Lufthansa ordering new jets from Boeing, Airbus

FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- Lufthansa announced Thursday that it planned to split an order between Boeing and its European rival Airbus.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the German airline would request a total of 59 jets. Thirty-four of them would be the Boeing 777-9x, making Lufthansa the first customer for the upgraded 777 model. From Airbus, the order would consist of 25 of the company's A350-900 jets. Officials said both models would make Lufthansa's fleet more fuel-efficient.

Lufthansa said it would also have the option to purchase 30 more of both types of jets in the future.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the current order is expected to cost Lufthansa around $18.93 billion. Delivery of the planes was expected to begin in 2016.