EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 18-04-09
The information in this blog 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/
Jethro/UK & Ireland Airline Fleet Listings
http://jethros.eu/
Adria A/W has revealed a fleet-renewal plan that will see it replace its three A320s with A319s by 2013.
Aegean B734 SX-BGR (25063) was ferried from Athens to Norwich on 13/4 for painting prior to its return to the lessor. A320 SX-DVY (3850) was delivered from Toulouse to Athens on 14/4.
Aer Arann withdrew ATR72 EI-REA (441) from service on 24/3 & EI-REB (470) on 1/3.
Aerosvit B733 UR-VVI (24461) left Kiev/Borispol on 15/4 on its way to Hondo Municipal, TX on return to the lessor. It routed via Bucharest/Baneasa, Keflavik & Bangor, ME.
Air Arabia Maroc. See under Air Berlin.
Air Atlanta is apparently bucking the trend & taking advantage of the downturn in the air cargo business to increase its B747 freighter fleet. B744 TF-AMS (24920) was noted at Tokyo/Haneda on 12/4 still in basic ANA scheme (with whom it served as JA8096) & awaiting freighter conversion, while the prospective B744F TF-AMU (27603) was at Taipei on 13/4 in full Saudi Arabian scheme & still carrying HL7426 from its days with Asiana.
Air Berlin A320 D-ABDV (3833) has not yet entered service & was ferried from Paderborn to Shannon on 12/4 for painting, possibly for Air Arabia Maroc.
Air Dolomiti B463 I-ADJH (E3129) was ferried from Verona to Exeter on 15/4 on return to the lessor.
Air France Regional Fk100 F-GLIR was flown from Norwich to Woensdrecht on 14/4 all white on return to the lessor
Air Nostrum DHC-8 EC-IDK (564) left Valencia on 15/4 en route to Toronto for Fields Aviation.
Air One A320 EI-DTC (3831) was delivered from Toulouse to Rome/Fiumicino on 15/4 in the new Alitalia scheme.
Air Seychelles took delivery of B762 S7-SEZ (24150) at Johannesburg on 10/4. This aircraft started life with Air New Zealand as ZK-NBE, before then taking up the marks PT-TAG, CC-CJP, N241LF, CC-CJP, OB-1766, SE-RBV, N339LF, EC-JOZ & finally N263LF.
Air Union's former B752 EI-DUA (26247) continued on from Shannon to Toronto on 16/4 on return to ILFC.
AnadoluJet B737 EI-EDU (34758) was ferried from Chateauroux to Ostrava on 14/4 after painting & is due to become TC-JKI.
Astraeus is believed to be intending to acquire a B735 previously operated by British A/W in order to operate the Palmair service from Bournemouth once the current contract with Viking comes to an end. The aircraft concerned is understood to be G-GFFJ (27355), currently at Southend, & it will be reregistered as G-PJPJ.
AtlasJet. See under Eurofly.
Blue1. See under CityJet.
Blue Panorama B763 EI-EED (27619) was noted at Goodyear, AZ on 10/4 awaiting delivery. Operated originally by Martinair as PH-MCV, this aircraft then spent time with East African as 5Y-QQQ before reverting to PH-MCV with various operators & then flying for Varig as PR-VAE.
BMI Baby. See under Jet Time.
British A/W took delivery of former easyJet A320 G-TTOE (1754) at LHR on 17/4 following painting at Shannon.
Cathay Pacific is in discussions with both Airbus & Boeing regarding delaying delivery of A330s, B747Fs, B748Fs & B773s that is has on order (a total of 41 aircraft) due to the economic downturn. The airline also intends to put 5 B744Fs into temporary storage rather than the 3 originally planned.
Centralwings ceases to exist after the end of this month & some of its aircraft are now receiving LOT Charters titles (see Skyliner for a photo of B734 SP-LLG (28753) marked as such).
China Southern Cargo brand new B777Fs B-2071 (37309) & B-2072 (37310) became N447BA & N448BA respectively on 10/4 & were ferried from Boeing Field, WA to Victorville, CA for storage on 14/4 without having entered service.
CityJet B462 EI-RJM (E2350) was rolled out at Norwich on 14/4 in Blue1 scheme.
