When it comes to the orange-clad UK low-cost carrier easyJet, aircraft from the Airbus A320ceo and A320neo families often spring to mind. You may also remember that, in its early years, its fleet consisted entirely of Boeing 737 twinjets. However, did you know that easyJet has also operated the Boeing 757? For example, in the summer of 2010, it took four of these classic aircraft on short-term leases.

OH-AFJ

ATDB.aero shows that the first of the four 757-200s drafted in to provide extra capacity on easyJet's busy summer leisure routes bore the registration OH-AFJ. This plane had 219 seats, according to Planespotters.net, and it arrived from Nordic leisure operator Air Finland on June 11th, 2010. By this time, the aircraft was 16 years old. It had previously flown for Baikal Airlines (Russia, 1994-1996).

It also served avianca (1996-2003) before joining Air Finland. Despite only being with the airline for around three months, OH-AFJ and the other 757s that were leased to easyJet sported its orange paint scheme during their tenure, as seen below. After a busy summer, OH-AFJ returned to Air Finland on September 27th, 2010.

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The carrier eventually filed for bankruptcy in June 2012, marking the end of the aircraft's passenger-carrying days. Since then, it has flown as a converted cargo aircraft for FedEx. Here, it bears the American registration N967FD and the name Jessi, and it remains active today at the ripe old age of almost 30 years.

G-OJIB

Unlike the first example, the second 757 to arrive at easyJet (on June 14th, 2010) bore a British registration. G-OJIB joined the airline from UK leisure and charter carrier Astraeus, having entered service with Air 2000 in March 1989. For the first decade of its career, Air 2000 frequently leased this aircraft to Canada 3000.

It also enjoyed periods at Spanair, Skyservice Airlines, Ghana International, BMI, and Saudi Arabian Airlines. A month after Astraeus folded in November 2011, the aircraft joined cargo giant FedEx, where it remains active as N938FD.

G-ZAPX

The third 'flying pencil' to join the Luton-based carrier, G-ZAPX, arrived at easyJet hot on the heels of the first two 757s on June 16th, 2010. This 195-seat aircraft also bore a Britsh registration, having been leased to the carrier from Stansted-based Titan Airways. Its tenure at easyJet concluded on September 27th, 2010.

The aircraft spent its first six years (2000-2006) flying for Spanish flag carrier Iberia before joining Titan. It did so under the registration EC-HIS and the name Bolivia. The aircraft remained at Titan Airways until May 2023 and was leased out to several other British carriers over the years. After leaving Titan, it went to Jet2, but ATDB.aero notes that it was unused and now sits derelict in Kemble.

OH-AFI

easyJet's fourth 757 arrived over a month later than its first three, on July 27th, 2010. Registered as OH-AFI, this was the second to join the carrier from Air Finland. However, unlike its counterpart OH-AFJ, it had winglets, as seen below.

This jet entered service with Dutch low-cost carrier Transavia in 1996. It has also flown for Air Transat (Canada), TAESA (Mexico), Livingston (Italy), and Safi Airways (Afghanistan). More recently, it has undergone a premium-heavy conversion. Indeed, for six years between 2014 and 2020, it flew for UK-based TAG Aviation Ltd. During this time, it featured a configuration of just 52 to 78 business class seats.

After being stored in Marana, Arizona, between July 2020 and April 2021, it has since joined Russia's Azur Air under the registration VQ-BZE, where it remains active today, aged 27 years old. While easyJet's 757 summer of 2010 was its most notable period of operation for the type, ATDB.aero lists a handful of other leases.

The return of the flying pencil

Indeed, July and August 2013 saw another Titan Airways example briefly come onboard, with this aircraft registered as G-POWH. It returned for the summer of 2015, as did Titan Airways' aforementioned G-ZAPX. This was actually its third spell at the carrier, having also got in on the act in the summer of 2014. More recently, a stretched 757-300 from Condor came onboard from January to April 2018.

Did you know that easyJet has operated the Boeing 757? Perhaps you even flew on one yourself back in the day? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: ATDB.aero, Planespotters.net

  • Easyjet
    easyJet
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    U2/EZY (UK) | EC/EJU (Europe) | DS/EZS (Switzerland)
    Airline Type:
    Low-Cost Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Geneva Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Luton Airport, Milan Malpensa Airport
    Year Founded:
    1995
    CEO:
    Johan Lundgren