EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 20-11-10
The information in this blog comes from a variety of sources, though particular credit must be given to the following sites, which are very highly recommended.
Chris Witt/Skyliner
http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/
Jethro/UK & Ireland Airline Fleet Listings
http://jethros.eu/
Drewski/737NG Line Number list
http://drewski2112.livejournal.com/
ABX Air B762 N774AX (22789) arrived at Tel Aviv on 17/11 for freighter conversion. N786AX (23019) left Tel Aviv on 19/11 bound for Cincinnati, KY following freighter conversion.
Aerosvit. See under Royal Brunei.
Afriqiyah A320 5A-ONL (4489) was noted at the delivery centre at Toulouse on 18/11 still wearing F-WWDV & is due for delivery this month. 5A-ONM (4521) was also on the ramp wearing F-WWDI & is due for delivery next month. Both are in full scheme.
Aigle Azur A319 F-GXAG (2296) has become XA-VOR for Volaris & was noted as such all white at Zurich on 9/11 awaiting delivery.
Air Algerie B738 7T-VKF (40860) left Boeing Field, WA on 18/11 on delivery to Algiers.
Air Berlin A320 D-ABFM (4478) was delivered from Toulouse to Berlin/Tegel on 15/11. Also see under Belair.
Airbus single-aisle deliveries to other customers
PK-AXO A320 (4486) to Indonesia Air Asia 16/11
RP-C8391 A320 (4512) to AirPhil Express 18/11
VT-IGW A320 (4506) to IndiGo 16/11
Air China A333 B-6523 (1187) was noted at Toulouse in full scheme as F-WWYP on 13/11. As part of a LoI signed by the Chinese government earlier this month, it now transpires that Air China is to be the unidentified customer for the ten A350s (plus ten A330s). These are due for delivery between 2018 & 2020.
Air Contractors AT42 EI-SLI (115) returned to Edinburgh on 11/11 still wearing 5Y-BVD, but returned to the Irish register on 16/11. EI-CVR (22) is being dismantled & will reportedly go to the USA.
Air Europa A332 EC-JZL (814) was ferried from Madrid to Jeddah on 19/11 for Hajj operations with NAS Air.
Air France B773 F-GZNH (35544) returned to Paine Field, WA on 17/11 after painting at Portland, OR, still wearing N5017V.
Airlinair AT42 F-GVZJ (93) will now not join Airlinair Portugal as CS-DTN, but is to go to Equaflight of the Congo instead & was noted in their full scheme at Montpellier on 10/11 awaiting delivery. Also see under Eurolot.
Air Malta A320 9H-AEI (2189) has become XA-SOB for InterJet & is due for delivery from Malta on 22/11.
Air Transat. Former Edelweiss A332 C-GTSN (369 ex HB-IQZ) left Zurich on 19/11 on delivery to Montreal & is reportedly due to be leased to XL A/W France for the winter. Former Mexicana example C-GTSR (966) made a test flight on 12/11 & should enter service shortly, with C-GTSZ (971) following it next month. These two aircraft have seatback in-flight entertainment systems & are not scheduled to operate across the Atlantic this winter, but should appear next summer. Dragonair A333 B-HYD (132) is due to join the fleet in February. A313s C-GTSD (547) & C-GVAT (485) are to be disposed of with the former expected to leave the fleet next month.
Air Zimbabwe. In a report in News Day dated 26/10, Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer Peter Chikumba "denied reports that Air Zimbabwe would purchase two Airbus planes". I wonder if this is pure semantics since the carrier is supposed to be leasing the aircraft from Hi-Fly or whether the deal is actually off. The saga continues with the latest from the rumour mill suggesting that the Hi-Fly A345s are to go to Mahan Air, with Air Zimbabwe taking A343s instead.
Alitalia A320 EI-EIC (4520) made its first flight on 17/11 in full scheme as D-AXAI. More aircraft moving onto the Irish register at LHR have been:
I-BIKL A320 (1489) to EI-IKL 17/11
I-BIMG A319 (2086) to EI-IMG 19/11
I-BIXB A321 (0524) to EI-IXB 19/11
I-BIXC A321 (0526) to EI-IXC 17/11
I-BIXI A321 (0494) to EI-IXI 13/11
I-BIXO A321 (0495) to EI-IXO 15/11
Alitalia Express AT72 I-ATRO (423) was ferried from Cologne to Shannon on 19/11 for painting, presumably for a new customer.
