Discover Airlines has retired its final Airbus A330-200, ending the type’s scheduled passenger operations with the Lufthansa Group leisure carrier. Aircraft D-AXGE completed its last service on Wednesday, arriving at Frankfurt from Philadelphia as flight 4Y051 at 06:30 local time. The retirement leaves Discover’s long-haul fleet centred on 15 Airbus A330-300s.
D-AXGE was the last of three A330-200s operated by Discover. Together with D-AXGB and D-AXGF, it formed the airline’s initial fleet after its establishment and entered service during its first operating period. The approximately 22-year-old aircraft retained the former Eurowings Discover livery, as repainting was not considered economical for its remaining service life.
The phase-out is intended to reduce fleet complexity and standardise long-haul operations around the A330-300. The retired aircraft are to be returned to their owner or lessor at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in France, where their future deployment will be determined.
Discover plans to introduce Airbus A350-900 aircraft progressively from summer 2027. By mid-2028, its intercontinental fleet is planned to comprise 20 aircraft, including four A350s.