EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 04-04-09
Welcome to my first blog covering the European Airline Scene. This is intended to cover all fleet changes, etc among the European carriers & those portions of the fleets of other carriers from other parts of the world that operate into European airports. It is my intention to post this blog weekly, though there will inevitably be some weeks when it does not appear due to periods of time spent abroad.
The information comes from a variety of sources, though particular credit must be given to the following sites, both of which are very highly recommended.
Chris Witt/Skyliner
http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/skyliner.main?LC=nav1
Jethro/UK & Ireland Airline Fleet Listings
http://jethros.eu/
Aegean. See under Aeroflot-Don.
Aeroflot received its latest A320 VQ-BBC (3835) at Moscow/Sheremetyevo on 1/4.
Aeroflot-Don B734 VQ-BCS (28494) was delivered from Shannon to Rostov-on-Don on 1/4. The aircraft is ex SX-BTN of Aegean.
Aeroflot-Nord B735 VP-BOH (25038) was delivered from Budapest to Archangelsk on 2/4. This is ex G-GFFA of British A/W.
Air Astana is adding winglets to its B752 fleet. P4-MAS (28833) was returned to Almaty from Lasham on 23/3 after fitting, while P4-FAS (29489) was sent to Filton the following day for the similar treatment.
Air Baltic took delivery of B733 YL-BBR (29266) at Riga on 1/4. This was previously with Flyglobespan as G-OTDA.
Air Berlin is disposing of two old B733s inherited from Deutsche BA. Having been stored at Paderborn, D-ADIF (3833) was ferried to Eindhoven on 28/3 to be painted all white. D-ADIG (26441) has already received the same treatment & was flown from Eindhoven to Budapest on 24/3. The latest A320 to join the fleet is D-ABDV (3833), which was delivered from Toulouse to Berlin/Tegel on 23/3. A320 D-ALTI (1806) had become N203FR at Dusseldorf by 31/3 & set off on its delivery flight to Frontier on 3/4. Also see under Belair.
Air Dolomiti received EMB190 I-ADJN (19000270) at Verona on 29/3. This is the fourth aircraft of a planned ten.
Air Europa has returned B738 EC-IXO (30467) to SAS & it was ferried from Budapest to Stockholm/Arlanda as SE-DTN on 1/4.
Air France took delivery of yet another A320 on 25/3, when F-GKXS (3825) arrived at Paris/CDG. B773 F-GZND (35543) made its first flight on 30/3.
Air France Regional now has eight of its own EMB190s, following the delivery of F-HBLH (19000266) to Clermont Ferrand on 27/3. Also see under KLM.
Air Moldova is adding ex TACA A320 N452TA (0741) to its fleet as ER-AXP. It was ferried from Kiev to Filton for painting on 29/3, returning to Kiev on 31/3.
Air New Zealand recently ordered a further B773 from Boeing. When delivered, this will take the airline's fleet to nine.
Air Union B752s EI-DUC (26248) & EI-DUD (26249) were ferried from Moscow/Vnukovo to Shannon on 28/3 & 26/3 respectively on return to ILFC. They then continued their journeys to Toronto on 1/4 & 30/3 respectively.
Alitalia A320 EI-DTB (3815) was delivered to Milan/Linate on 25/3, following painting at Seville.
AnadoluJet has taken one of the ex Sky Europe B737s. TC-JKF (32864 ex OM-NGA, EI-EDT) was delivered from Ostrava to Istanbul on 2/4.
AtlasJet A320 TC-OGL (0461) was ferried from Istanbul to Keflavik on 2/4, still in basic Saudi Arabian scheme with AtlasJet tail markings, on return
Aurigny ATR72 G-VZON (853) was delivered to Guernsey via Bournemouth on 27/3.
Austrian A/L B763 OE-LAE (30383) has had winglets fitted at Greensboro & was returned to Vienna on 26/3.
Axis A/W will soon take delivery of an additional B738. The aircraft concerned is EI-ECN (28591 ex TC-IAH, TC-APY, EC-KFB, C-FLFB, EC-KFB) & is expected to join the French register.
Belair is undergoing a significant short-haul fleet expansion & has added/is adding the following former Air Berlin aircraft in recent days. A319 HB-IOX (3604 ex D-ABGM) plus A320s HB-IOS (2968 ex D-ABDK) & HB-IOT (2991 ex D-ABDL).
British A/W B735 G-GFFJ (27355) was ferried from LHR to Southend on 31/3 on return to the lessor. See also under Aeroflot-Nord.
Bulgaria Air took delivery of ex Frontier A320 LZ-FBF (3028) at Sofia on 30/3.
