Jet2 will retire its last Boeing 757 on January 5.

Jet2 will halt Boeing 757 operations on Sunday, January 5, in order to focus on Airbus A321neos. Jet2 is the UK’s final passenger airline of the elderly and distinctive kind. Passenger 757s have been used by UK carriers for nearly 42 years, starting with British Airways in February 1983.

Jet’s pullout comes shortly after Icelandair retired its two 757-300s, which are now operating in Uzbekistan. The UK lost its last scheduled passenger 747 service on December 25, 2024, when Korean Air returned to the 777-300ER.

Goodbye, 757!

On January 2, Flightradar24 reports that G-LSAE departed Manchester—the only airport from which the airline operates the type—for St. Athan for reclamation. This leaves Jet2 with only two 757-200s.

The two remaining planes, each with 235 seats, are mentioned below. According to ch-aviation, the pair have an average age of 32.7 years, which is more than double the airline’s entire fleet age.

• G-LSAI. Delivered to CAAC in 1987, subsequently to China Southern as B-2803. Part of Jet2’s fleet in 2006. More information about this aircraft may be found below. Manchester serves the following destinations in December 2024: Alicante, Geneva, and Prague
  
• G-LSAK. N517AT was delivered to American Trans Air (ATA) in 1996. Started flying with Jet2 in 2010 and, after a period with UAE’s RAK Airways, returned in 2012. Manchester serves the following destinations in December 2024: Alicante, Antalya, Lanzarote and Tenerife South

A look at G-LSAI

Lynn Chatburn, Jet2’s Operations Controller, told me on LinkedIn that the final roundtrip service is likely to use G-LSAI.

While this may change, it is fitting that the 37.3-year-old aircraft is the world’s oldest active airline passenger 757. It was the 150th example built. Of course, older 757s continue to fly around the world as freighters, government aircraft, and in other roles.

The last revenue flight: January 5

In the first three days of 2025, neither aircraft flew, but that will change this weekend. On Saturday, January 4, the type will be seen on the routes Manchester-Antalya (departing at 09:15) and Manchester-Geneva (going at 06:55). Both aircraft will complete one round-trip operation.

The final commercial service is scheduled for Sunday, January 5. The schedule is as follows, all times are local. According to Jet2’s website, the last departure from the United Kingdom costs only £54 (US$67), but the return leg costs £101/$125.

• Manchester-Geneva: LS811, 06:55-09:55 (2h block time)
• Geneva-Manchester: LS812, 11:00-12:05 (2h 5m)

UK carriers: 471m passengers on 757s

Jonathan Hinkles, the former CEO of Loganair, frequently shares great content on LinkedIn. He wrote on the UK 757 operators:

“The 757 has achieved an incredible record since its first UK service with British Airways on 9 February 1983. The Civil Aviation Authority’s detailed records show 471 million passengers have boarded a 757 flown by a UK airline.

Across 3.1 million flights, UK airlines’ 757s have amassed 8.1 million flight hours, equivalent to 928 years aloft. It is a terrific record of service, one of which all those who have flown, maintained, and worked on the 757 during its 42 years in our skies may rightly be proud.”