Discover Airlines (4 years, Frankfurt International) will retire its three A330-200s after the leases expire in 2026 and replace them with additional A330-300s. The Lufthansa Group’s holiday airline is also expanding its narrow-body fleet.
“Over the next three years, a total of six A330-300s and at least three A320s will be added to the fleet. The A330s are scheduled to enter service in mid-2027, while the A320s will enter service as early as 2025,” the airline said.
Overall, Discover Airlines’ fleet, including the planned retirement of the three A330-200s, will grow from 27 to 33 aircraft by 2027.
The A330-200s are on average 19.8 years old and were handed over to Discover Airlines following the closure of SunExpress Deutschland, the German AOC of the SunExpress joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines. All three are leased from AerCap, as the ch-aviation fleet ownership module shows.
The airline’s current fleet also includes fourteen A320-200s and ten A330-300s. The airline said it will renew the interiors of its A330-300s as it consolidates its widebody fleet to a single variant. The aircraft will feature a new business class cabin with direct aisle access for all seats, as well as improved premium economy and economy seating. Details of the new configuration will be announced at a later date.
The Lufthansa Group plans to strengthen its leisure-focused brands as part of its ongoing restructuring plan as major airline Lufthansa struggles to adapt to post-pandemic travel patterns. The holding company recently announced that it is reviewing options for new-generation narrow-body aircraft for Discover Airlines.