Cimber Sterling added B737 OY-MRU (29079) to its fleet on 2/4 when it was flown from Belgrade to Copenhagen.
CSA B734 OK-WGY (25839) was flown from Prague to Tripoli on 29/3 in an all white scheme with red nacelles for lease to Nayzak Air Transport. OK-WGX (25349) was flown from Prague to Southend on 31/3 for painting & is also going on lease to Nayzak. A further B734, OK-CGI (28882) was ferried from Shannon to Prague in full Sky A/L scheme on 29/3 & has now become TC-SKM.
Delta A/L B772LR N705DN (29742) was delivered to Atlanta on 27/3. B764 N844MH (29717) was rolled out at Atlanta in a special Sky Team scheme on 29/3.
Eagle Aviation B752s F-GTIB (25131) & F-GTID (26270) were both ferried from Jeddah to St Nazaire on 1/4 still in full Saudi Arabian scheme following lease.
EasyJet A320 G-TTOC (1715) has become I-EEZN for Eurofly & was delivered from Shannon to Milan/Malpensa on 1/4. A319 G-EZFH (3854) was delivered to Luton on 2/4.
Emirates B772LR A6-EWJ (35590) set off from the USA on its delivery flight on 30/3.
Emirates Sky Cargo took delivery of its first B777F on 28/3 when A6-EFD (35606) arrived at Dubai.
Eurofly. See under EasyJet.
EVA Air Cargo MD-11F B-16113 (48790) was ferried from Los Angles to Victorville, CA on 26/3 for storage.
Finnair now has its first A333 from an order for nine aircraft. OH-LTM (994) was delivered to Helsinki on 26/3. The airline's latest EMB190, OH-LKO (19000267) was delivered to Helsinki on 28/3.
Flybe DHC-8 G-ECOP (4242) arrived at Birmingham on delivery on 3/4. EMB145 G-EMBV (145482) was registered to Aircraft Solutions ERJ-145 LLC on 23/3 & was followed by G-EMBW (145546) on 26/3. BAe 146 G-JEBA (E3181) was cancelled from the UK register on 2/4 & is destined for Star Peru.
Flyglobespan B763 G-CDPT (29388) was wet-leased to Austral from 22/3. The latest B763 to join the fleet, G-SPNA (27957 ex PH-BZA, C-GZNA, G-CZNA, N221LF) was delivered to Glasgow from Atlanta on 25/3. The airline's sole B752, G-CEJM (26276), has been returned to the lessor & positioned from Glasgow to Abu Dhabi on 26/3 & its next operator is believed to be Mint A/W, a new Spanish operator. Also see under Air Baltic.
Freebird has a new A320, namely TC-FBR (2524), ex VT-DKZ of Kingfisher. Delivery from Amman to Istanbul took place on 28/3.
Futura B734 EC-GNZ (25178) has the registration D-AEFL reserved & was ferried from Palma to Ostrava on 1/4.
Gadair B752 TF-LLY (22691) was noted at Madrid on 28/3 with Air Sylhet titles prior to lease. It then positioned to Birmingham on 3/4 to operate its first service to Amritsar.
German Wings A319 D-AGWN (3841) was delivered to Cologne on 25/3.
Hamburg International B733 D-AHIE (29081) has become HK-4623 with Aires Colombia & set off from Shannon on its delivery flight on 2/4.
Hapag-Lloyd is disposing of B738 D-AHFG (27989). The aircraft was ferried from Maastricht to Hannover on 23/3 after painting.
Hello MD-90 HB-JIA (53552) left Stockholm/Arlanda on 31/3 en route to Victorville, CA on return to the lessor.
Iberworld A320 EC-KYZ (3758) was delivered to Madrid on 3/4.
Izmir A/L has added an A320 to its current fleet of three A319s. The aircraft concerned is TC-IZL (1730) & is ex N486TA of TACA & delivery to Istanbul/Sabiha Gokcen took place on 26/3.
Jetairfly B734 OO-TUB (27831) has left the fleet & was delivered to Royal Falcon at Amman as JY-RFF on 28/3. B734 OO-JAM (28867) is to join Jet4you & was noted in full scheme at Brussels on 30/3.
Jet4you. See under Jetairfly.
KLM Fk100 PH-OFK (11249) joined five of its stable mates in storage at Woensdrecht on 30/3. Fk70 PH-KZU (11543) was delivered from Woensdrecht to Amsterdam on 3/4 - this is ex F-GLIU of Air France Regional.
Lufthansa A346 D-AIHY (987) was delivered to Frankfurt on 25/3 & was followed by A321 D-AISP (3864) on 3/4.
MEA A332 OD-MEB (998) was delivered to Beirut on 26/3.