CityLine Hungary B732 HA-LEW (20836) was ferried from Catania to Bournemouth on 11/4 for storage. Delivered new to Transavia as PH-TVC, this aircraft had a brief spell with Aerolineas Argentinas as LV-MDB, before reverting to PH-TVC & then becoming F-GGZA with Air Charter & F-GIXA with Aeropostale.
Contactair ATR72 D-ANFK (666) was ferried from Saarbrucken to Amsterdam on 14/4 for painting all white prior to return to ATR.
Delta A/L B772LR N706DN (30440) was delivered to Atlanta, GA on 10/4.
Denim Air Fk50 PH-FZG (20202) was ferried from Woensdrecht to Palma de Mallorca following overhaul. It is currently on lease to Arik Air.
EasyJet B737 G-EZJN (30249) flew its last revenue service on 14/4 & was then ferried from Luton to Southend for checks prior to return to the lessor. A320 G-EZTC (3871) was delivered from Toulouse to Gatwick on 17/4. Also see under British A/W.
El Al B737 4X-EKH (35485) arrived at Tel Aviv on delivery on 18/4, having routed via New York/JFK & Amsterdam.
EuroAir MD-83 SX-BEV (49668) was ferried from Malmo/Sturup to Athens on 13/4 & is due to become N668SH prior to return to Pegasus Aviation.
Eurofly A320 I-EEZO (1723 ex G-TTOD) was delivered from Shannon to Milan/Malpensa in full scheme on 11/4. A330 I-EEZB (364) was ferried from Milan/Malpensa to Filton on 11/4 for painting in Saudi Arabian scheme for lease by AtlasJet.
GainJet B752 SX-RFA (30232) was delivered from Munich to Athens on 9/4 in full scheme following cabin outfitting. Delivered new to ATA A/L as N523AT, this machine then became EI-LTO with VIM A/L & Air Bashkortostan.
Georgian A/W B737 4L-TGM is now known to be ex N647AS (33012) & previously with Alaska A/L.
Germania Fk100 D-AGPC (11280) was ferried all white to Woensdrecht from Berlin/Schonefeld on 11/4. This was followed on 14/4 by D-AGPE (11300) & D-AGPL (11314).
Gulf Air B773 VT-JEH (35166) has joined VT-JEG (35163) in service with the airline. Both aircraft are on lease from Jet A/W & are painted in full Gulf Air scheme. The airline has converted a letter of intent signed in September 2008 into a firm order for a further 8 B787s, taking its total order to 24.
Hamburg International A319 D-AHIN (3853) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Dusseldorf on 16/4.
Hellenic Imperial B742 SX-TID (23502) was ferried from Athens to Jakarta on 13/4.
Iberworld A320 EC-KYZ (3758) arrived at East Midlands on 14/4 for painting from Juneyao A/L scheme.
Jet Time will soon take delivery of B733 OY-JTE (27834), which was previously with BMI Baby & is currently all white at East Midlands (still as G-OGBE).
KTHY B738 TC-CTA (35643) made its maiden flight on 16/4.
L'Avion B752 F-HAVN (25140) was ferried from Paris/Orly to Norwich on 15/4 for painting in Open Skies scheme. F-HAVI (24473) underwent the same treatment at LHR between 6/4 & 10/4.
LTU A320 D-ALTG (1762) returned to Dusseldorf on 15/4 after painting into Swiss International scheme at Southend. It is to become HB-IJX.
Miniliner. Having reported a couple of weeks ago that Fk50 I-MLCT (20191) had reverted to its previous marks of PH-KVC, I can now reveal that it has returned to I-MLCT & is in service with the airline as such.
Moscovia A/L B737 VQ-BDI (28497) should be delivered in the near future. It was noted in full scheme at Cecil Field, FL & its previous US registration (N497TF) was cancelled on 14/4. This aircraft was once OY-MRO with Sterling.
Naysa ATR72 EC-LAD (864) was delivered from Toulouse to Las Palmas on 17/4 in full Binter scheme.
Norwegian Air Shuttle B738 LN-NOL (37159) arrived at Oslo/Gardermoen on 17/4 on delivery. It carries special "6000th 737" tail markings.
Novair. See under Orbest.
