EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 08-08-09
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/
Aer Lingus will defer delivery of its first two A359s & three A333s & return two leased A333s early. EI-JFK (086) will leave the fleet in October & will be followed by EI-DUB (055) next March. Dealing with the six A333s ordered in 2007, EI-EAV (985) & EI-EDY (1025) have been delivered & will be followed by a third aircraft next April, while two more will be deferred until 3Q13 & 4Q13, with the sixth to follow in 1Q14. All three could be converted to A359s & delivered later. The A359 order was also for six aircraft for delivery from 2014, but the first two will not now be delivered before the first half of 2015 with delivery of the last pair in the first half of 2016.
Air Berlin A320 D-ABDY (4013) made its first flight at Toulouse as F-WWIG on 5/8 & was ferried to Finkenwerder later the same day. DHC-8 D-ABQI (4264) arrived at Osnabruck on delivery on 6/8. This is the ninth of an order for ten aircraft placed by LGW Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter to be operated for Air Berlin. Also see under Belle Air.
Air Comet A343 EC-KAJ had become F-WBSR at Madrid by 31/7 & was due to be ferried to Bordeaux. A320 EC-KBM (0426) returned to Madrid on 29/7 following lease to Olympic A/L & had been replaced by EC-KIK (0662) by 31/7. The latter aircraft still wears partial Air Moldova scheme.
Air Dolimiti B463 I-ADJG (E3169), which is currently stored at Kemble, was restored to G-BSNS on 5/8.
Air India B773 VT-ALP (36314) was test flying in the USA on 31/7 (possibly first flight).
Belavia has increased its fleet with the addition of a further B735. The aircraft in question will be EW-290PA (27629) & it arrived at Minsk on delivery from Miami as N381LF on 5/8. This aircraft was originally delivered to Rio-Sul as PT-SSB before becoming LY-AZW with FlyLAL & then EI-EDW & N381LF with ILFC.
Belle Air A319 F-ORAF (2335) was delivered from Dusseldorf to Tirana on 1/8. This aircraft was formerly with Air Berlin as D-ABGD.
Blu-Express B733 EI-EEW (23808) left Lasham on 31/7 routing via Shannon & arriving at Rome/Fiumicino on 1/8.
British A/W B773 G-YMMU (36519) arrived at Cardiff on delivery on 1/8.
Cathay Pacific. In addition to the A343 mentioned last week, the airline plans to park up to five more passenger aircraft, comprising three more A343s & two B744s, before the end of the year.
Cityjet. See under Scot A/W.
Contactair. The future Fk100 D-AFKE (11505) was ferried from Woensdrecht to Amsterdam on 5/8 still as PH-MJP. It is in Mandarin scheme & is to be repainted into Star Alliance colours.
Eagle Aviation Europe. See under Singapore A/L.
EgyptAir has placed an order for a further eight B738s taking its total order for this sub-type to twenty, with seven currently in service.
European Air Transport A300F OO-DIF (148) was ferried from Leipzig to Kemble on 1/8 for scrapping.
Eurowings B463 D-AEWN (E3158) was ferried from Frankfurt to Exeter as DLH9920 on 6/8 on return to the lessor.
Farnair ATR72 HB-AFS (198) was delivered from Toulouse to Basel on 6/8 all white. An aircraft that might hold a record for French test registrations, this started life with TransAsia A/W as B-22702, then became F-WQGC (ATR), EC-GQU (Air Nostrum), F-WQJU (ATR), SX-BSX (Cretan A/W), F-WQOG (ATR), F-WQND (ATR), EC-IKK (Islas A/W) & F-WKVE (ATR).
Flybe DHC-8 G-FLBD (4259) arrived at Birmingham on delivery on 2/8 & is expected to depart to Athens on lease to Olympic Air later this month. G-ECOE (4212) left Exeter bound for Athens on 1/8 in full Olympic Air scheme.
Hellas Aviation. Correcting last week's blog, Fk50 PH-KVE (20206) has not become SX-BRV, as this aircraft was previously PH-ZDI (20199) & it arrived at Athens on delivery in the early hours of 7/8. With thanks to Chris Habu & Constantinos Mark Zervos.
Hemus Air ATR42 LZ-ATS (130) left Sofia on 4/8 bound for Tehran/Mehrabad & possible lease to Taban Air.
Luzair will add B763 CS-TQI (25221) to its fleet & it made an acceptance flight from Porto Alegre on 6/8 as N237W. This aircraft has certainly been round the block, starting life with EVA Air as B-16688, then registered as N770TA (TACA), G-BXOP (Thomson A/W), PH-AAM (WFBN), SE-DZF (TUIfly Nordic), C-GGBK (Canadian/Air Canada), 5R-MFF (Air Madagascar), PR-VAI (Varig), PT-MSS (TAM) & N237W (GECAS).
MK A/L B742F G-MKCA (22482) was ferried from Ostend to Kemble on 7/8 for scrapping.
Olympic Air/Pantheon A/W A319 SX-OAJ (3905) was ferried from Shannon to Athens on 5/8 following painting, while SX-OAO (1880) flew from Maastricht to Shannon still as D-APAD on 4/8 having been painted all white. Also see under Flybe.
Olympic A/L. See under Air Comet.
Pegasus B738 TC-AAO (28619) was delivered from Budapest to Istanbul on 30/7. The aircraft was previously with Futura & Ryan International as EC-HLN, N255RY & EI-DJU.
Saga A/L A333 B-HYH (407) is to be registered TC-SGJ.
Scot A/W. Adding to last week, Do328 G-BYML (3069) is to become RP-C7328 & left Dinard on delivery on 1/8. The aircraft was still wearing the livery of CityJet, to whom it has been leased.
Singapore A/L B744 9V-SPG (26562) was ferried from Singapore to Bournemouth on 6/8 & is destined for Eagle Aviation Europe.
Sky Express has added two former Royal Falcon MD-83s to its fleet & both were noted at Heraklion on 3/8 untitled & in basic Meelad Air scheme. These two aircraft have stuck together all of their lives as follows:
SX-BLL (49933) ex OE-LMD (Austrian A/L), N189AS (AES), OE-LMH (MAP Jet), SX-DMH (Meelad Air) & JY-JRC (Royal Falcon)
SX-BPP (49933) ex OE-LME (Austrian A/L), N194AS (AES), OE-LMM (MAP Jet), SX-DMM (Meelad Air) & JY-JRB (Royal Falcon)
Thai A/W has reached agreement with Airbus to defer delivery of its six A388s until 2012. The first aircraft had been due for delivery in October next year.
Thomson A/W B752 G-BYAK (26267) was cancelled from the UK register on 6/8.
TUIfly has wet-leased Miami Air B738 N742MA (30675) & it arrived at Leipzig on 2/8 to cover for a damaged B737.