EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 02-05-09
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/
Aerologic. Correcting last week's blog, D-AALA (36001) is a B777F not a B744F.
Aerosvit B734 UR-VVK (26280) was registered to ACG Acquisitions as N129AC on 16/4 & ferried as such from Brussels to Doha on 1/5.
Air-Albatros. See under Alitalia.
Air Arabia Maroc A320 CN-NMA (3809) was delivered from Toulouse to Casablanca on 27/4.
Air Berlin A320 D-ABDS (3289) was flown from Berlin/Tegel to Munich on 23/4 for a C-check prior to lease to Niki. B737 D-ABBN (30293) was ferried from Dusseldorf to Norwich on 25/4 to be painted all white prior to return to the lessor. Also see under Saga A/L & Swiss International.
Air Dolomiti received its fifth EMB190 on 1/5 with the arrival at Verona of I-ADJO (19000280).
Air Europa EMB195s EC-KYO (19000276) & EC-KYP (19000281) were delivered to Palma de Mallorca today.
Air France A321 F-GTAV (3884) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Paris/CDG on 30/4.
Air One A320 EI-DTF (3906) made its maiden flight from Toulouse on 29/4 as F-WWIM & was ferried all white to Finkenwerder the same day. Presumably, this will be painted in Alitalia scheme.
Alitalia MD-82 I-DAWS (49209) was ferried from Rijeka to Vienna in basic Alitalia scheme on 29/4 for Air-Albatros. Also see under Air One.
American A/L B763 N389AA now sports winglets & the airline intends to have these fitted to its entire B763 fleet by 2011. It is estimated that this will give an annual fuel saving of 500,000 gallons per aircraft. For the photographers among you, B772 N791AN (30254) now carries OneWorld titles.
Andalus Lineas Aereas is now operating EMB145 EC-KBI (145362 ex F-OIJF). The aircraft had been in storage at Leon since the demise of its previous operator, Lagun Air.
AnadoluJet continues to expand its fleet with the delivery B737 TC-JKI (34758) from Ostrava to Istanbul on 30/4. This is a former Sky Europe machine & is ex OM-NGM, HA-LKM, OM-NGM, EI-EDU. Also see under Astraeus.
Arkefly. See under Thomson A/W.
Astraeus B752 G-OPJB (24924) was cancelled from the UK register on 21/4 & registered to AWAS Aviation Services as N924AW the following day. It left Southend for Shannon on 28/4 before continuing on to Bangor, ME & Lake City, FL & is due to become N921FD with FedEx following freighter conversion. B737 G-STRH (32737) flew its last revenue service on 30/4 & was ferried to Southend, where it will be prepared for AnadoluJet. It has been replaced by B737 G-STRN (28007), which arrived at Gatwick in full Iceland Express scheme on 30/4. Having wondered at the significance of the registration G-TRAW, reserved for the B733 due to be delivered to the airline, I have discovered that it is to be wet-leased to Italian start-up Trawel Fly, who will use it on charters from Bergamo to Catania, Crete, Heraklion & Rhodes.
Athens A/W. See under Flybe.
AtlasJet A321 TC-ETJ (0974) had entered service by 25/4. This was previously with Inter A/L as TC-IEG & before that with BMI as G-MIDI & had been stored at Istanbul since the demise of Inter A/L.
Aurigny ATR72 G-BXTN (483) was ferried from Guernsey to Montpellier on 23/4 & then onward to Toulouse on 30/4. It is destined for RAM Express. G-BWDA (444) is currently undergoing end-of-lease checks at Guernsey Airport.
Axis will be taking another former Futura B738. EI-DND (28612) made a test flight from Shannon on 24/4 in full Axis scheme.
Bangladesh Biman is to lease four B772s as DC-10 replacements, two from Cathay Pacific & two from Singapore A/L, & these are due to enter service in May & June. The airline has four new B773s on order for delivery in 2013. Also see under Blue Line.
Belavia has another CRJ2 about to enter service. N698BR (7799) routed through Keflavik on 27/4 en route to Belarus. This will join existing examples EW-100PJ (7309) & EW-277PJ (7852). Correcting one popular airliner reference book, EW-101PJ (7316) is no longer in service, having been W/O on 14/02/08 at Yerevan.
Blue Line is adding an A313 to its fleet of Fk100s & MD-83s. F-WBOY (650) was ferried from Singapore to Paris/CDG via Dubai on 27/4 & will become F-HBOY. This aircraft was originally delivered to Air Jamaica as N835AB & then served with Bangladesh Biman as S2-ADH.
Blue Wings A320 D-ANNH (1823) was ferried from Dusseldorf to Chateauroux on 30/4.
BMI Baby. See under Jet Time.
British A/W B772 G-YMMS (36517) made its maiden flight on 29/4. B752 G-BPEC (24882) has not flown since 6/3 when it operated BAW795 from Helsinki to LHR. It is understood that this will soon be painted white prior to going into storage & will be the first aircraft to go to FedEx next year. Now some news about the B733s. G-LGTG (24470) was ferried from Glasgow to Kemble on 28/4 & will be broken up there by the lessor. G-LGTH (23924) was flown from LHR to Bournemouth on 1/5 & is set to become N924RM. G-LGTI (23925) is being purchased from the owner by British A/W & will be broken up at Southend.
