Regular readers will know I don't like returning from holiday without
squeezing a blog post out of it, which brings me to the question of the
dire state of Easyjet's fins (vertical stabilisers).
Easyjet
cabins always seem to be in surprisingly good condition, considering
the lives they lead. But at London Gatwick I saw first one, and then
another A320 with fins that looked like they'd been vandalised. Just a
fluke I thought, but then at Faro, Portugal I ended up being stabilised
around the normal axis by the shocker on Oscar Hotel below. (Now
Ryanair - dire experience, lurid cabins that keep you awake even
without the sales messages, but I've never heard any complaints about
their fins.)
They're not all like it - here's A319 India Juliet also at Faro complete with unsullied fin.
They're not all like it - here's A319 India Juliet also at Faro complete with unsullied fin.
on April 17, 2009 12:01 PM | Reply
The A320 is a former GB Airways aircraft (G-TT??), whilst the others were all delivered to EasyJet (G-EZ??) straight from the production line.
I'm guessing the quality of the repaint job wasn't quite what is was supposed to be.
on April 17, 2009 1:18 PM | Reply
I have noticed many easyjet aircraft (a319's) while spotting at Manchester airport. One has a tail where the rudder has been left white and the rest of the paintwork on the fin seems very shoddy.
I guess that they are ex GB airways..
on April 23, 2009 8:00 PM | Reply
I think you are a genius.
You must call easyjet and ask for a permanent job as a Fin Detective.
on April 25, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply
I wonder what the money would be like?
on April 27, 2009 11:52 PM | Reply
The aircraft are indeed ex GB Airways A320's. The truth is, they aren't painted at all. They are decals (stickers) as they aren't planned to be in the fleet for much longer. The decal work is actually under warranty and supposedly being dealt with. In the meantime, brand new A320's are being delivered as we speak and are already based in MAN and LGW.
Whilst looking tatty they are perfectly airworthy and the passengers seem to really like the interior ........not sure why. I prefer the standard easy interior.
To answer the OP's question about why Easyjet interiors look surprisingly new.............it's because Easyjet operate probably the youngest fleet in Europe. Even so, the rate of utilisation is not necassarily correlated to the state of the cabin.
on April 30, 2009 2:57 PM | Reply
looks like the cuts or tears are at the areas where the fin access panel edges are, had the panels open and not painted over or if decals they have simple torn not much of a story.
on April 19, 2010 11:04 AM | Reply
WHAT A LOT OF CRAP ABOUT FINS SURELY UNDER CARRIAGE GEAR IS MORE INTERRESTING WHAT SAY YOU
on September 21, 2010 10:41 AM | Reply
You are a genius as u can differentiate between fins!That is indeed great but are you sure about your conclusion? I have never heard other complaints about their fins before!
on September 21, 2010 10:42 AM | Reply
You are a genius as u can differentiate between fins!That is indeed great but are you sure about your conclusion? I have never heard other complaints about their fins before!