German leisure airline Condor has started a new chapter in its history after taking delivery of its first Airbus A330-900. The arrival of the aircraft in Frankfurt on Monday evening comes seventeen months after the carrier selected the type as the preferred replacement for its aging Boeing 767s. Green and white rule on Condor’s first Airbus A330-900.
When Condor announced the order in July 2021, it still had fifteen 767-300s in service but right now only eight aircraft remain. Condor originally ordered sixteen A330-900s, of which nine will be leased and seven are direct purchases. This autumn, the carrier opted to lease another two. Condor’s neo’s have a three-class cabin with 310 seats, including 30 Business Class, 64 Premium Economy, and 216 Economy seats.
The first one with a green and white stiped livery is a direct purchase. The aircraft was originally ordered by AirAsia X until the Malaysian long-haul low-cost carrier cancelled its order for 63 A330neos. The aircraft sustained minor damage late last week, when the aircraft hit a hangar with its right wingtip when under towing on Airbus’ premises. More former AirAsia X aircraft are to follow but the next two will be ones that Garuda Indonesia had ordered. The airline wants to terminate orders for nine A330-900s and four -800s. Number two will wear gold and white stripes.
The first A330-900 will enter service on December 27 to Mauritius but will be scheduled soon on other routes as well. Condor consistently brands the A330neo as the 2-liter airliner. “The 2-liter aircraft’s fuel consumption is well below the industry average and reduces CO2 emissions by 20 percent on the same routes. This, together with state-of-the-art technologies and the highest level of comfort, is leading the way into the future and towards one of the greenest fleets in Europe,” CEO Ralf Teckentrup said in a media statement.
In July, the German airline also ordered 41 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, of which thirteen are A320neos and 28 A321neo’s. Of these, two A320neo’s and seventeen A321neo’s will be leased from Air Lease Corporation (ALC).
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
