این مطلب نخست در Jetstream Magazine توسط Ejaaz Cadinouche.

یک هواپیما که بیش از 31 سال آسمان را مزین کرده بود، پرواز نهایی خود را انجام داد.

Icelandair’s Hekla Aurora special livery aircraft has officially been retired. It held the rank as one of the most recognizable liveries in the world, and was created not only as a nod to the mesmerizing northern lights — formally known as Aurora Borealis — but as a campaign to visit Iceland. Specifically, the aircraft was painted to promote the #MyStopover initiative, started by Icelandair to encourage travelers to discover everything Iceland has to offer.

The name Hekla is a traditional Icelandic woman's name and is also the name of one of the volcanoes on the island. This name, combined with Aurora, effortlessly encompasses the Icelandic vibe. Icelandair even installed special LED mood-lighting on board to mimic the glimmer and colors of the northern lights.

The Boeing 757-200, registered TF-FIU, was initially delivered to Spanish flag carrier Iberia in 1994. The airline squeezed 10 years of service out of the aircraft before it was bought by Icelandair in 2004. Icelandair repainted it as Hekla Aurora in 2014.

On October 12, 2025, TF-FIU flew its final flight, taking 140 passengers on a scenic tour around Iceland. The final service graced travelers from as far as Singapore with two hours of the island’s most beautiful sights as a final sendoff for 31 years in the skies.

The 757 has been a fan favorite among aviation enthusiasts and pilots alike ever since its inception in 1983. The aircraft’s superior performance and sports car-like handling characteristics make it a consistently preferred aircraft for pilots who fly or have flown the type. With the 757’s ageing population, they are slowly fading from the skies, with no sight of Boeing updating the type anytime soon.

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With rumors of an all-new type to replace the 757, the question still remains of whether anything similar in versatility, performance, or beauty will become available in the near future. The A321 has been — and still is — a very fair competitor, and is slowly picking up the slack of the fading 757s. With the introduction of the A321XLR, airlines are turning to a newer, more modern, and more fuel-efficient option. 

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The 757 is well-known for its ability to operate out of airports with short runways, difficult surrounding terrain, and limited parking options. Boeing’s replacement will have to rival that of the current type in order for manufacturers to start investing. It seems as though, for now, at least, it may soon be time for a legend to pass on the baton.

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بازنشستگی Hekla Aurora نمادی از پایان فصلی محبوب در هوانوردی تجاری است. سال‌ها TF-FIU همراه خود جادوی مناظر ایسلند و روح کاوشگری را که کمپین #MyStopover می‌خواست الهام‌بخش آن باشد، حمل می‌کرد. اینکه آیا Boeing یا سازنده‌ای دیگر جانشینی واقعی برای 757 خواهد ساخت یا نه، هنوز مشخص نیست. اما قطعی است که داستان Hekla Aurora جایگاه دائمی در تاریخ هوانوردی به‌دست آورده است. این یادآورِ آن است که چگونه یک هواپیما می‌تواند قاره‌ها را به‌هم پیوند دهد و هر سفر را به تجربه‌ای فراموش‌نشدنی تبدیل کند.