optimized seats offering more legroom and improved recline compared to the current configuration. Each seat features a six-way adjustable headrest and increased storage space. Passengers can still request seats with extra legroom for an additional charge.
Premium Economy gets a more substantial upgrade. Discover Airlines says its Premium Economy already ranks among the best in the leisure airline segment, and the Ocean Blue version aims to cement that position. The seats use an innovative hard-shell design that allows adjustments without affecting neighboring passengers. Discreet privacy screens provide separation, while integrated leg rests, wide recline capability, and built-in reading lights offer multiple seating positions for comfort on longer flights.
Business Class adopts a 1-2-1 configuration, guaranteeing every passenger direct aisle access. About half the seats are positioned as pairs with an adjustable privacy divider that can be opened for companions or closed for solo travelers. All seats convert to fully flat beds roughly two meters long and provide significantly more privacy, personal space, and storage than the current product.
The standout addition is the Business Class Suite—two seats in the first row featuring sliding doors approximately 1.2 meters high, 32-inch monitors, generous legroom, expanded storage, and what the airline calls an enhanced culinary offering. A privacy divider allows suite passengers traveling together to share the space or close it off for individual privacy.
Technology and connectivity
All seats across all classes will feature larger 4K touchscreens with integrated Bluetooth for connecting personal headphones and devices. Economy seats get USB-C ports, while Business and Premium Economy add power outlets and wireless charging capability. Premium Economy passengers will receive noise-canceling headphones for the first time.
While Discover’s long-haul fleet already offers internet access, the retrofit will upgrade all aircraft to Starlink connectivity and make it free for all passengers regardless of class.
“With this investment, we are setting new standards for long-haul leisure flying,” said Ulrich Lindner, CEO of Discover Airlines. “Five years after our founding, we are investing a nine-figure sum specifically in comfort, quality, and the travel experience of our guests. This is a clear commitment to the further development of Discover Airlines. We are proud of what we have achieved and look forward to welcoming our guests to the new Ocean Blue cabin soon.”
The nine-figure investment reflects the carrier’s bet that leisure travelers will pay for premium experiences on vacation routes, particularly as the line between business and leisure travel continues to blur in the post-pandemic market.
