Merry Christmas!

Wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014 from Aircraft Aviation in Europe.

Introduce the new Thomas Cook livery 2013

Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls and Planespotters I here by introducing to Thomas Cook Group the new livery of 2013!!!! The first aircraft NOT in full new colour but with the new symbol on the tail is Thomas Cook Airline's G-FCLD Boeing 757-200 however the oldest 757-200 aircraft will be withdrawn or transform to Freight. All Thomas Cook Airliners from Condor, UK's Thomas Cook Airlines and Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia will be in full new Thomas Cook livery in the near future when I see it in person I'll make a new blog then compare it.

                                   Goodbye old Thomas Cook Logo 2003-2013

British Airwayas returning to Malta in 2014!

Today British Airways has announced they are finally returning to Malta after long years of absent due to EasyJet cheap budget flights took over from London Gatwick, UK, EasyJet will still operate.

If you remember my British Airways blog about will it fly to Malta in the future IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR!!!

On 30th March 2014 Flight BA2644 will depart from London Gatwick, UK North Terminal at 16:45 arriving in Malta 20:55 it will depart Malta as Flight BA2645 21:40 arriving London Gatwick, UK before midnight it will be a Boeing 737-400 it will be a night flight.

It will also be a day time flight it will depart London Gatwick, UK on 31st March 2014 as same flight number departing Gatwick 09:35 arriving Malta 13:45 then departing Malta 14:30 arriving Gatwick 16:45.

Fleets British Airways will be serving Boeing 737-400, Airbus A319 and Airbus A320-200 at start it will be Boeing 737-400 first. Is this going to operate all seasons? It's going to be only for the summer until October 2014 I believe 7 days a week.

If you don't want to book with British Airways from London Gatwick, UK you can fly with:
Air Malta
EasyJet
Small Planet Airlines
Thomas Cook Airlines
Thomson Airways
  

Livery of Tui

Back in the early years I first saw a Tui colour from Britannia Airways G-BYAL Boeing 757-200 in August 2004. Britannia Airways was introduced in Tui colours in 2002 & 2003 however in 1st November 2005 Britannia Airways was cased and re-branded to Thomsonfly. Back in the day I was too young to know what livery of Britannia Airways was coming to Malta I was more into the old colour not Tui. I did travel with Britannia Airways in February 2004 but in Tui colour on Boeing 757-200. Brittania had full white with Thomson logo or blue background with Thomson.co.uk I never seen it because I was young and wen't to school in UK.

When my holiday was finish in Malta February 2004 back in London Gatwick Britannia Airways did had a mixture of Tui logo on tail, Brittania or Thomson.co.uk title and Brittania's purpble stripes on Boeing 767-300 however when I wen't back to Malta in 2005 I came across G-BYAL my first Boeing 767 photo nothing too important the only different is they added Thomsonfly.com on many Thomson planes. 

I have already done a blog about the new generation of Thomson livery but I'll write this on last time. In 2008 Thomson re-branded the company from Thomsonfly-Thomson Airways in November 2008. The livery did not change that much just "Thomson" they added on there but however...

I came across this G-TAWN Boeing 737-800 seen in Malta April this yeae it was brought to Thomson Airways early this year. It's the new Boeing Dreamliner livery only on Boeing 737-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300 & Boeing 787 Dreamliner I will seeing it soon. I like the new livery much better than plain blue back in early 2000's well strange thing is Jetairfly OO-JEB is in Dreamliner livery it's not Boeing it's Embraer ERJ-190.   

OK I now said about British airline Thomson let's talk about other Tui operators I seen in the past. Jetair OO-TUA is a Boeing 737-400 new to Hapag-Lloyd in 1989 ex D-AHLL operating by Tui Airlines Belgium. Tui Airlines Belgium was founded in 2003 until 23rd November 2005 it was ceased & re-branded to Jetairfly. This is my latest photo OO-TUA was seen in Malta August 2004 I haven't seen Jetairfly since I been busy with school & college back then.

Another Tui company came to Malta was Tuifly D-AHFY new to Hapag-Lloyd in 2001. This is my latest photo, the strange thing about this plane is the colour is yellow I'm not complaining about it but since the colour is yellow sometimes it makes me sick... Other than his yellow livery Tuifly introduced special livery in Haribo colour when I come across seeing one in the future I will make a new blog.

 
There are few more Tui operators but remember if I can't spot one I can't make a new blog it doesn't matter anyway I like to focus on my photos I have in my collection.

What is EasyJet Moscow?

Since early 2013 EasyJet lunched cheap flights from London Gatwick and Manchester, United Kingdom to Moscow Domodedovo, Russia. Compare with Ryanair routes, EasyJet operates non-EU/EEA flights (also non-EU/EEA countries in Europe) to North Africa and Middle East . The only country Ryanair fly to non-EU area is Morocco.

At the monument EasyJet only has 1 Airbus A320-200 to have Moscow livery that is G-EZUG there might be more EastJet A320's to be in Moscow livery. This was seen in Malta than I wasn't expected I have lots of EasyJet photos it was on route to London Gatwick, UK.

Ryanair what do I think?

It's been 1 year I been travelling with Ryanair I like to share what do I think of Ryanair. I first travel with Ryanair in Easter Monday 2012 from Bournemouth, United Kingdom I found out Ryanair announced they started flying in Malta where I'm from. Ryanair first flew to Malta on 15h November 1989 in British registration G-BNIJ named "Spirit of Europe". When Ryanair stop flying to Malta from Bournemouth till October I start flying from London Gatwick or Heathrow with Air Malta, EasyJet or British Airways.

