By Charlotte Seet
German Leisure Airline Condor to Order A330-900neo
Considered as the most popular leisure airline of Germany, Condor Flugdienst GmbH has made the decision to order 16 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft as part of its long-haul fleet modernization.
Condor recently signed a purchase agreement with Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, for the purchase of seven A330neos, and has plans to lease an additional nine. It is expected to have the first aircraft in Autumn 2022, the order would also make Condor as the German launch customer for the aircraft type.
If everything goes according to the scheduled timeline, the German leisure carrier would have received all deliveries by mid-2024.
The airline then has plans to use the new-generation aircraft for its international long-haul network to Africa, the Americans, Asia and the Caribbean.
In a press release, Chief Executive Officer of Condor, Ralf Teckentrup, said: “We are proud to be the German launch customer for the A330neo. Thanks to the latest technology and maximum efficiency of the aircraft, we will be taking off with our new plane from Autumn 2022.”
Currently, Condor has a long-haul fleet of 15 Boeing 767-300ERs, of which only 13 are currently active and with an average age of close to 26 years.
Thus, it would make sense that the airline wants to modernize its long-haul fleet, but why the A330-900neo?
As Teckentrup said in the same press release: “We are introducing the two-liter aircraft into our operations and will be setting new standards: with our modern long-haul fleet, we will inseparably combine sustainability and holidays with Condor in the future.”
Incorporated with advanced A350 technologies and powered by the Rolls Royce Trent 7000 engines – which are capable of operating on sustainable aviation fuels – the A330neo is considered the most successful one of the family.
Additionally, Airbus has designed the A330neo with unique aerodynamics with enhanced wing design and is the first aircraft in the world that is certified for the regulatory reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, a rule that will only start being applied in 2028.
Being a leisure airline, Condor also chose the A330neo for it has the quietest cabin in the world for a medium-sized wide-body, ensuring less noise and less sound.
Condor plans to retain its three-cabin class interior of business, premium economy and economy class, which aims to offer more space and privacy options for its passengers.
Teckentrup said that Condor’s passengers could expect “the highest level of comfort” across all cabin classes in the future on board the A330neo.
The airline’s current fleet carries approximately 250 seats on board, and the A330neo is set to boost that by at least 20 percent without compromising on passenger comfort.
Besides an aging long-haul fleet, Condor’s plan for a new fleet could have also been due to increased competition from the Lufthansa Group’s new long-haul airline, Eurowings Discover.
A direct subsidiary of Lufthansa, the new competitor had taken advantage of its backing from one of Europe’s major players, as well as the rising demand for leisure travel to become a relatively successful start-up.
The airline currently has plans to operate seven medium-haul and ten long-haul routes by the end of this year, and also set its sight on fleet expansion too.
Out of the ten long-haul routes, Eurowings Discover would be competing with Condor on seven of them and currently operates on Airbus A330-200s.
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Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.
Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.