German leisure airline Condor is about to achieve a serious milestone in its fleet modernization challenge. I can’t assist however take a second to acknowledge simply how shortly the airline did this, and to distinction that to what’s happening at a sure different German airLHine.
Condor transitions from Boeing 767-300ER to Airbus A330-900neo
Traditionally, Condor has primarily used Boeing 767s for its lengthy haul flights. These planes had been outdated, and featured reasonably uncomfortable angled seats in enterprise class. Then once more, Condor is a leisure airline that used to fly principally in markets with no competitors, and the airline additionally provided good worth.
In July 2021, Condor introduced a serious challenge to modernize its fleet. The airline positioned an order for Airbus A330-900neos, which had been meant to interchange your complete fleet of Boeing 767-300ERs. Whereas the airline initially ordered 16 of those jets, that order has now been upped to 21 frames.
What’s nothing in need of wonderful is how shortly this complete challenge has taken place:
- Between December 2022 and January 2024, Condor has taken supply of 13 Airbus A330-900neos, with a further eight on order
- Condor has progressively been retiring its Boeing 767-300ERs; the airline is now down to 2 of those, and as of mid-March 2024, the airline will absolutely retire this fleet, which means Condor will solely fly Airbus A330-900neos on lengthy haul flights
So over the course of 15 months, the airline has gone from primarily flying Boeing 767s on lengthy haul flights, to solely flying Airbus A330s. This isn’t simply nice when it comes to gas effectivity, however what’s equally thrilling is the enormously improved product that Condor has launched on these jets.
Condor has a wonderful enterprise class product on its new jets, with direct aisle entry from each seat, plus a “premium” enterprise class product within the first row. So from a passenger’s standpoint, this fleet modernization has been a sport changer, as this isn’t nearly an plane with higher economics.
That is fairly a distinction to Lufthansa
Look, I don’t need to choose on Lufthansa, as a result of it’s simply too straightforward. However I can’t assist however level out the sharp distinction between how Condor and Lufthansa are bettering their passenger expertise.
Condor introduced its plane order in mid-2021, and fewer than three years later, the airline has its new product throughout its fleet. In the meantime Lufthansa introduced its new Allegris enterprise class product in 2017, and almost seven years later, not a single plane options this product. Not one.
At this level Condor has a constant enterprise class product with direct aisle entry from all seats, whereas Lufthansa has… hopes and goals, and perhaps we’ll see a airplane or two with the brand new cabins by this summer time… perhaps?
Let me after all acknowledge that Condor has a a lot smaller fleet than Lufthansa does, so nobody expects Lufthansa to overtake its whole fleet in simply over a 12 months. Nonetheless, I’d wish to suppose that I’m not being unreasonable for anticipating some progress over seven years.
Backside line
Condor has finished a commendable job updating its lengthy haul fleet. The airline introduced an order for Airbus A330-900neos in mid-2021, and fewer than three years later, that is the airplane that the airline will solely function on lengthy haul flights.
This marks the tip of an period for Condor’s Boeing 767-300ERs. Truthfully, I’m going to overlook these planes. I’ve fond recollections flying Condor’s 767s from Tampa to Frankfurt once I was younger, again once they nonetheless had a smoking part. Good instances (effectively, form of)!
What do you make of Condor’s fleet modernization?
