EGPF Forum

With Icelandair soon to receive their first Airbus 321xlr, it appears they have confirmed their phasing out of the 753s. Last date of operation appears to be 29th October, with Glasgow seeing it first the last time on 2nd October

Ah well, I managed to get over the retirement of the 727's, so I think I'll manage the 757's no problem. As long as FI are still flying the route, that's the main thing for me.

Am I correct in thinking that Icelandair is now the last remaining operator of the 757 at GLA?

The decline of the 757 seems surprisingly rapid. Just five or six years ago, it was one of the most common aircraft at GLA. If I recall, we had three based with Thomas Cook, one or two with TUI, along with daily flights from American Airlines, Delta, United, and, of course, Icelandair. At that time, there were likely around 18 to 20 daily 757 flights to/from GLA.

The 757 is truly a remarkable piece of engineering.

The B. 757 was always a favourite of mine too. It is an elegant machine with its high undercarriage. It also does not have that old-look nose of the B707; B727; B737 types, so it's a bit more stylish.
I have flown the B757 regularly, but never with Icelandair. I had only had one flight on the stretched version (Condor).

Icelandair is apparently rescheduling their MCO-KEF flights starting in summer 2025. These flights will now arrive during the second European departure bank at KEF, which is in the late morning. As a result, the MCO flight will no longer connect with GLA.

FlyGLA wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:58 pm Icelandair is apparently rescheduling their MCO-KEF flights starting in summer 2025. These flights will now arrive during the second European departure bank at KEF, which is in the late morning. As a result, the MCO flight will no longer connect with GLA.

I remember reading an article (I think it was on the old anna.aero site) pre-covid where they analysed FI's most popular connecting flows over KEF and iirc GLA-MCO was in the top 10 - and of course that was when we still had direct MCO with VS and Thomas Cook!

In light of that it seems crazy that they'd retime the flights to make MCO-GLA connections impossible.

More generally I think it's shocking that those in charge at GLA have failed to get any replacement service on MCO, but that's another thread!

FlyGLA wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:58 pm Icelandair is apparently rescheduling their MCO-KEF flights starting in summer 2025. These flights will now arrive during the second European departure bank at KEF, which is in the late morning. As a result, the MCO flight will no longer connect with GLA.

2nd bank from the USA presently arrive in KEF 0845-0925, which gives a GLA connection of 45-80 minutes, so connection should be ok. Presently connection to GLA is 4hr 10min. The new schedule will save FI day stopping in MCO.

PiperOne wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:06 pm

FlyGLA wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:58 pm Icelandair is apparently rescheduling their MCO-KEF flights starting in summer 2025. These flights will now arrive during the second European departure bank at KEF, which is in the late morning. As a result, the MCO flight will no longer connect with GLA.

2nd bank from the USA presently arrive in KEF 0845-0925, which gives a GLA connection of 45-80 minutes, so connection should be ok. Presently connection to GLA is 4hr 10min. The new schedule will save FI day stopping in MCO.

So in truth the new schedule is far better for those flying MCO-KEF-GLA. It can’t work so well both ways though, I’d imagine.

It will be sad to see the 753 go. I’ve been lucky enough to fly on both Thomas Cook Airlines and Condor 757-300s out of GLA and MAN.

On my Palma visit in June Condor 757-300s were still pounding the beat from Dusseldorf and Frankfurt sporting their stripes as well as the Sunny Heart colour scheme. One of the routes operated was a W pattern to ZRH.

These Boeings are the only ones left in Condor now that all the 767-300s have gone.

I was lucky enough to fly on TF-ISX, the 100 years of independence blue 757-300 when returning from YYZ a couple of years ago. I think it was a late substitute because I wasn’t expecting it having looked for my plane on FR24. We were bussed across the KEF airfield to a remote stand and she was sitting there freezing and looking rather miserable. I remember there were lots of repairs visible under the paint job at the rear door and tail.

Of course I walked down the cabin to appreciate how extra long and skinny looking it was and knew I’d never be on a 757-300 again.