Corendon Air B734 TC-TJC (25374) was returned from Khartoum to Antalya on 1/5 following winter lease to Sun Air of Sudan.
CSA A319 OK-OER (3892) made its maiden flight from Finkenwerder on 28/4 as D-AVWK.
Cyprus Turkish A/L (previously KTHY) B738 TC-CTA (35643) left Boeing Field, WA on delivery on 1/5.
Eagle Aviation B752 F-GTID (26270) left St Nazaire on 27/4 for Victorville, CA via Bangor, ME still in Saudi Arabian scheme. F-GTIQ (24497) remains parked at Shannon & was registered to East Trust as N497EA on 28/4.
Efly is a new Italian start-up & is expected to take delivery of former Flybe B463s G-JEBF (E3202) & G-JEBG (E3209).
Emirates A388 A6-EDE (17) arrived at Dubai on delivery from Finkenwerder on 25/4 & flew its first service to Heathrow the following day. This is the only A388 to be delivered this year so far. B773 A6-ECQ (35588) set off from Paine Field, WA on delivery to Dubai on 30/4. It appears that A345 A6-ERG (608), which suffered a tail scrape on take-off at Melbourne on 20th March, may be broken up. It had originally been expected that temporary repairs would be undertaken at Melbourne prior to the aircraft making an unpressurized flight back to Toulouse for the completion of repairs. The accuracy of the report that the aircraft will be scrapped is, however, the subject of considerable debate & should be treated with caution. Also see under Kuzu Cargo.
Eurocypria B738 5B-DBX (33699) returned to Larnaca on 30/4 after winter lease to Sunwing A/L as C-GDBX.
Finnair A333 OH-LTP (1023) made its maiden flight at Toulouse on 27/4 as F-WWYQ.
Flybe EMB145 G-EMBM (145196) is destined for Athens A/W in the near future as SX-CMD, while G-EMBJ (145134) completed its last revenue service on 28/4 & is now at Exeter for hand back checks. See also under Efly.
Flyglobespan B738 G-CEJP (29646) was ferried from Muscat to Bacau today in full Oman Air scheme following lease.
Freebird A320 TC-FBJ (0580 ex N580CG) was ferried from East Midlands to Dusseldorf on 26/4 after painting in an orange scheme & should enter service in the near future.
Futura. See under Axis & Travel Service.
Germania Fk100 D-AGPD (11281) was ferried from Humberside to Woensdrecht on 27/4 & was followed by D-AGPA (11276) the following day. Both aircraft had been in storage at Humberside since arriving from Eindhoven on 31/1 (D-AGPA) & 4/2 (D-AGPD).
Hapag-Lloyd B738 D-ATUH (34689) was ferried back to Hannover on 28/4 following a winter spent with CanJet & was followed two days later by D-ATUG (34688).
Hellenic Imperial B742 SX-TIE (23509) re-entered service on 1/5 following a period of storage at Athens.
HiFly A332 CS-TFZ (1008) was delivered from Toulouse to Lisbon on 30/4. Also see under Swiss International.
Highland A/W Jetstream 31 G-EDAY (639 ex SE-LGB) was registered on 24/4.
Iberworld A320 EC-KDD (1767) was ferried from Madrid to Southend on 23/4 for painting into Rossiya scheme. It then flew to Cork in full Rossiya scheme & will continue to operate for Iberworld until 3/5. A320 EC-LAJ (3889) is due for delivery from Toulouse to Madrid on 9/5.
Icelandair B763 TF-FIB (25365) was back on lease with Travel Service by 24/4.
Inter A/L. See under AtlasJet.
Jet A/W. See under Oman Air.
Jet Time B733 OY-JTE (27834) was ferried from East Midlands to Eindhoven for painting on 29/4 prior to delivery to the airline. This was formerly with BMI Baby as G-OGBE.
KLM Cityhopper EMB190 PH-EZD (19000279) arrived at Amsterdam on delivery on 30/4.
KTHY has rebranded itself as Cyprus Turkish A/L & its aircraft are starting to appear carrying the new titles. Also see under Cyprus Turkish A/L.
Kuzu Cargo added A310F TC-VEL (622) to its fleet on 30/4 when its was delivered from Dubai to Istanbul. This aircraft started life with Aeroflot as F-OGQT before being converted to a freighter at Dresden & serving with Emirates Sky cargo as A6-EFC.
Lagun Air. See under Andalus Lineas Aereas.
LAN Cargo B777F N772LA (37708) arrived at Santiago on delivery on 29/4, having routed from Paine Field, WA via Miami, FL.
Lydd Air Trislander G-BDOT (1025) was cancelled from the UK register on 28/4 as exported to the Philippines.
Niki. See under Air Berlin.
Oman Air received A332 VT-JWE (807) on lease from Jet A/W at Muscat on 29/4 & it operated its first LHR service on 1/5.