Miniliner Fk50 I-MLCT (20191) has reverted to its previous registration of PH-KVC.
Mint A/W. See under Flyglobespan.
Niki. See under Vueling.
Nordic A/W MD-83 SE-RDM (49662) became N589BC with Boeing Capital on 20/3 & left Stockholm/Arlanda late March destined for Victorville, CA via Keflavik & Bangor, ME, doubtless for storage.
Nordwind A/L received its fourth B752 on 2/4 with the arrival of VQ-BBU (29442) at Moscow/Sheremetyevo. This is ex N762MX of Mexicana & joins another ex Mexicana example & two that were previously operated by Neos.
Norwegian. B738 EI-EDL (33018 ex OY-SEL), currently registered to CIT Aerospace, was ferried from Southend to Shannon on 30/3 for painting. This aircraft was originally destined for Titan A/W & it is now understood that it will become LN-NOS. New B738 LN-NOL (37159) made its maiden flight on 1/4. This is the 6000th B737 built & it is believed that it will be painted in a special scheme.
Pan Air A300F EC-HVZ (227) left Liege on 23/3, bound for storage in the USA.
RedWings took delivery of Tu-204 RA-64050 (1457043164050) on 1/4 at Moscow/Vnukovo.
Royal Jet BAe 146 A6-RJE (E2299) was ferried to Kemble on 2/4 on return to the lessor.
Ryanair B738 EI-CSQ (29930) was withdrawn from service at Prestwick on 28/3. EI-CSO (29928) left Lasham on 27/3 on delivery to Garuda & EI-CST (29933) became C-FYQN for Canjet & was delivered from Lasham to Montreal on 1/4. EI-CSV (29934) was ferried from Prestwick to Norwich on 2/4 for painting for an unidentified operator. New deliveries to Dublin have been EI-EBS (35001) on 1/4, EI-EBR (37530) on 2/4 & EI-EBT (35000) on 3/4, while both EI-EBV (35000) & EI-EBW (35010) made their first flights on 2/4.
SAS. See under Air Europa.
Sky A/L. See under CSA.
Sky Europe. See under AnadoluJet.
Spanair MD-82s EC-HFS (49517) & EC-HFT (49521) were due to leave Madrid on 1/4, ferrying to Tucson, AZ via Keflavik, Bangor, ME & Indianapolis, IN.
Swiss International A332 HB-IQP (366) positioned to Filton on 1/4 for painting into Vietnam A/L scheme.
S7 A/L took delivery of ex Vueling A320 VQ-BCI (2623 ex EC-JNT) at Novosibirsk on 30/3 when it was ferried in from Maastricht.
Thomas Cook A320 G-DHJZ (1965) returned to Manchester on 31/3 still as C-FOJZ following winter lease to Skyservice. A321 G-SMTJ (1972) was reregistered as OY-VKT with the airline's Scandinavian subsidiary on 1/4.
Thomson A/W B738 G-FDZR (35145) was delivered to Manchester on 28/3, while G-FDZS (35147) was noted test flying in the USA on 30/3. This is also expected to be delivered to Manchester & is scheduled to arrive on the morning of 15/4. B752 G-OOBA (32446) was ferried back to Luton on 27/3 after winter lease to Skyservice & still carrying C-GUBA. This was joined there three days later by C-GTBB (32447), which will doubtless revert to G-OOBB. B733 G-THOI (29327) was withdrawn from service at Gatwick on 15/3 & ferried to Luton the following day.
Titan A/W is seeking a B752 as a replacement for G-ZAPU (26151) whose lease runs out shortly.
Transaero. See under Hapag-Lloyd.
Transavia B738 PH-HZL (30391) was returned to the fleet on 25/3 after winter lease to Sunwing A/L. The airline is to lease B738s PR-GIB (32348) & PR-GIC (32576) from Gol for the summer.
Turkmenistan A/L B737 EZ-A007 (37234) passed through Birmingham on 1/4 on its delivery flight to Ashkhabad.
US A/W B752 N938UW (27246) is now on the European runs & made its first appearance on 30/3 operating AWE750 from Philadelphia, PA to Brussels.
Viking A/L B738 SE-RHS (28617 ex EC-HJJ, N974RY, EI-DKD) was delivered to Stockholm/Arlanda on 30/3.
Vueling A320 EC-JRI (2761) was returned to the airline on 29/3 following lease to Niki as OE-LEV. See also under S7 A/L.
XL A/W France received A320 F-GKHK (0343) on 27/3 when it was delivered to Paris/CDG from Dinard. The aircraft is ex LV-BPC of Aerolineas Argentinas.