All Nippon B763 JA620A (40565) left Paine Field, WA on 12/11 on delivery to Tokyo/Haneda.
Austrian Arrows DH8C OE-LTG (438) was ferried from Innsbruck to Linz for storage on 15/11.
Avitrans Nordic SF34 SE-LJK (89) has become 6Y-JXD for Exec Direct Aviation & left Orebro on delivery on 16/11.
Baboo A/W E190s HB-JQE (19000163) & HB-JQF (19000178) were ferried from Geneva to Lille on 12/11 on return to the lessor.
BA Cityflyer E190 G-LCYN left Exeter on 14/11 after receiving its into service modifications & flew its first revenue service the same day.
Belair A320 HB-IOV (3021) has become XA-MYR for InterJet & left Dusseldorf on delivery on 18/11 still in Air Berlin scheme.
Bellview A/L. See under Gulf Air.
Blue1 B712 SE-REP (55061), which arrived at Helsinki on delivery on 12/11, is becoming OH-BLI. Leaving the fleet is MD90 OH-BLF (53543), which was ferried from Helsinki to Stockholm/Arlanda on 18/11 on return to SAS for Delta A/L.
Blue Air B735 YR-BAH was delivered from Oslo to Bucharest on 17/11. The aircraft's pedigree is currently unknown.
Blue Line MD83 F-GMLU (49398) left Nimes on 16/11 bound for Mojave, CA on return to the lessor.
Boeing single-aisle deliveries to other customers
B-5549 B738 (37888) to Shanghai A/L 19/11
C-FKWJ B738 (36435) to WestJet 18/11
JA333J B738 (40348) to JAL Express 16/11
N860NN B738 (40538) to American A/L 17/11
N861NN B738 (31109) to American A/L 19/11
PK-GFK B738 (37887) to Garuda 17/11
PR-GUD B738 (35836) to Gol 19/11
9M-MXB B738 (40129) to MAS 16/11
British A/W A320 G-BUSI (0103) completed a successful air test on 12/11 & was handed back to the lessor on 15/11. The air test was originally scheduled for 11/11 but the aircraft had a reverser problem. It will be ferried to Lourdes in due course to join G-BUSG (0039). B752 G-CPES (29114) was ferried down from LHR to Gatwick on 13/11, presumably for preparation for FedEx. G-CPER (29113) followed on 17/11. B773 G-STBC (38287) was due to ferry from Cardiff to LHR on 19/11 prior to service entry.
China A/L A333 B-18355 (1177) left Toulouse on 19/11 on delivery to Taipei.
CSA B735 OK-CGJ (28470) was ferried from Prague to Manchester on 14/11 to be painted all white prior to return to the lessor.
Danu Oro Transportas AT42 LY-OOV (5) was ferried from Guwahati to Kaunas on 18/11 following lease to Deccan 360.
Dragonair. See under Air Transat.
Edelweiss. See under Air Transat.
Egypt Air B738 SU-GDZ (40759) made its first flight on 11/11.
Ethiopian A/L B738 ET-AOB (37937) left Boeing Field, WA on 16/11 on delivery to Addis Ababa.
Eurocypria B738 5B-DBU (32796) was ferried to Perpignan on 13/11 & not on 12/11.
Eurolot has so far returned four of its AT42s to the manufacturer & they are now finding new homes.
SP-EDA (516 ex F-GPYG) to F-WNUA & stored at Montpellier for Airlinair as F-GVZC
SP-EDB (522 ex F-GPYH) to F-WNUB then to OY-PCB for a week before to SATENA as HK-4748X, leaving Montpellier on delivery 18/11
SP-EDC (526 ex F-GPYI) to F-WNUI then SATENA as HK-4747X, leaving Montpellier on delivery 18/11
SP-EDD (530 ex F-GPYJ) to F-WNUJ then Airlinair as F-GVZD & delivered from Montpellier to Orly 8/11, entering service 15/11
Eurowings CRJ7 D-ACSB (10028) was ferried from Nuremberg to Dusseldorf on 16/11 all white for hand back to Maersk. CRJ2 D-ACRJ (7864) was ferried from Dusseldorf to Weeze for storage on 17/11.
