Hi, dear flight-report members and readers! In this FR I'd like to present a detailed review of ex-Icelandair ultra-rare Boeing 757-300 on Reykjavik (KEF) - Copenhagen (CPH) taken on 3 September 2023.
Intro
Flight on a B753 was one of the main reasons to visit Iceland. The price that FI charges for its flights between Iceland and mainland EU is high - 210 USD one-way, but after some thinking I decided to jump (who could think in 2023 that a year later FI's both B753s will find new life in Fly Khiva in Uzbekistan, which is much much more cheaper airline!).
The way to Iceland was not smooth. I had to position myself there by EasyJet flight MXP-KEF, but A21N (CFM-powered, not ill-fated PW!), operating this flight got engine malfunction over UK and landed in Edinburgh, wasting 24 hours of my valuable time (and I never got the compensation for this disaster from this lowcoster!) before the engine was eventually fixed. I had to scrap my plans in Iceland, and, having just 1 full day, took quite expensive and badly organized tour to Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which left me rather disappointed (at least the weather at the lagoon was perfect).
Eventually my short time in Iceland came to an end, and it was time for the avgeek part of the trip. And it turned out to be very positive, like an compensation for the previous misfortunes!
Boeing 757 Remaining Passenger Operators
In 2025, both modifications (-200 and -300) of the legendary 757 are dying breeds. Most its past operators chose modern A21N as the replacement. It would be useful to list all the remaining 757 operators, continuing passenger service. Let's remind that B757 was produced with 2 engine types: legendary RR RB211 (which also powered B744s and earlier B763s) or (much rare) PW2000.
757-300:
1) Condor: 6 RR-powered units in single-class layout (Y275). Will be retired very soon - in November 2025.
2) Delta Air Lines: 16 PW-powered units in 2-class layout (C24_Y210). DL plans to operate them until 2030.
3) Fly Khiva: 2 RR-powered units (C22_Y203) - ex-Icelandair ones.
4) SkyLine Express: 3 RR-powered units (Y280) parked in KBP (hopefully they will not get damaged) plus 2 RR-powered units (Y275) leased from Mavi Gok Airlines (only 1 unit in operation).
5) United Airlines: 21 RR-powered units in 2-class layout (C24_Y210). UA probably will operate them until 2030.
757-200:
1) Delta Air Lines: 53 PW-powered units in 2-class layout (C20_Y179 or C20_Y179) plus 6 PW-powered units in 2-class layout (C20_Y173) plus 13 PW-powered units in 2-class transatlantic layout (C16_Y152) plus 11 PW-powered units in single-class premium layout (C72).
2) Icelandair: 5 RR-powered units in 2-class layout (C22_Y161) plus 2 RR-powered units in 2-class layout (C20_Y164) plus 2 RR-powered units in single-class premium layout (C80) plus 1 RR-powered unit in single-class premium layout (C52/C80). Will be retired in 2026.
3) SCAT Airlines: 3 RR-powered units in single-class layout (Y235). Operated for Sunday Airlines. 1 unit is grounded.
4) United Airlines: 40 RR-powered units in 2-class transatlantic layout (C16_Y160).
As one can see:
a) Delta stands out as the world's largest B757 (-200 and -300 mixed) operator and operator of the rarest PW engines, though, United is the world's largest B753 operator.
b) If you want to fly a B757 within Europe, there's just 1 month left for -300 and approx. 1 year for -200.
c) If you don't have possibility to enter US, after 2026 you'll be able to fly B753 only in Uzbekistan and B752 only from Kazakhstan to some "sun" destinations (SCAT also occasionally puts B752s onto position flights inside Kazakhstan).
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF)
I spent the night before the flight in KEF airport. The terminal is rather compact and neat. Gate area is good for planespotting. For example, this is the sibling of the subject of this FR - 2000-built B753 TF-ISX (now UK75007 in Fly Khiva) in the special livery (dedicated to the centenary of the Iceland's independence), which was heading to LHR. It's interesting that before joining FI fleet it flew for Israeli airline Arkia (which transited to A21Ns).
The Aircraft
The aircraft of today is 2002-built TF-FIX in the standard livery, which was in FI fleet from the beginning (now it's UK75006 in Fly Khiva). So, it's 2 years younger than the sibling TF-ISX.
TF-FIX was parked at a remote stand with special "gate" with jetbridge, to where passenger should be bussed (a smart decision for remote stands, considering typical Icelandic weather!).
