Last Updated: 11:20 EST NOV 05 2025 by Jake Hardiman
Today is a huge day for German carrier Condor. The airline is saying farewell to the Boeing 757-300 with one final service from Frankfurt to Vienna and back. From tomorrow, the airline will operate an all Airbus fleet consisting of aircraft from the A320 and A330 families.
Simple Flying is on board the final Boeing 757-300 flights as a guest of Condor. We will be posting live updates to this page throughout the day, allowing you to follow along as we witness the end of an era.
Recap: The Event As It Happened
Wednesday, November 5th, 11:20 EST | 17:20 Local
With Condor’s last-ever passenger flight with the Boeing 757-300 now safely back on the ground in Frankfurt, let’s close our coverage with a look back at the day as it happened. Check-in opened, rather aptly, at counters 752 and 753, where guests were given goodie bags along with their boarding passes. Boarding took place via a bus gate, giving passengers a great view of the jet.
It was a beautiful day for flying on Condor’s red and white striped D-ABOM, and Tom was seated behind the exit row in 27D. Before departure, he and his fellow guests were treated to a speech by the pilots, before the plane took to the skies at 10:27. It reached Vienna 67 minutes later, but not before passengers were able to sink their teeth into food and drink from a special menu.
Once on the ground in Austria, there was a celebration event at the airport’s fire station. Here, a flight attendant gave a musical performance that was followed by a speech from Condor CEO Peter Gerber, who later chatted to Simple Flying about his airline’s love for the 757. Before too long, it was time to fly back to Frankfurt, with a quiz being hosted while the plane taxied to the runway.
After taking off at 14:28, the jet flew north, taking a circuitous route back to Germany in order to spell ‘757’ in the sky with its flightpath. This also gave guests the chance to get involved in the world’s highest party, with glowsticks lighting up the cabin. It eventually touched down at 16:16, bringing a special day, and Condor’s relationship with the 757, to a spectacular close.
The Party Comes To A Close
Wednesday, November 5th, 10:25 EST | 16:25 Local
Condor flight DE757 touched down in Frankfurt at 16:16 local time, one hour and 48 minutes after its departure from Vienna.
The extended flight time in order to write ‘757’ in the sky gave Tom and his fellow passengers extra time to enjoy what, from down on the ground, looks like quite the party!
Drawing In The Sky
Wednesday, November 5th, 09:55 EST | 15:55 Local
As is customary for retirement flights, D-ABOM’s flight path has seen the 757 draw in the sky! In this case, the jet has spelled out its much-loved model name.
Back Over The Border
Wednesday, November 5th, 09:05 EST | 15:05 Local
Just over half an hour into its flight, DE757 has crossed back over the German border. Interestingly, it seems to be taking a more circuitous route back to Frankfurt, having flown northwest over Czechia and crossed the border near Dresden, where it has turned northeast.
Time For Takeoff
Wednesday, November 5th, 08:30 EST | 14:30 Local
Condor’s last 757 flight is back in the skies, having taken off from Vienna’s runway 16 at 14:28 local time. It should be quite a party on board!
An Entertaining Taxi
Wednesday, November 5th, 08:25 EST | 14:25 Local
D-ABOM is now taxiing to the runway in Vienna ahead of its flight back to Frankfurt. To keep passengers entertained, the crew have been hosting a quiz, with guests encouraged to use their call bells as buzzers!
Back Onboard
Wednesday, November 5th, 07:45 EST | 13:45 Local
After a sunny walk around the 757, it’s time to get back on board for the return flight to Frankfurt!
Interview: Why The 757 Is Special To Condor
Wednesday, November 5th, 07:25 EST | 13:25 Local
As part of today’s event, Simple Flying’s Tom Boon had the chance to talk to Condor CEO Peter Gerber about what makes the Boeing 757 special to the German leisure carrier. He explained that “it proved to be perfect for many years, because we could fly it with many seats, to our tourist destinations, like the Canaries, Egypt, or Mallorca.” Gerber adds that the 757-300 “was the perfect match in this respect when it comes to economic value.”
In terms of what comes next for these aircraft, the Condor CEO told Simple Flying that “we are giving all 757s back to the lessor, and after we fly them over to Wales, they have to decide what to do with them.” While Gerber currently has “no knowledge of what they will do,” he did tell us that “I believe some will fly for other airlines, while some may be rebuilt into freighters.”
Speech Time
Wednesday, November 5th, 06:35 EST | 12:35 Local
The speeches have begun, with Condor CEO Peter Gerber addressing the audience. He explains that Vienna was chosen for the final flight as it represents a new chapter of Condor that doesn’t just look at traditional holiday destinations, but also connects city destinations within Europe. There’s also cake!
The Celebration Begins
Wednesday, November 5th, 06:20 EST | 12:20 Local
The flight’s guests have made their way into the fire station at Vienna Airport for the celebration event, where a member of cabin crew is getting things going with a musical performance. This is expected to be followed by speeches.
Touchdown!
Wednesday, November 5th, 05:40 EST | 11:40 Local
The flight has just landed in Vienna, touching down on runway 11 at 11:34 local time after one hour and seven minutes in the air. According to Condor, “the Boeing 757 will be celebrated with a dedicated farewell event” in the Austrian capital today before its return flight to Frankfurt this afternoon.