EVA Air B773 B-16715 (33757) was delivered from Paine Field, WA, where it had been stored awaiting seats, to Taipei on 14/11. B-16716 (32642) followed on 17/11.
Finnair A333 OH-LTU (1173) made its first flight on 10/11 all white as F-WWYN.
Fischer Air B733s OK-FAN (27469) & OK-FUN (27910), which became N901AS & N902AS with AerSale in June, were then ferried from storage at Prague to Bucharest. The US registrations were cancelled on 15/11 & they have now become 5N-VNK & 5N-VNL respectively for Air Nigeria. The former left Bucharest on delivery on 18/11.
Flybe is to prepare two more DH8Ds for Olympic Air. G-PTHG (4321) is due at Exeter between 28/11 & 1/12 & will become SX-OBG, while G-PTHH (4327) is due between 21/11 & 24/11 & will become SX-OBH. For some reason, they are being delivered to Exeter the "wrong" way round.
FlyDubai B738 A6-FDM (40240) had appeared on the Renton, WA flightline by 15/11. A6-FDK (40238) left Paine Field, WA on 17/11 on delivery to Dubai & was followed by A6-FDL (40239) on 19/11.
German Sky A/L was awarded its AOC on 11/11 & flew its first commercial service on 13/11 with B738 D-AGSA (28323).
Gulf Air A320 A9C-AJ (4502) made its first flight on 16/11 in primer but with GFA engines as F-WWIU & was ferried from Toulouse to Finkenwerder the same day. B763 A9C-GK (24496) was registered to WFBN on 30/9 as N183AQ & was noted at Miami on 17/11 in basic Bellview A/L scheme. It had originally been intended for Bellview as 5N-DVA, but the deal cancelled & it is now due to go to Mega Global Air of the Maldives.
Hi-Fly. See under Air Zimbabwe
Highland A/W Jetstream 31 G-JURA (772) was ferried from Inverness to Cranfield on 13/11.
JAL A306 JA8574 (740) was registered to GA Telesis on 10/11 as EI-EOT & left Tokyo/Haneda on 16/11 for storage at Lourdes. JA8565 (711) left Tokyo/Haneda on 18/11 also bound for storage at Lourdes.
Jetairfly B738 OO-VAS (30285) has become HL8234 for Jeju A/L & left Woensdrecht on delivery to Seoul on 19/11.
KLM B738 PH-BGM (37820) was noted on the Renton, WA flightline on 13/11. B734 PH-BDZ (25355) is to become HS-DDP for Nok Air & is due for delivery from Amsterdam on 27/11.
KLM Cityhopper F50s PH-KVH (20217) & PH-KVK (20219) were ferried from Amsterdam to Norwich on 18/11 on return to the lessor, with PH-KVG (20211) following on 19/11.
Korean Air A388 HL8213 (035) made its first flight on 16/11 in primer with KAL tail colours as F-WWAT & was ferried from Toulouse to Finkenwerder the same day.
Libyan A/L A320 5A-LAJ (4490) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Benghazi on 13/11.
Lufthansa A388 D-AIMD (048) was delivered from Finkenwerder to Frankfurt on 16/11.
Lufthansa Cityline CRJ2 D-ACJH left Cologne on 17/11 bound for refurbishing in Canada prior to delivery to UT Air.
Mahan Air. See under Air Zimbabwe.
Mega Global Air. See under Gulf Air.
Mexicana. See under Air Transat.
MK A/L B742F G-MKJA (22477) was cancelled from the UK register on 12/11 as transferred to the USA (it is currently stored at Nairobi). It was registered to JT Power Megatron 12 LLC as N224JT on 18/11.
Non-Airline
G-BRXT B462 (E2115) was registered to E1076 Trading Ltd on 18/11 & left storage at Kemble the same day bound for Reykjavik.
