Discover Airlines (4Y, Frankfurt International) says it will retire its three A330-200s when their leases expire in 2026, replacing them with additional A330-300s. The Lufthansa Group leisure carrier is also growing its narrowbody fleet.
"Over the next three years, a total of six A330-300s and at least three A320s will join the fleet. The A330s are scheduled to enter service by mid-2027, while the A320s will already enter service in 2025," the carrier said.
Overall, including the planned retirement of the three A330-200s, Discover Airlines' fleet will increase from 27 units to 33 by 2027.
The A330-200s are 19.8 years old on average and were transferred to Discover Airlines following the closure of SunExpress Deutschland, the German AOC of Lufthansa's and Turkish Airlines' joint venture SunExpress. All three are on lease from AerCap, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows.
The carrier's current fleet also includes fourteen A320-200s and ten A330-300s. The airline said that as the widebody fleet consolidates around a single variant, it will refurbish the interiors of its A330-300s. The aircraft will be outfitted with a new business class cabin with direct aisle access for all seats and improved premium economy and economy seating. The details of the new configuration will be revealed at a later date.
Lufthansa Group is planning to strengthen its leisure-focused brands as a part of its ongoing restructuring plan, as mainline carrier Lufthansa grapples with adapting to post-pandemic travel patterns. The holding said recently it was evaluating options for new-generation narrowbodies for Discover Airlines.
