Search
a silver airplane with red writing flying in a blue sky

How many 757s are flying in Europe? A look at the data

Share this article
  • How many Boeing 757 aircraft are operating in Europe? 
  • Which passenger and cargo airlines are flying them? 
  • What are the most popular destinations served by the 757?

The Boeing 757 has earned its place in aviation history. A firm favorite amongst airlines and aviation enthusiasts alike, the venerable Boeing narrowbody has graced the skies for over 40 years. The aircraft’s combination of long range, good performance and passenger capacity means the 757 ticks a very specific box for operators, and without a replacement from Boeing, many airlines are holding on to these aging aircraft for as long as possible. This is particularly notable in the United States, where legacy carriers such as Delta and United operate a significant number of the aircraft. The story is a little different in Europe, where the type is less prolific, but still vital to the airlines that operate it. We used Flightradar24 data to examine the key trends behind Boeing 757 operations in Europe.

How many 757s are active in Europe today? 

According to Flightradar24 data, there are a total of 582 active Boeing 757 aircraft in Europe as of July 2023. 43% of these are passenger aircraft, and the remaining 57% are freighters (or are primarily used as cargo aircraft). 

YearCargo aircraftPassenger aircraft
2019322353
2022367262
2023337245

Who are the largest European operators?

Our data reveals that Icelandair (FI) is currently the most prolific 757 operator in Europe. The Icelandic flag carrier operated 3,105 flights between 1 January and 30 June 2023. Icelandair has actually increased 757 flights by 6% in comparison to the same period in 2022. The other top operators of the type are Jet2 (LS), Condor (DE), Azur Air (ZF), and Privilege Style (P6).

Where can you catch a 757 in Europe? 

The most popular destinations served by 757 aircraft in Europe are Reykjavík (KEF), Manchester (MAN), Dusseldorf (DUS), Frankfurt (FRA), and Edinburgh (EDI). Unsurprisingly, these are bases for Icelandair, Jet2 and Condor. The aircraft most commonly serve popular leisure destinations such as Tenerife (TFN), Palma de Mallorca (PMI) and Gran Canaria (LPA). Moscow also scores highly thanks to the services operated by Azur Airlines, though that one might prove trickier to visit from other European destinations.

What’s the outlook for the Boeing 757 in Europe?

We will inevitably see a reduction in passenger services operated by Boeing 757 family aircraft in Europe as airlines upgrade their fleets with more efficient aircraft. The 757-200 is likely to be the primary victim, with some of the largest operators eyeing up aircraft from the Airbus A321neo family as replacements. Icelandair placed an order for 17 of these aircraft in July 2023 (13 A321XLR and 4 A321LR). As we discussed on episode 224 of our AvTalk podcast, this just so happens to be the same number of 757-200 aircraft currently in the fleet. The airline also operates a pair of 757-300 aircraft, for which there is no realistic like-for-like replacement available. 

Further south, Jet2 increased an existing A321neo order up to 60 aircraft in 2022, with 15 options remaining. Whilst this forms part of a wider fleet shift from an aging fleet of 737NGs and 757s, it seems clear that the A321s are intended to directly replace the airline’s 8 Boeing 757-200 aircraft. 

What is less certain is timing. Global supply chains have taken a hammering in recent months, largely thanks to the war in Ukraine. All the major OEMs are experiencing huge delays in delivering aircraft and a significant backlog of orders. With the bulk of Icelandair and Jet2’s Airbus deliveries set to land from 2029, it is likely we will see the 757 continuing in European passenger service throughout this decade. 

Have you flown on the Boeing 757? Share your memories of the aircraft with us on Facebook, twitter or Instagram.

 

Cover photo: Jeremy Denton, JetPhotos

On The Radar Logo

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Get the latest aviation news delivered to you

Flight tracking and aviation industry news direct to your inbox

Aviation news comes quickly, so join more than 1.7 million others who receive weekly aviation industry and flight tracking news from Flightradar24 direct to their inbox.

Share this article
Latest threads
Latest video

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

Trending articles
On The Radar Logo
Get weekly updates on Flightradar24 and have the latest aviation news land in your inbox.
AvTalk Logo

AvTalk Episode 317: The (Q1) results are in

Most wanted airport receiver locations

We’re always looking for additional receiver hosts in areas that either lack coverage or need additional coverage. Help us grow the Flightradar24 ADS-B network.

How flight tracking works

Flightradar24 combines data from several data sources including ADS-B, MLAT and radar data.
Search the blog
Follow us
Latest AvTalk Podcasts
More stories
Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian aircraft. The move comes amid rising tensions following an attack by gunmen in Kashmir and a series…
London City International Airport is located in the heart of London, enabling convenient access to the city for some 3.5 million passengers per year….
On 21 April 2025, an aircraft using the call sign WELCOME was spotted in the skies above Lviv, Ukraine. Unidentified in the Flightradar24 database…

Flight tracking top 10 aircraft

Explore the top 10 most tracked aircraft and find out why these particular aircraft draw so much interest.

Help to grow our flight tracking coverage

We are continually looking to improve our flight tracking and the airports below are where new receivers will add the most coverage. Apply for a receiver today and if accepted you’ll receiver a free Flightradar24 Business Subscription.

Free ADS-B Receiver
Flightradar24 logo
Try the full Flightradar24 experience free for 7 days
Remove ads and unlock over 50 additional features
On The Radar Logo

Get the Flightradar24 Aviation newsletter

Flight tracking and aviation industry news direct to your inbox

Aviation news comes quickly, so we want to bring more of the aviation world to you with our weekly Flightradar24 aviation newsletter - On The Radar.

On The Radar Logo