VISITORS
JetClub Learjet 60 HB-VWN (158 ex N237FX, N50EL, N460JD) was the only newcomer today.
FLEET NEWS
Astraeus B737 G-STRH (32737) positioned from Southend to Rome/Fiumicino as AEU007 today in full Trawel Fly scheme.
BA CityFlyer B463 G-BXAR (E3298), which suffered a nosewheel collapse at London City Airport on 13/2, will not be returned to service. According to the airline, "the extent of the damage means the aircraft will be either written off by our insurance company, or the repairs will take so long to complete that this would coincide with the return of the aircraft at the end of its lease period". This unplanned reduction in the fleet from 12 to 11 aircraft has resulted in a decrease in the Edinburgh to London service from 8 to 6 flights per day & the loss of 25 jobs.
Cimber Sterling added OY-MRG (28010) to its fleet today when it was ferried from Shannon to Copenhagen in full scheme. It joins other former Sterling examples OY-MRE/F/H/U with the airline.
Flybe EMB145 G-EMBM (145196) was ferried from Exeter to Alverca today prior to delivery to Athens A/W with whom it will become SX-CMD.
Thomson A/W B752 G-BYAK (26267) performed its last revenue flight this morning from Dalaman to Glasgow as TOM239. It was then ferried to Shannon as TOM9950 prior to return to the lessor & is destined for FedEx as N924FD. B763 G-OOBM (27568) is now expected to have winglets installed during the next few weeks. The airline's next B738 will be registered G-FDZT, with delivery expected in August. A320 G-OOPW (1777) was ferried from Maastricht to Luton as TOM9812 today after painting into Ural A/L scheme.
ROUTE NEWS
None today.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
In case anyone is wondering why none of the Flybe flights from Guernsey are operating at present, it is because the airport is shut to all except emergency traffic due to industrial action by the fire crews.
Members of Gatwick's Airline Operators Committee (AOC), which include British A/W, easyJet & Ryanair, are calling on the BAA to scrap an "extraordinary" £1 billion investment plan, which includes a new £200 million pier to be built at the North Terminal & improvements to other facilities. Quite why the BAA is thinking of doing this while it has the airport up for sale does seem a bit odd. Having said that, it appears that the Manchester Airport Group (MAG) is understood to be the sole remaining bidder after the others gradually dropped out. Anyone want to buy an airport?
Congratulations to Virgin Atlantic who managed to double their annual profit in sharp contrast to the huge losses at British A/W.
CREDITS
John Creasey, Jethro, Skyliner, Martin Clunes & anybody else that I have forgotten.
Happy spotting!
John (& "Mad" Max)
MOVEMENTS SUMMARY (most from SBS)
AAW912 - A320 5A-ONB
ADR450 - CRJ9 S5-AAN
AEA1013 - E195 EC-KYO
AEA1015 - E195 EC-KRJ
AMC116 - A320 9H-AEQ
AUI501 - B735 UR-GAW
AWC88Y - B752 G-ZAPX (also AWC81W)
AWE725 - B752 N942UW
AWE732 - A333 N275AY
BEL2121 - A319 OO-SSK
BEL2129 - B462 OO-DJQ
BMM316 - A321 CN-ROF (yesterday evening's flight - arr approx 12.30)
BMM372 - B734 CN-RMF
BTI651 - B733 YL-BBR (aircraft change from the predicted YL-BBS)
CIM261 - CRJ2 OY-RJA
CIM765 - CRJ2 OY-RJG (aircraft change from the predicted OY-RJB)
CIM5265 - B737 OY-MRH
CIM5761 - B737 OY-MRF
CLI3201 - A320 EC-ICQ
CTN494 - A319 9A-CTH
CTN4494 - A319 9A-CTG
DAL036 - did not operate
DAL812 - A333 N810NW
EIN23A - A320 EI-DEO (also EIN246/248)
EIN24D - A320 EI-DES
EIN236 - A320 EI-DER
EIN903 - A320 EI-DVF (also EIN917)
EIN907 - eta 23.45
EIN921 - A320 EI-DVI (also EIN963)
EIN925 - eta 23.30
EIN931 - A320 EI-DEC (also EIN951)
EIN933 - eta 22.35
EIN983 - A320 EI-DVJ (also EIN905)
EIN985 - eta 22.55
EXS125P - B752 G-LSAE (also TCX425L)
EXS130P - B733 G-CELH
EZS8469 - A319 HB-JZH (also EZS8471)
EZS8473 - A319 HB-JZG (also EZS8477)
EZS8532 - A319 HB-JZL
ISS3531 - A319 EI-DEY
ISS3535 - did not operate
MAH612 - B737 HA-LOA
MAH614 - B736 HA-LOD
MLD883 - A320 ER-AXP
NAX1302 - B733 LN-KKB
NAX1304 - B733 LN-KKA
NAX1306 - B733 LN-KKM
NAX1318 - B738 LN-NOB (aircraft change from the predicted LN-NOE)
NAX1320 - B738 LN-NOD
NAX3510 - B738 LN-NON
NAX3514 - B733 LN-KKG
NAX3521 - B733 LN-KKN
QTR075 - did not operate
RYR1X - B738 EI-DAX
RYR112G - B738 EI-DLG
RYR114G - B738 EI-DHI
RYR116G - B738 EI-DLV (also RYR118G)
RYR1124 - B738 EI-DHC
RYR1126 - B738 EI-DLF
RYR1182 - B738 EI-DWM
RYR5562 - B738 EI-DPY
RYR5568 - B738 EI-EBH
RYR6454 - B738 EI-DYD
RYR9228 - B738 EI-DCL
RYR9852 - B738 EI-DCS
RZO540 - A320 CS-TKK
TAP334 - E145 CS-TPH (second visit)
TAP348 - A319 CS-TTI
TSC142 - A313 C-GTSK
UAE009 - B773 A6-ECD
UAE011 - B772 A6-EMJ
UAE015 - B773 A6-ECO
VIK122 - B733 SE-RHT (callsign displayed as VIK121 on SBS)
VIK322 - eta 23.30
VIK326 - B738 C-FEAK
BIZJETS, ETC
C-FEMT Lear 36 (arr 25/5 & dep today)
G-CBHT DA900EX (arr 25/5 & dep today
HB-VWN Lear 60 (first visit)