VISITORS
On a first visit at lunchtime was STP A/W B763 S9-DBY (26208 ex EI-CKE, N639TW, PP-VTE) resplendent in an all-white scheme. It positioned in from Orly to operate a Cubana flight to Havana. No idea at present whether this is a new Thursday flight or just a one-off. It may possibly reappear at Gatwick, as Cubana is currently one Il-96 short, with last Saturday's flight having positioned out to Moscow. As far as I can recall, this is only the third aircraft registered in Sao Tome & Principe to visit Gatwick, the other two being BAC 1-11 S9-TAE & Gulfstream 1 S9-NAV.
RAF Hercules C3A XV303 (4271) dropped in on a first visit yesterday evening after I had posted the roundup. Two RAF Hercs in three days - what is going on?
FLEET NEWS
Air Comet seems to have dropped back into the habit of using everyone's aircraft other than its own. So far this week, we have had two Iberworld A320s, a Spanair MD-80 & a Hola B734 on the flights. What next?
British A/W B733 G-LGTI (23925) flew its last revenue service yesterday evening as BAW8046 from Jersey to Gatwick. This morning, it was ferried to Glasgow as BAW9260 for, presumably, end of lease checks.
EasyJet's former B737 G-EZJH (30240), which has been stored at Lasham as N240CL, was ferried to Norwich today, still in its US marks, to be painted for Eastar Jet of South Korea.
Sterling's former B738 OY-SEM (33019) is still resident at Norwich, but is now confirmed as carrying YR-BIC under tape.
ROUTE NEWS
Zoom back? It is reported that the Zoom name has been purchased by a Canadian firm who intend to restart flights from Canada to the UK this summer, with Gatwick as the first destination. However, another company, formed by the original owners of Zoom, says that it is set to start flights from Canada to London & Paris in June using Finnair B752s. Time will tell whether either of these gets off the ground.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
New biz jets appearing on the UK register yesterday were BD700 G-EXRS (9274 ex N974TS) & CL605 G-CSFC (5744 ex N744JC).
The government today at last gave the go-ahead for a third runway at LHR. The battle lines have been drawn & there will doubtless be all the usual protests, demonstrations, lawsuits, committees, reviews, enquiries, delays, etc before work even starts. It wouldn't surprise me at all if it gets cancelled & a second runway is built at Gatwick. There is, of course, always Boris & the Thames Estuary - as they say, it's never over until the fat lady sings!
Airbus delivered 483 aircraft during 2008 against Boeing's 375 & also netted more orders with 777 against Boeing's 662.
Air Austral has signed a memorandum of understanding for two A380s configured for an incredible 840 passengers in single class configuration. Delivery would be in 2014 & Flight Global reports that these would be used on the route between Reunion & Paris.
CREDITS
Dave Broome, Peter Hillman, Derek Malt, Andy Borrett, Roger Slaytor, John Tietjen, Gary Jones, Allan Huse, Ken Ede, John Smart, Mr Anon, Jethro, Flight Global, Skyliner, Lee Van Cleef & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONB
AMC116 - A320 9H-AEI
AMC1126 - A319 9H-AEM
AUI501 - B735 UR-GAK
AWE730 - B752 N200UU
AWE732 - A333 N270AY
AZW724 - B762 Z-WPE
BEL2121 - B734 OO-VEK
BEL2129 - B462 OO-DJO
BMM314 - B734 CN-RMG
BTI651 - B752 YL-BDB
CIM265 - CRJ2 OY-RJI
CIM5761 - B734 SE-RJA (also CIM5765)
CNO623 - did not operate
CTN4494 - A320 9A-CTJ
CUB441 - B763 S9-DBY (STP A/W - first visit)
DAL012 - B764 N835MH
DAL036 - B752 N713TW (callsign displayed as DAL175 on SBS - aircraft change from the predicted N712TW)
DAL058 - did not operate
EIN242 - A320 EI-DEO
EIN244 - A320 EI-CVC
EIN246 - A320 EI-DET (also EIN248)
ELL101 - B733 ES-ABK
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZN
EZS8569 - A319 HB-JZM (also EZS8571)
EZS8573 - A319 HB-JZQ
EZS8575 - A319 HB-JZJ
EZY732 - A319 G-EZDX (also EZY5326)
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DEZ
ISS3535 - A319 EI-DEY
KNI715 - B733 VP-BBG
LIL452 - B733 LY-AQX
LZB495 - did not operate
MAH612 - B737 HA-LOA
MAH614 - B737 HA-LOP
MPD230 - B734 EC-KBO (Hola)
MPD232 - A320 EC-KEN (Iberworld - still in Go scheme)
NAX1318 - B733 LN-KKM
NAX1342 - B733 LN-KKW
OAL271 - B734 SX-BKU
QTR075 - A332 A7-AFP
RYR1X - B738 EI-CSW
RYR112G - B738 EI-DLV (also RYR114G)
RYR116G - B738 EI-DAG (also RYR118G)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-DLF (also RYR1126)
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DWY
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DAN (also RYR5568)
RYR7102 - B738 EI-DPX
RYR9228 - B738 EI-DLI
RYR9852 - B738 EI-CSO
TAP332 - F100 CS-TPA
TAP334 - F100 CS-TPF
TAP344 - A319 CS-TTP
TSC322 - A310 C-GTSH
TSC384 - A333 C-GKTS
UAE009 - A332 A6-EKW
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMJ
UAE015 - B773 A6-EBU
BIZJETS, ETC
CS-DRO HS125 (NJE240P)
EC-GOV Ce560 (GES031)
G-STOB Be400 (called reg, though displayed FLT5STOB on SBS)
N92AE Gulf 4 (arr 14/1)
N174WA Avanti (arr 14/1 & dep today)
OE-HJA Ce750 (JAG77)
OK-HLB Be350 (arr 14/1 & dep today)
OY-CLP Ce650 (NFA064)
Adding to yesterday's roundup, XV303 C-130K (RYR5086) arrived & departed late evening - first visit.