OE-ICE A318CJ (4503) for Jet Alliance made its first flight on 17/11 as D-AUAF (see Skyliner for photo).
J2-KBE B762 (23624 ex CC-CJV, PT-TAH, N151LF, 5R-MFE, N769BC, TJ-AAC, N769BC, G-FJEC, G-SJET, N480JC) for the Djibouti government was delivered from Rio de Janeiro/Galeao to Johannesburg on 11/11 for operation by Aeronexus, with whom it had been expected to be registered ZS-DJI.
N447BJ BBJ2 (40118) for 737 Two Aviation left Georgetown, DE on 16/11 for cabin configuration at Hamburg.
9K-GBB A345 (1102) for the State of Kuwait made its first flight on 16/11 in full scheme as F-WWTZ. It is expected to be ferried to San Antonio, TX for VIP outfitting.
Norwegian Air Shuttle B738 LN-DYF (39004) had appeared on the Renton, WA flightline by 12/11 & made its first flight on 18/11.
Olympic Air. See under Flybe.
Qantas A332 VH-EBO (1169) left Toulouse on 15/11 on delivery to Sydney. A388 VH-OQG (047) was ferried from Finkenwerder back to Toulouse on 18/11 as F-WWAD.
Royal Brunei B763 V8-RBK (25536) has become UR-VVV for Aerosvit & was noted at Brunei International in full scheme on 18/11 awaiting delivery.
SAS F50 LN-RNF (20183) was ferried from Bergen to Norwich on 17/11 prior to return to the lessor. Also see under Blue1.
Saudi Arabian A320 HZ-AS42 (4501) made its first flight on 12/11 as F-WWIM & was ferried from Toulouse to Finkenwerder the same day.
S7 A/L became part of OneWorld on 15/11.
Swiss International A333 HB-JHJ (1188) was noted at Toulouse on 13/11 in full scheme as F-WWYQ.
Thomson A/W. An update/reminder concerning the B738s going to Sunwing A/L for winter lease:
G-FDZA (35134) left for Canada on 2/11, retained its UK registration
G-FDZB (35131) will retain its UK registration
G-FDZD (35132) will retain its UK registration
G-FDZE (35137) became C-GDZE on 26/10 prior to ferrying to Canada 27/10
G-FDZF (35138) will retain its UK registration
G-FDZG (35139) will become C-FRZG before departing on 10/12
G-FDZJ (34690) became C-FRZJ on 16/11 prior to ferrying to Canada 17/11
G-FDZR (35145) will become C-FLZR before departing on 8/12
Aircraft retaining their UK registrations will be flown by UK crews.
THY A333 TC-JNK (1172) made its first flight on 16/11 in full scheme as F-WWYK.
Transaero will soon receive another B735. Former Continental example N14654 (28915) was ferried from Goodyear, AZ to Rome, NY on 18/11 for preparation for the carrier.
TransAsia A/W this week ordered two A333s along with a further six A321s.
Transavia B738 PH-HZI (23850) left Amsterdam on 18/11 bound for Minneapolis/St Paul & winter lease to Sun Country.
TUIfly B738 D-ATUA (37245) had appeared on the flightline at Renton, WA by 15/11.
UT Air. See under Lufthansa Cityline.
V Australia B773 VH-VPH (37943) was delivered from Paine Field, WA to Victorville, CA on 18/11.
Veteran Cargo B742F EK74798 (23698 ex JA8181, N288RF) had entered service by 14/11 when it flew from Sharjah to Luxembourg.
Viking A/L B733 SE-RHT (24962) was ferried from Ostrava to Dublin on 18/11. B738 SE-RHR (30637) was noted at Shannon on 19/11 as C-FTAE prior to winter lease to Sunwing A/L.
World A/W DC10 N138WA (47845) was ferried from Baltimore/Washington International, MD to Crestview/Bob Sikes Airport, FL on 17/11 for scrapping.
XL A/W France. See under Air Transat.
XL A/W Germany B738 D-AXLE (30724) left Frankfurt on 10/11 destined for Montreal on winter lease to CanJet.