VISITORS
Newcomer today was Ryanair B738 EI-DYR (37513). As I type this there is no sign of the expected Viking B738 SE-RHR (30637 ex G-XLAE, C-FTAE, N171LF), though it will doubtless pop up on SBS the moment I hit "send".
FLEET NEWS
Air Europe has ceased operations & returned its sole B763, I-VIMQ (27993), to the lessor.
Astraeus. Adding to the B752 G-STRX story, the aircraft in fact arrived from Lasham where it had been on maintenance since 1st December. It is still present at Gatwick, while G-OPJB has yet to return.
British A/W took delivery of A320 G-EUYD (3726) at LHR this evening, arriving as BAW9260 (hex code 405EE1).
Clickair A320 EC-GRF (0136), which operated yesterday's Gatwick flight, was all white, so is either due to leave the fleet or to be repainted in Vueling scheme.
EasyJet A320 G-TTOB (1687) may have been withdrawn from service. It arrived back at Gatwick from Paphos on 6th December as EZY8806 & then flew to Shannon as EZY8002 three days later. Can anyone confirm whether it has just gone for maintenance, or whether it has been withdrawn, please?
Flybe former BAe 146 G-JEAJ (E2099) left Southend for Bacau today in basic Amerer Air scheme. Once the airline has used up the G-ECOx range, further DHC-8s will be registered in the G-FBLx series.
Norwegian Air Shuttle has wet-leased a Hamburg International B737 until early January. Looking at the SBS log, this appears to be D-AHIC (30617), which I have picked up several times recently operating NAX1303 on the Stansted to Oslo/Gardermoen route, though D-AHIB (29083) also showed as NAX1467 last Friday.
Rossiya A319 VP-BTT (1167) has moved to S7 A/L & VP-BTQ (1149) was to ferry to Maastricht today for repaint in S7 scheme. If I remember correctly, these two machines were only leased from S7 anyway. Coincidentally, Maastricht is where I first saw VP-BTQ back in May 2007 after it had just been repainted from Northwest colours.
Ryanair B738 EI-DYX (37517) was reported test flying in the USA yesterday.
Thomas Cook A320 G-DHRG (1942) has become C-GHRG again, while G-SUEW (1961) has reverted to C-GUEW. Both were due to set off to Canada today for winter lease to Skyservice.
Viking B738 SE-RHR (30637) had been due at Gatwick from Lake City via Bangor at 20.05 this evening, but seems to have been delayed. It is to be based in the UK for ad-hoc charter & ACMI work & is believed to be one of the aircraft that will operate the Kiss flights next year.
ROUTE NEWS
Cimber Air expects to increase its existing Billund service to three times daily from early next year, though this is not yet reflected on their bookings site. It is unclear at the moment whether this will include Saturdays - currently a day when the service doesn't operate.
Delta has announced that it will switch from B763s to A330s on the Atlanta route (DAL12/36) from next April.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
The current craze for retro schemes continues as Tarom B737 YR-BGG (28442) was noted in one at Cluj on Sunday.
TAP cabin crew are threatening a one-day strike this Saturday (20th), which could well result in delays & cancellations over the weekend.
A shame that the airport was in low visibility procedures throughout the hours of daylight due to the persistent fog that covered the whole of the southeast of England today (& stopped me from going out spotting for the day!).
CREDITS
Derek Malt, John Creasey, Steve More, Derek/b727, Mike Hooker, Allan Huse, Yogi Bear, Jethro, CH-Aviation, Skyliner, Jaws, Ghandi & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONB
ADR450 - CRJ9 S5-AAK
AMC116 - A319 9H-AEH
AUI501 - B735 UR-GAU
AWE730 - B752 N203UW
AWE732 - A333 N271AY
BEL2121 - B463 OO-DWL
BEL2129 - B463 OO-DWI
BTI651 - B733 YL-BBK
BTI655 - B735 YL-BBP
CIM265 - CRJ2 OY-MBT
DAL012 - B763 N1603
DAL036 - B763 N187DN
DAL058 - B763 N176DZ
EIN242 - A320 EI-DER
EIN244 - A320 EI-DEB
EIN246 - A320 EI-DEM (also EIN248)
EXS6107 - B733 G-CELJ
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZQ
EZS8569 - A319 HB-JZH (also EZS8571)
EZS8573 - A319 HB-JZI
EZS8575 - A319 HB-JZG
EZY529L - A319 G-EZDV
HHI8424 - A319 D-AHIJ
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DFP
ISS3535 - A319 EI-DEZ
KNI715 - B733 EI-DMM
LIL452 - B733 LY-AQX
LZB495 - did not operate
MAH612 - B736 HA-LOE
MAH614 - B738 HA-LOK
MPD230 - did not operate
MPD232 - A320 EC-KJG
NAX1318 - B733 LN-KKM
NWA032 - B752 N547US
OAL271 - B734 SX-BKM
OMA905 - A310 CS-TEX
QTR075 - A332 A7-ACH
RYR112G - B738 EI-DYR (first visit - also RYR114G)
RYR116G - B738 EI-DYK (also RYR118G)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-CSQ (also RYR1126)
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DPR (also RYR1X)
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DPX
TAP332 - A319 CS-TTN
TAP334 - A319 CS-TTR
TAP344 - A320 CS-TNL
TAP348B - A319 CS-TTH
TSC122 - A310 C-GTSK
UAE009 - A332 A6-EAH
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMK
UAE015 - B773 A6-EBK
VGN293 - B763 YL-LCZ
BIZJETS, ETC
CS-DFV Ce560XL (arr 14/12 & dep today)
I-LUXO Gulf 5 (arr 15/12 & dep today)
3B-SSD BD100 (arr 13/12 & dep today)