Hi

Following on from wondering about TF-FIU's maintenance break, I've stumbled across TF-ISZ going to Kemble on 30th January. Looking a bit more, TF-ISL has been stored at KEF since 23 September. Both are ex-AA birds, maybe this has something to do with their withdrawal?

Does anyone have info on what's happening to Icelandair's fleet this year, regarding when the MAX's are coming, and any withdrawal of the 757 fleet?

MAXes have already started coming. I have seen a couple at EWR.

The Icelandair 757 question has replaced that of the Northwest DC9s.

IceAir takes damn good care of their 757s and I wouldn't be surprised to see them around for another 10, if not 15 years.

TF-FIU is planned to leave Kelowna tomorrow after maintenance. It will fly directly to Seattle and perform a regular scheduled SEA-KEF afterwards.

Icelandair will add 3 more MAX 8 and the initial 2 MAX 9 this spring/summer, for a fleet of 6 MAX 8 and 2 MAX 9 this year.

yyz717 wrote:

Icelandair will add 3 more MAX 8 and the initial 2 MAX 9 this spring/summer, for a fleet of 6 MAX 8 and 2 MAX 9 this year.

3+3 actually

No reduction of 757-200 declared. I assume that S19 will see more flights than original planed before the capacity reduction at WOWair.

TF-ISZ was retired as the airframe was very high in hours. FI was supposed to add a 'newer' former AA 757 ex N687AA to its fleet, however it is not confirmed whether they will still take the aircraft, it is currently still parked in CAN. TF-ISL has been ferried to Kelowna for maintenance, prior returning to service.

asuflyer wrote:

TF-ISZ was retired as the airframe was very high in hours. FI was supposed to add a 'newer' former AA 757 ex N687AA to its fleet, however it is not confirmed whether they will still take the aircraft, it is currently still parked in CAN. TF-ISL has been ferried to Kelowna for maintenance, prior returning to service.

Rumor has it TF-ISZ had an upcoming maintenance check that was going to cost a substantial amount of money. Probably made more sense/held more value as scrap. Parts shortages are becoming very real for 757's globally.
N687AA is bought (I believe) by Loftleiðir Cabo Verde and will be going to Cabo Verde Airlines once C-Check is completed.
TF-ISL will be in maintenance in Kelowna for 1-1.5 months. TF-FIU was in scheduled maintenance in Kelowna as well.

icelandair75w wrote:

asuflyer wrote:

TF-ISZ was retired as the airframe was very high in hours. FI was supposed to add a 'newer' former AA 757 ex N687AA to its fleet, however it is not confirmed whether they will still take the aircraft, it is currently still parked in CAN. TF-ISL has been ferried to Kelowna for maintenance, prior returning to service.

Rumor has it TF-ISZ had an upcoming maintenance check that was going to cost a substantial amount of money. Probably made more sense/held more value as scrap. Parts shortages are becoming very real for 757's globally.
N687AA is bought (I believe) by Loftleiðir Cabo Verde and will be going to Cabo Verde Airlines once C-Check is completed.
TF-ISL will be in maintenance in Kelowna for 1-1.5 months. TF-FIU was in scheduled maintenance in Kelowna as well.

You're correct, the 757 in CAN is destined for Cabo Verde.

Icelandair will slowly retire a 757 here and there as the hours build up and as MAX's come in. Expect older high hour, low cycle frames like TF-FII and -FIJ (1990-91 builds) to be retired in the coming year or two. Most of the ex-AA have higher cycles rather than hours, so they're often rotated on longer routes like SEA, PDX, DEN and MCO because the hours aren't a problem and the high cycle count means it makes sense to use those frames for 20~ hour layovers that these routes require. I've heard somewhere that -ISF might be leaving the fleet this year, however most of the other AA birds should have some years left in them.

There should be 3-6 737s joining the fleet each year over the next 5 years. However, I'd expect FI to keep at least 7-10 757s well into the 2020s (and possibly 2030s) for routes such as DEN, PDX, ANC, YVR and YEG. SEA is probably the only route that is outside of MAX range but inside the range of the 757 and currently has the demand for a 767, but that would mean FI needs more widebodies especially if their proposed India plans come to fruition. Regardless how things spin out, the coming years should be exciting to watch!

