German leisure airline Condor Flugdienst has announced plans to retire its Boeing 757 fleet by the end of the summer 2025 schedule. The decision marks the end of an era for the airline, which has long operated the type on holiday and charter routes.
The move was first reported by German aviation website aero.de, citing Condor’s 2021/2022 annual report. The document, originally published in January 2023 but only recently made public in Germany’s Bundesanzeiger (Federal Gazette), indicates that Condor intends to retire the aircraft earlier than initially planned due to their age and leasing considerations.
“Given the age of the Boeing 757 fleet, Condor is currently planning to retire it before originally planned in the leasing period,” the report states. It further confirms that, according to current planning, Condor’s remaining Boeing 757s will no longer be operated after summer 2025. The airline had already begun scaling back operations of the type in 2023, with only a limited number of aircraft remaining active.
Condor’s 757 Fleet
Condor currently operates nine Boeing 757-300s, with two additional aircraft in storage. These aircraft, leased from Seattle-based Altavair, have been a mainstay of the airline’s medium-haul fleet for many years. The 757-300 remains a rare aircraft in European airline service, with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines still operating the type in the United States.
The phase-out of Condor’s 757 fleet comes as the airline modernizes its narrowbody operations. It has been steadily incorporating Airbus A320neo family aircraft into its fleet, with additional orders placed in 2023 for four A321neo and two A320neo models. These next-generation aircraft will eventually replace the aging Boeing jets.
Due to the accelerated retirement plan, Condor reported unscheduled depreciation expenses of €45 million, as the 757s will exit service before their original lease agreements expire.
While the 757-300 is becoming increasingly rare in commercial service, its smaller sibling, the 757-200, continues to fly in Europe with airlines such as Icelandair (13 aircraft) and Jet2 (seven aircraft). However, the largest operators of the type remain in the United States, where Delta Air Lines and United Airlines still maintain significant 757 fleets.
Condor’s Final 757 Flights
With Condor’s Boeing 757 retirement now on the horizon, European aviation enthusiasts will have limited time left to catch these distinctive aircraft in action before they disappear from the skies.
It is anticipated that the final Condor Boeing 757 flights will take place on 26 October 2025 and will operate the following services:
- Dusseldorf – Palma de Mallorca
- Frankfurt – Palma de Mallorca
Have you ever flown on a Boeing 757-300? Leave a comment below!