Boarding
Nose view of TF-FIX
Engine and fuselage view (the last time I boarded an aircraft with RR RB211s was in November 2016, when it was BA vintage B744, which flew me from LHR to MEX). And hey, I'm boarding the world's longest narrowbody! The lenght of this pencil-jet is almost equal to B763 length and just 3 metres shorter than B788 or A332 length!
The Business Cabin
Between 1L/R and 2L/R doors there is the business class cabin, consisting of 22 massive recliner Aviointeriors Andromeda seats in 2-2 layout. It will be shown in more details further.
The Economy Cabin
The economy class consists of 203 seats in 3-3 layout, distributed between 2 cabins: the very long front one between 2L/R and 3L/R doors and the smaller rear one between 3L/R and 4L/R doors.
The front large economy cabin:
The front and rear economy cabins are partially separated by lavatories near 3L/R doors, which makes rear cabin neat.
The rear smaller economy cabin:
The Economy Seat
My seat is 38A in the rear economy cabin. The seat model is Aviointeriors Columbus. The seatwidth is 17.0" - due to narrow fuselage B757 cannot accomodate wider seats in 3-3 layout. Though, the cabin is not full and I got 3 seats for myself.
The seat has adjustable headrest, limited rise for armrests (only half-way up), modern IFE with USB port, tray table and seat pocket. There's an underseat power box for IFE, but with 3 seats for myself it was not a problem.
The overhead panel is early 737NG-like. Older B757s have vintage 737CL-like panels.
The content of the seatpocket is safety card, inflight menu and waste bag with Icelandic humour.
Some IFE screenshots. It has quite an extensive content, an the screen is very crispy and responsive.
The Flight
Taking off from KEF. Oh, this sound of RB211 engines! B752 is called a "Ferrari among airliners". B753, being longer and heavier, doesn't feel like Ferrari, but anyway the takeoff is very impressive. The sky tells that today in Reykjavik the weather will be good (classic: when I come to a place with unstable weather, I often get rain and clouds, and when I leave, the weather turns to clear!)
Climbing over beautiful clouds.
The flight map and flight data.
As we're leaving Iceland behind…
… the drink service begins. I choose water, orange juice and coffee. That's all for 210 USD of the ticket price, welcome to Europe! But the crew were really nice.
Time to stretch the legs.
A couple of views of the front large economy cabin…
… and of the smaller rear one.
Tour de lavatorie (I visited two: one in the very rear and one near 3L/R doors).
As we're flying towards mainland Northern Europe at 11K metres above the sea…
… I'm spending time watching video about FI's B752 landing in the Arctic on the snow runway and listen to the Icelandic music (very nice!).
The sky is completely overcast (hi, Scandinavian autumn!)
After invisible Norway…
… our descent to CPH begins.
Spoilers deployed.
Flaps down. Copenhagen - Malmo bridge in sight.
Moments before landing.
Welcome to Copenhagen!
IFE advertisement after landing.
The Economy Cabin After The Flight
Views of the rear smaller economy cabin upon disembarkment.
Views of the front large economy cabin upon disembarkment.
The 2-seater block near never-used door 2R.
The Business Cabin After The Flight
The friendly crew allowed me to visit the business cabin, consisting of 22 recliners and located in the front of the plane. Probably I should've also asked about the possibility to visit the cockpit, whose door was opened :)
And now it's time to say goodbye to TF-FIX and to the friendly FI crew.
The 2L door.
The Aircraft After The Flight
Passengers from intra-schengen flights exit to the domestic gate area, and from there it was possible to view this gorgeous legendary aircraft from the best angles in details.
It was definitely a memorable flight. Much more memorable than the short time spent in Iceland.
Thank you for your attention and see you in the next FRs!
Such a luck to fly the 753. I'm afraid I won't be able to fly one ever :/.
Service is on par with other EU carriers, although FI does offer IFE and this is a huge difference considering that most flights from KEF are quite long!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the comment! If you can visit US, DL and UA will operate 753s until 2030 at least. Hopefully, Fly Khiva will also operate ex-FI 753 for a long time. 753s are CASM-beasts among the old-tech narrowbodies and this makes them valuable for some airlines. I think 752s will disappear from the sky faster than 753s.
Thanks for sharing this! Only done the Icelandair Boeing 757 & 767 once each back in 2017, sadly they will be my only times- would fly Icelandair again, but the cost of flying them over BA or easyJet is a massive put off!
Awesome to have flown the FI 753 since they only have 2! It's even harder lately since they're both out on a long-term ACMI lease.
Nice report as usual and thanks for sharing!