EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 07-11-09
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/
Aeroflot A321 VQ-BEA (4058) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Moscow/Sheremetyevo on 5/11.
Air Berlin is to take delivery of a pair of ex Air Jamaica A321s in mid November. These are D-ABCF (1966 ex 6Y-JMS, N221LF) & D-ABCG (1988 ex 6Y-JMW, N341LF) & both are currently fully painted at Miami, FL. A320 D-ABDH (2846) was ferried from Hannover to Eindhoven on 2/11 for painting for Azerbaijan A/L.
Air Comet. The former A343 EC-KAJ (015), which became F-WBSR recently, was ferried from Bordeaux to Frankfurt on 5/11 prior to delivery to Safi A/W of Afghanistan.
Air Contractors is adding another ATR72 to its fleet. Former Delta Connection example N641AS (397) was delivered from Kinston, NC to Edinburgh via Dublin, arriving on 1/11. ATR42 EI-SLC (82) entered the paint shop at Shannon on 4/11 to be painted for lease to Mistral Air.
Air Dolomiti ATR72 I-ADCB (660 ex D-ANFH) was flown from Bordeaux to Verona on 1/11 following painting. B463 I-ADJI (E3149), currently stored at Kemble, was restored to the UK register as G-BTZN on 4/11, while I-ADJJ (E3155) was ferried from Kemble to Southend for further storage on 5/11.
Air France Cargo B777F F-GUOD (32969) made its first flight on 4/11. It is in an all white scheme, so may possibly not be taken up.
Alitalia A320 EI-DTL (4108) was ferried from Chateauroux to Finkenwerder on 4/11, still as F-WWDS. Also see under Centurion Air Cargo.
AnadoluJet continues to expand its fleet & will be adding a pair of former Sky Europe B737s to its fleet early next year. These are currently D-ALAA (34753 ex OM-NGG) & D-ALAB (34755 ex OM-NGJ), both of which are presently being overhauled at Budapest.
Astraeus. See under Seagle Air.
BA Cityflyer B463 G-BZAX (E3356) was ferried from Norwich to Kemble as CFE26T on 5/11 after painting into a splendid all white scheme.
BMI. See under Lufthansa.
BMI Baby B733 G-TOYB (26311), which is currently undergoing a C check at Sofia, will go into storage there prior to being returned to the lessor next March or April. G-TOYC (26312) flew its last revenue service on 24/10 from Faro to East Midlands as BMI5532. It was then ferried to Budapest on 25/10 as BMI72TJ for maintenance prior to return to the lessor. A third B733, G-TOYI (28054), flew its last revenue service as BMI5966 from Alicante to East Midlands on 31/10 & was ferried to Sofia the following day as BMI9471 for a C check & is unlikely to return to the fleet, especially as the airline has announced that it is cutting the size if its fleet from seventeen to twelve aircraft.
British A/W B733 G-LGTH (23924), which became N924RM at Bournemouth, had its US registration removed on 6/11 & LY-AWH applied to the nosewheel door. I would imagine that it is destined for FlyLAL Charters. Catching up with some other pieces of news, B733 G-GFFI (27425) flew its last revenue service on 24/10 as BAW2579 from Turin to Gatwick & is now parked awaiting its fate (reportedly for Astraeus). B744 G-BNLV flew its final revenue service on 26/10 from Delhi to LHR & was ferried to Cardiff as BAW9174 on 27/10. It is then to be flown to Victorville, CA. G-BNLD (23911) will be withdrawn later this month. B752 G-BPEI (25806) undertook its last revenue service on 30/10 as BAW461 from Madrid to LHR, while G-BPEE (25060) will be withdrawn mid November.
Calima is a new Spanish operator, who recently took delivery of B734 EC-LDN (24474). It was noted at Las Palmas on 1/11 & was originally delivered to Aer Lingus as EI-BXA, then becoming SU-HMD (Luxor Air), OO-SLW (Sobelair), UR-VVJ (Aerosvit) & N474EA (leasing company).
Centurion Air Cargo. Correcting last week's blog, the aircraft that was ferried to Acadiana, LA was actually N985AR (48430 ex EI-UPU) & not as stated.
Cirrus A/L Do328 D-CIRQ (3091) was registered to Sierra Nevada Corp as N391EF on 29/10.
Eastern A/W Jetstream 41 G-MAJM (41096) was cancelled from the UK register on 2/11 & it left Humberside on 3/11 as 9N-AJC en route to Naples & then Cairo on delivery to Yeti A/L.