Open Skies. See under L'Avion.
Orbest A332 CS-TRA (461) was ferried back from Stockholm/Arlanda to Lisbon on 16/4 following winter lease to Novair.
Qantas is to defer delivery of four its A380s by 10 to 12 months as it heads towards its first second-half loss in 6 years.
Quantum Air B717 EC-HNZ (55060) was ferried from Madrid to Chateauroux on 15/4 for painting from AeBal scheme.
Royal Air Maroc B738 CN-ROY (35068) made its maiden flight on 13/4.
Ryanair B738 EI-EBX (35007) made its first flight on 10/4 & was followed on 15/4 by EI-EBY (35006) & then on 16/4 by EI-EBZ (35008). EI-CSV (29934) has become C-FYQO for CanJet & left Norwich on delivery & in full scheme on 15/4. EI-CSW (29935) flew its last revenue service from Pisa to Prestwick as RYR7847 on 13/4 & entered the hangar at Prestwick the following day. This was the last of the 25 aircraft in the EI-Cxx series in service with the airline.
S7 A/L A320 VQ-BDE (3866) was delivered from Toulouse to Novosibirsk on 15/4.
SAS Norge B735 LN-BRR (24648) was ferried from Shannon to Stavanger on 16/4 all white prior to return to the lessor.
Singapore A/L B744 9V-SPM (29950) left Singapore on 9/4 destined for storage at Victorville, CA & is thought to have been followed by 9V-SPE (26554) on 13/4 (though the identity of the latter aircraft has yet to be confirmed).
Sky A/L will soon take delivery of A321 TC-SKL (1670). This was noted at Taipei on 13/4 in full scheme & was formerly with Asiana as HL7712.
Sky Express B733 VP-BBN (23527) was ferried from Moscow/Vnukovo to Kemble on 18/4 on return to the lessor.
SmartLynx B763 YL-LCY (24952) was ferried from Manston to Kano on 12/4 as QNK9003 for Kabo Air.
Southern Air B742F N740SA (21380) was ferried from McClellan, CA to Mojave, CA on 10/4 for storage.
Sun Country is seeking to obtain ETOPS approval in order to undertake transatlantic charters. The airline wishes to place more emphasis on its charter operations rather than scheduled services.
Swiftair continues to expand its mixed fleet of aircraft types. The latest addition is B733F EC-LAC (24022), which was delivered to Madrid on 17/4. This aircraft is no stranger to Europe, having started life with TEA as OO-LTC before moving to TEA Italy as I-TEAE, then easyJet as G-EZYD & finally being converted to a freighter for Kitty Hawk Cargo as N107KH.
Swiss International A332 HB-IQP (366) returned to Zurich from Shannon on 12/4 now in full Vietnam A/L scheme & will become VN-A373. A333 HB-JHA (1000) was delivered from Toulouse to Zurich on 15/4. Also see under LTU.
Thomas Cook is leasing A333 OY-VKI (357) from its Scandinavian subsidiary for the summer & it was ferried from Copenhagen to Manchester on 17/4.
Thomson A/W received Skyservice A320 C-GTDH (1605) at Manchester on 14/4 for summer lease. Rather than reverting to its previous marks of G-OOAT, it is understood that this will be registered G-OOPT. B738 G-FDZS (35147) was delivered from Boeing Field, WA to Manchester on 15/4. B733 G-THOK (28660) was ferried from Bournemouth to Lasham on 16/4 on return to the lessor & is destined for WebJet. B733 G-THOI (29327) has also been painted white at Bournemouth & is expected to join G-THOK at Lasham & is also understood to be for WebJet. B752 G-CPEU (29941) was restored to the UK register on 14/4.
Transavia B738 PH-HSW (37160) was noted test flying in the USA on 11/4. PH-HZA (28373) returned to Amsterdam on 14/4, after winter lease to Sunwing A/L as C-GKZA, while PH-HZI (28380) followed the next day after lease to Sun Country. Gol B738 PR-GIB (32348) arrived at Amsterdam on 16/4 on lease until October.
Transwede B462 SE-DRN (2113) was ferried from Malmo/Sturup to Exeter on 17/4 after a period of storage & still in West Air scheme.
Viking. See under Astraeus.