All i can say is that Icelandair take real good care of their aircrafts.
The B757 TF-ISZ at Kemble is in mint condition. The only reason to retire it would be because of a upcoming compulsory expensive major check because of the aircraft age.

stlgph wrote:

The Icelandair 757 question has replaced that of the Northwest DC9s.

IceAir takes damn good care of their 757s and I wouldn't be surprised to see them around for another 10, if not 15 years.

Definitely. The fact quite a few RON in the US and Canada for 20+ hours helps. They'll be around quite awhile.

From 2 years ago, so some things may have changed


MAX Delivery plan




From December 2018 showing (3) 757 leaving;

At present, 3 Max 8s (ICE, ICU & ICY) are in the fleet and I believe a further Max (ICA) is undergoing flight tests in Seattle at the mo, presumably for delivery in the next week or two.

What of the upper end of the fleet ? I know they cancelled their 787 orders, but the 763s & 753s can't go in forever. Presumably the 797, whatever shape it finally takes, will be of interest to them.

Did FI install the flat panel cockpit on TF-ISZ? Edit - nevermind, seems ISZ has the flat panel upgrade: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtyrpics/45376745804

Speaking of which, do their 767-300ERs have the flat panel cockpit as well?

icelandair75w wrote:

asuflyer wrote:

TF-ISZ was retired as the airframe was very high in hours. FI was supposed to add a 'newer' former AA 757 ex N687AA to its fleet, however it is not confirmed whether they will still take the aircraft, it is currently still parked in CAN. TF-ISL has been ferried to Kelowna for maintenance, prior returning to service.

N687AA is bought (I believe) by Loftleiðir Cabo Verde and will be going to Cabo Verde Airlines once C-Check is completed.

What is the status of Icelandair's Cape Verde investment?

KICT wrote:

Did FI install the flat panel cockpit on TF-ISZ? Edit - nevermind, seems ISZ has the flat panel upgrade: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rtyrpics/45376745804

Speaking of which, do their 767-300ERs have the flat panel cockpit as well?

Yes, AFAIK all of their 757s and 767s do.

kaitak wrote:

At present, 3 Max 8s (ICE, ICU & ICY) are in the fleet and I believe a further Max (ICA) is undergoing flight tests in Seattle at the mo, presumably for delivery in the next week or two.

What of the upper end of the fleet ? I know they cancelled their 787 orders, but the 763s & 753s can't go in forever. Presumably the 797, whatever shape it finally takes, will be of interest to them.

I think FI is watching very closely what both Boeing, and to a lesser extent Airbus, are doing in that segment of the market. However, I'd assume the 757s and 767s will soldier on for the next 10 years at least in some form.

I think we could expect that Icelandair fleet plans could change quite a bit, due to the possibilities of buying the majority shares of Cabo Verde Airlines, demise of Primera and the capacity reduction of WOWair.

Primera was a player on the Icelandic holiday market and Icelandair is doing now more holiday flights than last year.
After WOW cut routes and flights, Icelandair saw a jump in load factor on their scheduled flights.
Icelandair through Loftleiðir has to supply Cabo Verde Airlines with frames.

All the above will lead to less frames being retired, or old 757-200 being replaced with newer 757-200.

Icelandair operates, partly through its subsidiaries, 52 frames and owns 42 of them. (31/12/2018)

kaitak wrote:

At present, 3 Max 8s (ICE, ICU & ICY) are in the fleet and I believe a further Max (ICA) is undergoing flight tests in Seattle at the mo, presumably for delivery in the next week or two.

What of the upper end of the fleet ? I know they cancelled their 787 orders, but the 763s & 753s can't go in forever. Presumably the 797, whatever shape it finally takes, will be of interest to them.

Yeah, I would bet that the 797 will be of significant interest to them. the timing of the charts posted and such just sort of leans to the direction of a 797.

Just a guess, but perhaps they would be in an original group that places orders upon Boeing opening the books. Maybe 20 firm, 15 options spread out over 10 years? Just a guess. Thoughts?