EasyJet A319 G-EZFP (4087) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Gatwick as EZY8004 on 2/11. G-EZFN (4076) arrived at Madrid on delivery as EZY8001 on 3/11, while G-EZFO (4080) is due to be delivered to Stansted on 13/11.
Emirates B773 A6-ECW (38981) made its first flight on 5/11.
Eurocypria B738 5B-DBX (33699) was ferried from Larnaca to Perpignan as ECA006P on 2/11 prior to winter lease to Sunwing A/L. C-GLBW (30671) has been returned to Sunwing A/L & left Perpignan as SWG9007 on 4/11 bound for Toronto, routing via Quebec.
Eurowings B463 D-AEWB (E3183), currently stored at Southend, was restored to the UK register as G-BUHB on 2/11. CRJ9 D-ACNH (15247) left Montreal/Mirabel on 5/11 on its delivery flight to Nuremberg. The aircraft wears Lufthansa Regional scheme.
Flybe B461 G-JEAO (E1010) & B463 G-JEBF (E3202) were both cancelled from the UK register on 2/11 as permanently withdrawn from use. Also see under Olympic Air.
Flyglobespan B738 G-CDEG (33022) was ferried from Lasham to Manchester via Newquay for painting on 2/11.
FlyLAL Charters. See under British A/W & FlyLAL Charters Estonia.
FlyLAL Charters Estonia has added ES-LBD (25069 ex LY-AQV) to its fleet & it had entered service by 31/10, while ES-LBC (24664) has been transferred to the parent company as LY-FLD.
Gulf Air has returned B773 VT-JEK (35165) to Jet A/W. It flew its last service for Gulf Air on 28/10 & was ferried from Bahrain to Delhi on 30/10, before re-entering service with Jet A/W on 2/11. This was the last B773 operated by Gulf Air, though they are currently negotiating a further wet-lease deal
Hellenic Imperial B742 SX-TID (23502) left Athens on 1/11 bound for Basra, while SX-TIE (23590) departed for Abidjan on 2/11 & SX-TIB was ferried to Niamey on 6/11. All three are for Hajj operations.
Jet A/W. See under Gulf Air.
Lufthansa is no longer attempting to sell BMI, but will instead concentrate on turning the airline's fortunes around. Latest A321 D-AISZ (4085) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Frankfurt on 4/11.
Lufthansa Regional. See under Eurowings.
Luxair. See under TUIfly Germany.
Malev Fk70 HA-LMA (11564) was ferried from Budapest to Norwich as MAH5616 on 2/11 for painting into Carpatair scheme.
Mistral Air. See under Air Contractors.
Neos B738 I-NEOX (33677) was ferried from Milan/Malpensa to Algiers on 29/10 on lease to Air Algerie & was followed on 1/11 by I-NEOU (29887).
Olympic Air DHC-8 SX-OBC (4276) was due to be delivered from Exeter to Athens on 6/11. It had arrived at Exeter on 3/11 in full scheme as G-PTHC & will be operated by Flybe. A320 SX-OAS (4094) made its first flight on 4/11 as D-AVVB.
Polet Flight Il96-400T RA-96102 (74393200102) had entered service by 31/10.
Privatair B737BBJ HB-IIQ (30752) was ferried from Dusseldorf to Geneva on 4/11, before departing to Basel on 5/11 & then to Amman on 6/11 on delivery to a new operator.
Quantum Air B717s EC-HUZ (55066) & EC-JZX (55065) have recently been painted all white prior to return to the lessor. These are being withdrawn due to low demand for the airline's flights & the remaining B717s are to be returned next year in a swap for some larger MD-80s.
Ryanair B738 EI-EFZ (38489) made its first flight on 30/10, followed by EI-EGA (38490) on 3/11, EI-EGB (38491) on 4/11 & EI-EGC (38492) on 5/11. EI-EFW (35018) & EI-EFX (35019) arrived at Dublin on delivery on 6/11. Scheduled delivery dates for the six B738s still due this month are:
EI-EFV (35017) 11/11
EI-EFY (35020) 7/11
EI-EFZ (38489) 13/11
EI-EGA (38490) 20/11
EI-EGB (38491) 20/11
EI-EGC (38492) 21/11
SAS MD-87 LN-RMP (53337) was ferried from Copenhagen to Lourdes on 3/11 for storage. DHC-8 LN-RDL (4011), which became 5Y-VVW for Blue Bird Aviation, was ferried from storage at Eindhoven to Maastricht prior to delivery. It then continued its delivery flight on 3/11, routing via Heraklion & Khartoum. Also see under Spanair.
