After a brief setback earlier this week, Condor has officially taken delivery of its first Airbus A330neo. Seventeen more of the type are set to join Condor’s fleet over the next two years, replacing the German leisure airline’s aging Boeing 767s.
A slight delay
Initial delivery of the aircraft, D-ANRA, was pushed back several days following an incident at Airbus’ Toulouse facility earlier this week. Although the overall damage was relatively minor, the aircraft’s right winglet clipped a building during towing, causing a fuel leak. After repairs, D-ANRA underwent a successful two-hour Customer Acceptance Flight to ensure its readiness for service.
Now decked out in Condor’s bright green “island” livery, commercial flights will begin on Sunday as scheduled, with the jet being assigned to the Frankfurt (FRA) – Port Louis (MRU) winter sun service. The jet will replace Condor’s leased ex-Etihad A330-200s on the route.
DE2314 is planned for departure on December 18, departing Frankfurt at 16:10 CET before touching down in Mauritius at 06:40 MUT the following morning. The return leg, DE2315, will depart Port Louis at 08:30 MUT, arriving back in Frankfurt at 17:35 CET.
While dates are yet to be confirmed, the A330neo is expected to be utilized on several direct transatlantic routes, including New York JFK (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Toronto (YYZ), which also run through winter.
Back onboard
Ordered back in July 2021, Condor sought a more efficient jet to replace its current long-haul 767 fleet, with an average age of around 27. The new engine option of the popular type has significantly lower fuel burn than its predecessor and adds 1,000 NM in range.
Condor’s shift to the A330neo drastically ups the capacity for its long-haul operations. The airline’s 767 offers up to 259 seats, including 18 business class and 35 premium economy seats; however, the larger A330neo provides 320 seats, expanding business class to 30 and premium economy to 64.
The new jet provides a flashy interior refresh for Condor’s business class passengers. The premium cabin will feature a 1-2-1 layout for guaranteed aisle access and 1.99m lie-flat beds for the long-haul. Condor’s in-entertainment system also has a noticeable upgrade; passengers will be able to watch movies and TV shows on a 17.3-inch screen with 4K resolution.
Although configured in Condor’s usual 2-4-2 layout, premium economy offers a roomier experience for passengers, adding 15 cm (5.91 inches) of legroom compared to typical economy seating.
“With the new cabin design, we are focusing on modern elegance and the colour-set creates a clear reference to our new brand identity,” explained Condor CEO Ralf Teckentrup following the new cabin’s reveal in June.
“Our well-established product is complemented by an unprecedented, coherent interior design, with the highest level of comfort, the most diverse and largest in-flight entertainment programme to date with an interface for your own Bluetooth headset, as well as high-speed internet connectivity for everyone on board.”
Will you be flying long-haul with Condor this winter? What routes would you like to see the Airbus A330neo operate? Let us know in the comments.
