Condor Flugdienst

[atuk]

Celebrated their 65th birthday yeaterday, frolich geburtstag Condor.

Well done to one of the world’s largest charter airlines in its day, a market leader to exotic destinations such as Comoros Islands, La Palma and Dakar to name a few.

From Vikings to Viscounts, 707, 727, 737, two 747s named Fritz and Max; 757, 767, DC10, 310,320,321 have all served over the years. The launch customer for the Boeing 757-300 and one of the largest remaining users of the 767-300.

Many other competitors sadly never reached their golden jubilee; Dan-Air London and Monarch Airlines to name but two both of which had large operations from Berlin Tegel.

They had many special colour schemes from Janosch with Tiger Duck to Rizzi Bird for their fortieth rather like Alexander Calder’s DC8-62 named Flying Colours to the current Ich Leibe Fliegen on 757 OM .

Here’s to many more years to come and a fleet replacement with maybe 787s?

[PiperOne]

Adding a few visuals to help the memory banks.

First, a couple of footie charters at the home airport from November 1973
F0430E 14NOV73 D-ABUG B707 Condor by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

F0429E 14NOV73 D-ABIL B727 GLA/EGPF Glasgow-Int by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

Dusseldorf has always been a hotbed of Condor activity. B727-230 D-ABTI in June 1981.
B2124E 09JN81 D-ABTI B727 DUS by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

Revised livery in the mid-80's seen at Tenerife on B727-230 D-ABKH
S0215E D-ABKH TFS by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

A more modern look on B767-330ER D-ABUY at Frankfurt in 1993.
B9408E 27-03-93 D-ABUY B763 FRA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

And the other half of the Boeing fleet, B757-230 D-ABNC at Palma, on a daytrip in 1993.
J1-15 scan D-ABNC B757 LEPA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

And a later look on B757-330 D-ABOE at Frankfurt, from 2002.
B115scan0008 12-06-02 D-ABOE FRA by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

And finally, one from the Thomas Cook era, A320-214 D-AICC at Dusseldorf.
B121scan0015 27-08-05 D-AICC DUS by Fergus Abraham, on Flickr

[atuk]

Excellent photos PiperOne I well remember that trip to Frankfurt sunshine, wind, minus four but felt like minus forty!

Quite a difference from our Palma day trip two years later when I went visiting airlines whilst you were able to see the Deutsche departures in the afternoon.

[atuk]

In its 65th year a new order for new wide bodied jets. Piperone, I eat my words!

Despite Condor saying to the contrary that the A330 was too big for their needs... he an order! New A330-900 neo from Autumn 2022.

Here’s hoping that Condor see this through and that Eurowings Discover don’t trash their lucrative markets to East Africa, Caribbean and Indian Ocean islands.

Wir Lieben Fliegen

[PiperOne]

In its 65th year a new order for new wide bodied jets. Piperone, I eat my words!

Despite Condor saying to the contrary that the A330 was too big for their needs... he an order! New A330-900 neo from Autumn 2022.

Here’s hoping that Condor see this through and that Eurowings Discover don’t trash their lucrative markets to East Africa, Caribbean and Indian Ocean islands.

Wir Lieben Fliegen

I thought they might go -800, with the longer range and lower capacity, however they must be happy that the -900 works economically. I wonder if the 767 freighter market will still be red-hot in 22/23 for them to get some payback.