Seagle Air B733 OM-HLC (25119) was restored to Astraeus as G-STRJ on 4/11. OM-HLB (25011) was ferried from Bratislava to Bournemouth as CGL900P on 4/11 & will, presumably, revert to its previous marks of G-STRI.
Sky Europe. See under AnadoluJet.
SmartLynx. See under Travel Service.
Spanair MD-87 EC-JYD (49605) was noted at Palma de Mallorca on 3/11 devoid of titles prior to return to SAS (presumably as SE-DIB).
TAP A320 CS-TNT (4095) was ferried back from Finkenwerder to Toulouse on 30/10, while CS-TNU (4106) made its first flight on the same day as F-WWDR & was immediately ferried from Toulouse to Finkenwerder. Due in January is CS-TNV (4145).
Thomas Cook A320 G-KKAZ (2003) has once more become C-FZAZ for winter lease to Skyservice & left Manchester as SSV9503 on 5/11 bound for Toronto. B752 G-WJAN (28674) has become C-FFAN again & also left Manchester on 5/11 bound for Toronto & winter lease to Skyservice. A321 G-DHJH (1238) was ferried from Manchester to Copenhagen on 4/11 on lease to the airline's Scandinavian subsidiary & A332 OY-VKF (309) was ferried from Gatwick to Stockholm/Arlanda as TCX332P on 1/11 on return to Scandinavia after summer lease.
Thomas Cook Scandinavia. See under Thomas Cook.
Thomson A/W B752 G-OOBF (33101) left Gatwick on 2/11 as TOM9203 bound for Greensboro, NC, presumably for winglet installation. A320 C-GTDH (1605) left Belfast on 2/11 as SSV301 on return to Skyservice following summer lease, while B752 C-GTBB (32447) left Manchester as SSV9301 on 6/11 also on return to Skyservice. B733 G-THOE (26313) left Luton on 2/11 as OD-HAJ on delivery to Beirut for Wings of Lebanon.
Titan A/W is expected to take delivery of B463 G-BUHB (E3183) shortly. This aircraft was most recently with Eurowings as D-AEWB & it undertook an acceptance flight from Southend as AWC146T on 5/11.
Transavia B738 PH-HZA (28373) flew its last revenue service on 31/10 as TRA944 from Dalaman to Amsterdam. It was ferried to Prague on 1/11 as TRA059 prior to return to the lessor. Both PH-HZB (28374) & PH-HZC (28375) will also be withdrawn before the end of the year.
Travel Service is to return A320 YL-LCF (0446) to SmartLynx & it was ferried from Prague to Budapest on 1/11. It is now known that the two B738s recently returned to TUIfly, HA-LKC (27991) & HA-LKD (27985), are to go to CanJet in mid December.
TUIfly Germany B738 D-AHFN (28228) entered the paint shop at Shannon on 4/11 & it is understood that it is destined for Luxair. The airline will lease six 737-800s to CanJet this winter. This is two more than in 2008 & four more than in 2007. The preliminary schedule for the repainting of the TUIfly aircraft (mentioned last week) into Air Berlin scheme is as follows:
06/12/09 B737 D-AHXD (30726)
13/12/09 B737 D-AHIA (29082)
20/12/09 B737 D-AHXE (35135)
01/02/10 B737 D-AHXF (35136)
07/02/10 B738 D-AHFW (30882)
14/02/10 B737 D-AHXG (35140)
21/02/10 B737 D-AHXB (30717)
28/02/10 B737 D-AHXC (34693)
07/03/10 B737 D-AHXJ (35277)
14/03/10 B738 D-AHFS (28623)
21/03/10 B737 D-AHXH (35282)
28/03/10 B737 D-AHXA (30714)
All will be in full Air Berlin scheme, but will carry "operated by TUIfly" stickers. The two B733s D-AGEE (24238) & D-AGEG (24237) will not be repainted as they are to be phased out in March/April.
Virgin Atlantic B744 G-VROM (32339) was eventually cancelled from the UK register on 4/11 &, following several earlier cancelled flight plans, finally left Gatwick as CP-2603 on delivery to Aerosur on 5/11.