In July 2021, Condor introduced plans to refresh its lengthy haul fleet with Airbus A330-900neos. On this publish I needed to take an up to date take a look at that, as the brand new plane sort ought to enter service for the airline within the coming weeks.
Condor turns into German launch buyer for A330-900neo
German leisure airline Condor has positioned an order for 16 Airbus A330-900neos. The airline will likely be taking supply of those planes shortly, as they’ll be a part of Condor’s fleet between late 2022 and the center of 2024.
At the moment Condor’s lengthy haul fleet consists of 13 Boeing 767-300ERs, that are a mean of 26 years outdated. On prime of that, Condor has been leasing former Etihad Airways Airbus A330s, which the airline has used to extend capability in the meanwhile.
The A330-900neo is the most recent technology plane within the A330 household. The airplane options improved gasoline effectivity over older variations of the A330, and it’s an important decrease capability different to the A350, which is in any other case Airbus’ flagship lengthy haul plane these days. In a typical configuration the A330-900neo has a variety of seven,200nm, and capability to seat 287 folks.
Condor is claiming that this can make the airline the European frontrunner for gasoline effectivity on lengthy haul flights. It’s even advertising and marketing this airplane because the “2-liter plane,” as a result of the airline states that per individual gasoline consumption will likely be 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers flown.
This airplane needs to be an enormous enchancment for the airline in so some ways — when it comes to gasoline effectivity, passenger expertise, vary, working prices, and even capability. This represents fairly some progress for the airline too, as Condor is rising from its preliminary lengthy haul fleet of 13 smaller plane to a future lengthy haul fleet of 16 greater plane.
That is additionally solely a part of Condor’s fleet renewal. In July 2022, the airline additionally positioned an order for as much as 41 Airbus A320neo-family plane, which will likely be used to refresh Condor’s brief haul fleet. These planes will begin to be delivered within the first half of 2024.
Condor’s first Airbus A330-900neo takes to the skies
Whereas the supply of Condor’s first Airbus A330-900neo has been delayed considerably, the excellent news is that the provider’s first A330-900neo has now flown for the primary time. Particularly, the jet with the license plate F-WWCX flew for the primary time yesterday, performing a check flight to and from Toulouse (TLS).
Condor has additionally launched a daring new livery, which personally I really like, although I additionally get how others sort of hate it.
That A330-900neo needs to be delivered to Condor within the coming weeks. Based mostly on what I can see, it appears to be like like the primary industrial A330-900neo routes are presently scheduled for January 2023, although I think about that timeline might slip additional, relying on how issues go.
Condor’s new enterprise class, premium financial system
What’s thrilling concerning the A330-900neo isn’t simply that it’s rather more gasoline environment friendly, greater capability, and longer vary, but additionally that Condor is introducing an all-new product onboard these planes. When you can learn all about Condor’s A330-900neo cabins on this publish, listed below are a couple of fundamentals:
- Condor’s A330-900neos will function a complete of 310 seats, together with 30 enterprise class seats, 64 premium financial system seats, and 216 financial system seats
- Enterprise class will encompass totally flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, with direct aisle entry
- Whereas Condor is advertising and marketing the center cabin as premium financial system, in actuality it’s extra like additional legroom financial system seating, as it will likely be in a 2-4-2 format, with as much as 15cm of further pitch
- Economic system will likely be in a 2-4-2 format
- There will likely be private televisions in any respect seats, plus inflight Wi-Fi
You’ll be able to discover Condor’s devoted A330-900neo web site right here.
For context, presently Condor’s 767s are in a two cabin configuration. Enterprise class consists of (closely) slanted seats, which aren’t actually aggressive to different enterprise class merchandise on the market (then once more, there’s not a lot competitors on the Frankfurt to Whitehorse route).
The brand new product will likely be a large improve in comparison with what Condor is presently providing. And it’s particularly aggressive in comparison with Lufthansa, which nonetheless hasn’t truly launched its new enterprise class product.
Condor is competing extra instantly with Lufthansa
It’s fascinating to see how Condor’s enterprise mannequin has been evolving over time, and I’d say it’s nice for customers.
Traditionally Condor’s lengthy haul route community consisted virtually fully of leisure routes from Germany. We’re speaking all the things from Anchorage, to Cancun, to Havana, to Mauritius, to Phuket. Nonetheless, over time we’ve seen Condor go head-to-head in opposition to Lufthansa on extra routes, since Lufthansa doesn’t have any competitors in lots of markets.
Lufthansa is replicating a few of Condor’s routes with its Eurowings Uncover subsidiary, which makes some markets more difficult for Condor. That’s most likely additionally why we’re seeing Condor broaden into extra Lufthansa markets, starting from Los Angeles, to New York, to San Francisco.
As soon as Condor has A330-900neos in its fleet, it ought to be capable of compete a lot better with Lufthansa, each when it comes to value construction and product.
The irony is that regardless that Condor and Lufthansa are more and more changing into huge rivals, Lufthansa nonetheless has to offer feed for Condor. The German authorities dominated that Lufthansa has to take care of its interline settlement with Condor, which means you possibly can e-book a ticket that features journey on each Condor and Lufthansa. With out that connectivity, Condor would have a a lot tougher time.
Backside line
German leisure airline Condor will likely be taking supply of 16 Airbus A330-900neos, which will likely be delivered between late 2022 and the center of 2024. These will change the provider’s current 13 Boeing 767-300ERs, that are getting outdated.
It’s so thrilling to see Condor evolve on this manner, provided that these planes will function an all new passenger expertise. Condor will lastly supply flat beds in enterprise class, private televisions in any respect seats, Wi-Fi, and many others.
Condor will at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart, because it’s the airline I most affiliate with my childhood. I’ve fond recollections flying nonstop between Tampa and Frankfurt on the airline again within the day (although having to take a seat within the smoking part can also be what received me fascinated with gathering miles within the first place, so I might journey extra comfortably).
What do you make of Condor’s A330-900neo order, and the general evolution of the airline?
