VISITORS
Air Four Learjet 45 I-FORU (036 ex N345WB) made its first visit to Gatwick this morning. The latest easyJet A319, G-EZFP (4087), arrived on delivery from Finkenwerder this afternoon & almost immediately departed on a service to Lisbon as EZY8719. The evening saw a first visit by NetJets Europe Citation 560XLS CS-DXW (5787), while the second Transavia flight yielded another newcomer, namely B737 PH-XRD (30659).
FLEET NEWS
EasyJet A319 G-EZFP (4087) arrived at Gatwick, as expected, today on its delivery flight.
Eurocypria B738 5B-DBX (33699) was ferried from Larnaca to Perpignan as ECA006P today prior to winter lease to Sunwing A/L.
Flybe (well, sort of!). DHC-8 G-PTHC (4276) is due at Birmingham tomorrow on delivery from Canada in full Olympic Air scheme. It is due to become SX-OBC & will be operated by Flybe on behalf of Olympic Air. DHC-8 G-ECOZ (4034), operating as BEE81F suffered a tail strike while landing at Gatwick in strong winds & rain yesterday morning & is still present.
Flyglobespan B738 G-CDEG (33022) was ferried from Lasham to Manchester via Newquay today, flying the first leg as GSM737E & the second as GSM738E.
Malev Fk100 HA-LMA (11564) was ferried from Budapest to Norwich as MAH5616 today for painting into Carpatair scheme.
Thomson A/W B752 G-OOBF (33101) left Gatwick today as TOM9203 bound for Greensboro, NC, presumably for winglet installation. B733 G-THOE (26313) left Luton today as OD-HAJ bound for Beirut on delivery to Wings of Lebanon. A320 C-GTDH (1605) left Belfast today as SSV301 on return to Skyservice following summer lease.
Virgin Atlantic. The departure of B744 G-VROM (32339) to AeroSur as CP-2603 has been postponed until Wednesday or Thursday. The aircraft still carries its UK registration taped over the Bolivian one.
ROUTE NEWS
Delta A/L. Judging by the arrival of N843MH (29716) on DAL12 this morning, the carrier seems to have made its expected switch to B764 operations on the Atlanta route for the winter.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
This one has been rumbling around for at least a couple of weeks now, but Ryanair is threatening to cancel or defer its outstanding orders with Boeing unless it gets a favourable price for its fleet renewal programme, which involves a potential order for 200 aircraft to be delivered between 2013 & 2016. It is also accusing Airbus of not taking its request to tender seriously (it will be remembered that O'Leary shook hands on a deal with Airbus a few year ago & then ordered Boeings, so Airbus' reluctance to spend time & money on a bid that they don't believe they can win is understandable). O'Leary's says that unless he gets favourable terms for the purchase of new aircraft, the airline will concentrate on maximizing profits rather than expansion. It will be interesting to see whether Mr O'Leary manages another outrageous deal from Boeing.
According to The Times, Lufthansa has decided not to sell BMI, but to attempt to turn the airline's fortunes round.
CREDITS
Paul Giblin, Vince Horan, Malcolm Baldry, Peter Stanbrook, Gary Jones, Chris Reed, Steve Spence, John Creasey, John Hargreaves, Steve Pigg, Derek Malt, Mark Rice, Jethro, Skyliner, the Brothers Grimm & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max) is back!
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONA
ADR450 - CRJ2 S5-AAH
AEA1013 - B738 EC-JHL
AEA1015 - E195 EC-KYP
AEU003T - A320 G-STRP
AMC116 - A319 9H-AEH
AMC1122 - A319 9H-AEJ
AUI501 - B733 UR-GAN
AWE732 - A333 N273AY
BEL2121 - B463 OO-DWL
BEL2129 - did not operate?
BLE278P - MD83 F-GMLI
BTI651 - B735 YL-BBN
CIM265 - CRJ2 OY-RJJ
CIM767 - CRJ2 OY-RJC
CIM5261 - B737 OY-MRG
CIM5761 - B737 OY-MRE
CIM5765 - B737 OY-MRU
CTN4494 - A319 9A-CTI
DAL12 - B764 N843MH
EIN23A - A320 EI-DEL (also EIN236)
EIN246 - A320 EI-DEB (also EIN248)
EZS8469 - A319 HB-JZJ (also EZS8471)
EZS8473 - A319 HB-JZM
EZS8477 - A319 HB-JZI
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZG
EZY8004 - A319 G-EZFP (delivery/first visit)
FHY589 - A320 TC-FBF
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DFA (also ISS3535)
MAH612 - B738 HA-LOC
MAH614 - B738 HA-LOH
NAX1302 - B733 LN-KKG (also NAX1304)
NAX1306 - B733 LN-KKM
NAX1316 - B733 LN-KKD
NAX1318 - B733 LN-KKC
NAX1332 - B738 LN-NOP
NAX3510 - B733 LN-KKF
NAX3514 - B738 LN-NOD
OHY1605 - A321 TC-OAL
QTR075 - A333 A7-AEF
RAM672 - B738 CN-ROJ
RYR1MT - B738 EI-EFT
RYR112 - B738 EI-DWI (also RYR114)
RYR116 - B738 EI-DCM (also RYR118)
RYR1124 - did not operate?
RYR1126 - B738 EI-DPM
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DHD
RYR5371 - B738 EI-DYW
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DWC
RYR9228 - B738 EI-EFG
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DCE
SAS4623 - B735 LN-BRX
TAP334 - A320 CS-TNH
TAP344 - A319 CS-TTG
TAP348 - A320 CS-TNL
TRA5195 - B737 PH-XRA (third visit)
TRA5197 - B737 PH-XRD (first visit)
TRK413 - A321 TC-TCE
UAE009 - B773 A6-ECK
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMK
UAE015 - B773 A6-EMX
VIK116 - eta 22.30
VIK372 - B738 SE-RHS
BIZJETS, ETC
CS-DUE HS125 (NJE145K)
CS-DXW Ce560XLS (NJE712K - first visit)
I-FORU Lear 45 (AMF5896 - first visit)
N932XL Ce560XL (arr 30/10 & dep today)
ZS-AOL Gulf 5 (arr 31/10)