Condor & The 757
Wednesday, November 5th, 05:30 EST | 11:30 Local
As DE757 approaches Vienna, it’s worth looking back at Condor’s 757 operations as a whole. The German leisure carrier was a rare user of the stretched Boeing 757-300 variant, lovingly known by many as the ‘Flying Pencil,’ with ch-aviation showing that it flew 15 examples over the years, and 18 standard 757-200s. One of these wore a special ‘Wir Lieben Fliegen’ (‘We Love Flying’) livery.
Wednesday, November 5th, 05:00 EST | 11:00 Local
The special flight is now cruising towards Vienna, so it’s worth a look at the special menu that Condor has devised for this celebratory occasion.
With two interesting sandwich choices and plenty of drinks on offer, there’s lots to like! Which options would you choose?
We Have Liftoff!
Wednesday, November 5th, 04:35 EST | 10:35 Local
Condor’s aptly numbered flight DE757 took off at 10:27 local time, and is heading southeast towards Vienna. Tom is now enjoying his time in the sky but, fret not, as Jake will be continuing live coverage with updates throughout the flight!
Ready For TakeoffWednesday, November 5th, 04:25 EST | 10:25 Local
The safety demo has taken place, and it’s time to taxi to Frankfurt’s runway 18 for a southbound departure. As it happens, the aircraft’s safety card is one of the items in the goodie bag given out earlier.
A Special Welcome
Wednesday, November 5th, 04:15 EST | 10:15 Local
The pilots are welcoming passengers onboard this special flight with a speech. Have you ever seen so many phones in the air? Today’s flight is also a special one for the airline’s staff, and it features crew who have been flying the 757 at Condor since it entered service with the airline in 1990. The airline flew the 757-200 first, before adding the 757-300 to its fleet in 1999.
All Aboard!
Wednesday, November 5th, 04:00 EST | 10:00 Local
We’re sitting in 27D for this morning’s flight, located over the wings right behind the emergency exit rows. The overhead lockers are already full, so, having squeezed a bag under the seat, there isn’t much leg room. Thankfully, it’s a short flight.
D-ABOM has had its current all-economy 275-seat configuration for 10 years. However, data from Planespotters.net suggests that it used to be more spacious, with the huge jet having ‘only’ had 252 economy class seats onboard from 2000 to 2015.
Arriving At The Aircraft
Wednesday, November 5th, 03:50 EST | 09:50 Local
The boarding buses have now reached the aircraft, whose red and white stripes are looking resplendent in the morning sun – it’s a lovely day for flying!
D-ABOM is the aircraft operating Condor’s final flight with the Boeing 757-300, and data from ch-aviation shows that it is 25.5 years old, having first flown on May 4, 2000. It was delivered to Condor 13 days later, and has remained at the German leisure carrier ever since.
Boarding is underway
Wednesday, November 5th, 03:30 EST | 09:30 Local
Boarding has begun, and we’re on our way to the aircraft. Departure to Wien (German for Vienna) is scheduled for 10:00 local time. Let’s see how punctual 275 aviation fans can be.
We’re At The Boarding Gate
Wednesday, November 5th, 03:00 EST | 09:00 Local
We’ve completed the security check, and all of the goodies provided by Condor made it through, including the high-vis vest. Now we’re waiting at the gate with over 200 other excited passengers. Boarding is scheduled to begin any minute. We’re boarding group 4, but also at a bus gate.
Check-In Is Open
Wednesday, November 5th, 02:35 EST | 08:35 Local
There’s no online check-in today. All passengers on board flight DE 757 must check in at Frankfurt Airport. This is our first taste of how Boeing 757-focused the day will be, with really no detail spared by the airline. Check-in is taking place at counters 752 and 753, representing the ICAO aircraft codes of the Boeing 757-200 and 757-300, respectively.
After checking in, we were presented with a gift bag containing a range of Condor goodies, from a copy of the aircraft’s registration certificate to a Boeing 757 safety card, and even a headrest. We’re now heading through to the gate before boarding the flight. Gate B1 is in use for us today, which seems to be a bus gate…
Live Coverage Starting
Wednesday, November 5th, 01:45 EST | 07:45 Local
Good morning from Frankfurt as we start our live coverage of Condor’s Boeing 757 farewell flights. We are currently en route to Frankfurt Airport, where we will join Condor for the final flights from Frankfurt to Vienna and back. Throughout the day, we will be posting live updates for readers to follow along with the final flights.
For fans of aviation who are keen to follow along or try and spot the aircraft, it will be operating the following flights:
|
Flight Number |
Dep. Airport |
Dep. Time |
Arr. Airport |
Arr. Time |
Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE 757 |
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) |
10:00 |
Vienna Airport (VIE) |
11:30 |
1h30m |
|
DE 757 |
Vienna Airport (VIE) |
14:15 |
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) |
16:00 |
1h45m |
Do you have memories of the Condor Boeing 757? Are you sad to see it go or happy for the Condor of the future? Get in touch at editorial@simpleflying.com for a chance to be featured in our coverage throughout the day!