Orion Air B463 EC-JVO (E3179) had Syrian Pearl titles & tail logo applied at Madrid on 24/4 prior to lease & was delivered to Damascus on 30/4.
RAM B763 CN-RNT (30843) is currently grounded at New York/JFK following a heavy landing on 20/4 after which several skin wrinkles were found. B738 CN-ROT (33068) arrived at Casablanca on delivery on 29/4.
RAM Express. See under Aurigny.
Rossiya operated its last Tu-134A service on 26/4 when RA-65109 flew from Krasnodar to St Petersburg. Also see under Iberworld.
Ryanair B738 EI-EBX (35007) was delivered to Dublin on 29/4 & EI-EBY (35006) & EI-EBZ (35008) followed on 1/5. EI-EFC (35015) made its maiden flight on 29/4. EI-CSW (29935) was ferried from Prestwick to Lasham on 1/5 prior to return to the lessor.
Saga A/L took delivery of former Air Berlin B738 TC-SGH (28068 ex D-ABAN) at Istanbul on 28/4. It as delivered from Munich all white & without titles & is expected to operate for Viking A/L this summer.
SAS CRJ-900 OY-KFE (15224) was delivered to Copenhagen on 26/4. This is the fifth of an order for fifteen aircraft.
Seagle Air B733 OM-HLC (25119) returned to Bratislava on 1/5 following wet-lease to Iraqi A/W.
Sky Europe. See under AndoluJet.
Sterling former B738 OY-SEB (28214) was registered N781VA on 25/3 & left Belgrade as such on 28/4 en route to Lake City, FL via Shannon & Bangor, ME on delivery to Vision Air.
Swiss International is to lease an A333 to Australian operator Strategic A/L from late June. This will replace a similar aircraft, CS-TMT (096), chartered from HiFly & used to transport Australian troops to the Middle East. The airline received a "new" A320 on 30/4 with the delivery of HB-IJX (1762) from Dusseldorf to Zurich. This was formerly with LTU & Air Berlin as D-ALTG & has been in storage at Dusseldorf.
Thomas Cook will take delivery of A321 G-TCDA (2060) in the near future. The aircraft was noted at Istanbul on 27/4 also still wearing TC-JMG. A320 G-SUEW (1961) returned to Manchester on 29/4 still as C-GUEW following winter lease to Skyservice, as did G-TCAC (1411), still as C-FRAA, though the latter was restored to the UK register on 30/4.
Thomas Cook Scandinavia has been busy preparing for the summer season, mainly in the paint department. A320 OY-VKS (1954) was ferried from Copenhagen to East Midlands on 27/4 for painting. Among the A321s, OY-VKB (1921) was ferried from Norwich to Oslo/Gardermoen after painting & OY-VKT (1972) was returned to Trondheim on 29/4 following maintenance at Toulouse. Finally, A333 OY-VKI (357) was flown down from Manchester to Filton on 28/4 for painting.
Thomson A/W B752 G-BYAX (28834) was ferried from Manchester to Kelowna on 25/4 for winglet installation. G-BYAY (28836) returned to Newcastle from Kelowna on 26/4 having had its winglets fitted. B733 G-THOK (28660) was cancelled from the UK register on 27/4 as exported to Brazil (due to become PR-WJM with WebJet). B752 G-CPEV (29943) was ferried back to Manchester on 28/4, still as C-GOEV, following winter lease to Skyservice. The aircraft now sports winglets & was restored to the UK register on 30/4. A320 G-OOPP (1571) returned to Manchester on 29/4 after lease to Skyservice & should still be carrying C-GTDG. B752 G-OOOX (26158) left Canada on 30/4 still as C-FLOX after its winter spell with Skyservice & routed to Amsterdam for summer lease to Arkefly. G-OOBG (29942) also arrived at Amsterdam the previous day following winter lease to Skyservice, still as C-FUBG, & may also be for summer lease to Arkefly. A321 G-OOAV (1720) was cancelled from the UK register on 30/4 & is believed to be destined for Ural A/L. Skyservice B752 C-GTBB (32447) returned from Canada today for summer lease with Thomson A/W.
Transavia B738 PH-HSW (37160) was delivered to Amsterdam on 29/4.
Travel Service is set to receive former Futura/Primera B738 N977RY (32740) as it was noted being painted into the airline's scheme at Shannon on 28/4. Also see under Icelandair.
Trawel Fly. See under Astraeus.
Tunis Air A320 TS-IMH (0402) returned to Tunis on 25/4 after lease to Mauritania A/W & has been replaced at Nouakchott by TS-IML (0958).
Ural A/L. See under Thomson A/W.
Viking A/L. See under Saga A/L.
Vladivostok Avia A333 EI-CRK (070) was flown from Bordeaux to Shannon on 27/4 & was reregistered as VQ-BCW on 30/4.
XL A/W Germany B738 D-AXLD (35093) returned to Frankfurt on 27/4 following winter lease with Sunwing A/L, still carrying C-FYLD.