Condor Retires Its Retro Livery Boeing 767

Condor has chosen to retire one of its oldest aircraft, a 28-year-old Boeing 767. This particular 767 is unique as it sports a retro livery matching the airline’s fleet from the 1980s. The aircraft recently embarked on its final flight, which will take it to the airplane graveyards of the Southwestern US. Fortunately for the airliner, snow and freezing fog forced it to divert to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), giving the aging aircraft a little more time before it is scrapped.

Unique widebody

The 767-300ER registered D-ABUM has spent time with several airlines throughout its life. This story of adventure and travel began on May 16th, 1988, when ILFC, which later merged with AerCAP, ordered the plane. One day and six years later, the airplane took to the skies for the first time on May 17th, 1994. Ten days later, on May 27th, Boeing delivered the aircraft to China Southern Airlines. The aircraft remained in service with China Southern until December 1998, when its reins were passed to Eurofly.

Photo: Soos Jozsef | Shutterstock

When the aircraft was handed over to Eurofly, the registration was changed to EI-CRF. The 767 spent three years in Eurofly’s fleet before being passed onto Alitalia in December 2001. Alitalia’s fleet was the home where the plane spent the largest portion of its life, as it spent nearly 11 years in its ranks. In July 2012, the aircraft was pulled from Alitalia’s ranks and spent a month awaiting relocation. In late August 2012, the seasoned aircraft was delivered to Condor. Upon delivery, the aircraft was reregistered D-ABUM.

The aircraft has spent just over ten years at Condor. Unfortunately, this life of adventure and exploration must come to a close for the global traveler. Over a lifespan of nearly 29 years, this 767 has accumulated over 114,000 flight hours. It has also flown over 18,000 flights. With 245 available seats, the aircraft has likely carried millions of passengers around the world in its lifetime.

Final flight

Like the countless aircraft that have gone before D-ABUM, it too must carry itself to the airplane graveyards where it will become a relic of history lost in the scorching sands of the Southwest US. The aircraft was being chartered from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Maine’s Bangor International Airport (BGR) yesterday, January 23rd, to refuel when it was forced to divert to BOS due to inclement weather. The airplane entered a holding pattern over Maine and remained there for about a half hour before deciding to divert. Once the weather clears, the flight will be on its way to a graveyard in the South West.

Before the flight, Condor formally retired the aircraft. With this older airplane and its retro livery gone, the airline will be one step closer to accomplishing its goals of having a young, efficient, colorful fleet. While it is sad to see the old aircraft go and with it a token of the airline’s former self, it does make way for a younger aircraft to become a part of the future Condor.

What do you think of this aircraft being retired? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: ch-avaition, FlightRadar24