Bucher Leichtbau has completed an extensive refurbishment programme of aircraft galleys in the Lufthansa Group fleet. The project covered units originally delivered in 2011 for Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.
Following years of continuous operation, the galleys returned to Bucher’s facilities for detailed inspection, structural assessment and targeted modernisation. The majority of the units have now been refurbished and prepared for continued service.
This demonstrates the long-term durability and upgrade capability of its lightweight interior solutions, claims the company, which is based in Fällanden, Switzerland.
Instead of full replacement, the project focused on preserving core structural elements while integrating necessary upgrades to meet current operational requirements. The approach enables extended product lifecycles while maintaining compliance with safety and performance standards.
The refurbishment reflects Bucher’s engineering three ‘Rs’ philosophy:
Reduce – minimising material usage through lightweight construction
Reuse – retaining durable structural components wherever possible
Renew – integrating updates and improvements where operationally required
Bucher galleys are engineered using a proprietary lightweight aluminium frame construction that combines low weight with high structural strength and corrosion resistance. Compared to conventional designs, this approach avoids unnecessary material use and supports service lifetimes of 10 to 15 years or more.
The modular design concept allows key components to be repaired, replaced or upgraded individually.
This design-for-circularity principle enables refurbishment programs that extend operational life while reducing material consumption and environmental impact over the product lifecycle.
By extending the useful life of aircraft interior equipment, refurbishment programmes contribute to more resource-efficient fleet management.
Lightweight construction further supports operational efficiency by reducing aircraft weight, helping to minimise fuel consumption.
“With this current refurbishment project, we are proving that aircraft interiors can have an exceptionally long life when designed with quality and sustainability in mind. Our galleys from 2011 are still in outstanding condition after more than a decade of service. By refurbishing and upgrading them instead of replacing, we help our customers save costs and resources while supporting a cleaner aviation future,” commented Beat Burlet, Chief Executive Officer of Bucher Group.