I now normally fly Bournemouth, UK because I live in Portsmouth not far from, Southampton & Isle of Wight for Ryanair customers to travel EU flights. What do I think about the prices? I think Ryanair made a good idea trying to be the cheapest European Airline in the world to compete not only other European airlines Ryanair try to compete with Aer Lingus & EasyJet believe it or not.

What do I think the cabin? Well to be honest it looks odd because the other head lockers, top seats and big yellow with Ryanair logo from row 1 till the back of the aircraft is not my favorite colour. The couple of strange things is the safety card and life jackets let's start with safety card. Safety card is located top of the seat in front of you not many airliners have that but it's also useful to read it again encase the event of emergency normally safety card is located seat pocket but Ryanair don't have it... And life jacket is located above your head instead under the seat I think on row 1 is located under the seat I think it's a good idea because you get strange people take life jacket out under the seat without cabin crew's notice.

Problem with Ryanair when they arrive in different EU countries it's one of those airliners when passengers gets out the plane the airport gate starts boarding for departures. I'll explain one thing I found out not long ago when I was boarding my flight from Bournemouth to Malta I notice there were few sweet rappers in the seats and floor cabin crew or ground staff did not clean the plane probably... 

I did have rough landings 3 months ago in 2 journeys the plane was coming in too fast in Malta as well as Bournemouth, UK. Well funny thing is when I landed in Bournemouth we come down too fast after another rough landing after I got out the plane the flight back to Malta was delayed for 3 and a half hours I don't know if it was a rough landing issue but recently we landed very smooth. 

I wish you can check-in normally in the desk without going on the internet to enter your passport or EU national ID Card because for an elderly person there not into moddern technology. You can check-in at the desk but you have to have a main luggage when you pay around £25 one way or both journeys I think online and print your boarding pass. With boarding pass you have to print it from the internet I think it's not a good idea because if you made an error from your passport like incorrect document number or expiry date you will refuse to travel so my tip is to read your passport correctly and see it match because when you done it, you can't change your passport details unlike EasyJet if you wish to travel with a passport or EU ID card.

Another problem with Ryanair is at the departure gate the baggage policy is laptop cases, handbags, camera and food etc must be in ONE hand luggage and the weight must be 10kg MAX if your overweight you pay £60/€60 fine... A problem with laptops not only it can be a bit heavy it make hand luggage cause to be heavy. I don't complain with food because I'm not a big fan of budget airline food only Air Malta I love.

What do I give Ryanair? I give it a 6.8/10 would I fly with Ryanair in different European flights? Yes I will but not to Malta all the time. 

Kingfisher Airlines VT-VJP in Malta

What country is Kingfisher Airlines come from? It's from India. Why did this plane come here? I'll tell you about the company. As I said it was based in India operating domestic & international flights. Fleets Kingfisher Airlines had was 3 Airbus A319, 22 Airbus A320-200, 8 Airbus A321, 3 Airbus A330-200, 2 ATR-42-500 and 17 ATR-72-500. It was planned to have 5 Airbus A350 in 2016 until it's cancelled as well as 5 Airbus A380 in 2016.

This aircraft VT-VJP was new to Kingfisher Airlines in 2008 until when Kingfisher was shut down in February 2013 due to bankruptcy. This plane was re-registered on leased German registration D-ANJB it arrived in Malta not to long ago currently in storage.

New airliners in Malta

This year Malta International Airport have been introducing 6 new airliners to operate Malta every summer season till October 2013 what airline companies have been flying to Malta? Let's find out. 

First up is Turkish Airlines they have been operating Malta before in the 90's & early 2000's I don't think it was seasonal in that time. This is not my first photo of Turkish Airlines I took a photo of A321 in London Gatwick, UK 6 months ago TC-JRY. This aircraft TC-JKN Boeing 737-700 taxi runway 31 returning to Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish Airlines do send out other aircraft types if it's Airbua A319, A320, Boeing 737-700 & 800.

Next up is Monarch. Monarch did fly to Malta before I think her first flight was in the 1960's... Anyway what route Monarch flies from? It only fly from East Midlands, United Kingdom it's summer seasonal 2 times a week on Tuseday early evening and two very early morning before 3am. I written Monarch a letter if they can operate my nearest location from Gatwick in the future, they said wait and see. Monarch always sent out Airbus A321 this aircraft G-ZBAF it was new to Royal Jordanian in 2001 ex JY-AYG.

Next is Lithuanian's airline Small Planet Airlines. Small Planet Airline is a charter company that operates European destinations like Ryanair. With Small Planet Airlines in Malta they operate every summer from London Gatwick, United Kingdom it comes to Malta once a week every Saturday.Polish registration SP-HAD brought to Small Planet Airlines in January 2013 ex Air Astana P4-SAS it was new to Hellas Jet in 2003 ex SX-BVX.

Next is Hungarian's airliner Wizz Air they operate from Budapest twice a week. It's Wizz Airs first year of flight operation to Malta, in the past Malev due to bankruptcy Malev suspended all it's European and worldwide routes. Other than Wizz Air, Air Malta also operate Budapest. My first Wizz Air photo was HA-LPV back in Catania, Italy 3 months ago. This photo HA-LPK is me second photo.  

Next is Air Baltic from Lithuania. It's Air Baltic's first route to Malta started in May this year. It operate once a week from Riga, Lithuania once a week. Air Baltic first arrived in Malta in January 2010 C-FZGL Canadian registration for a visit. Two main fleets come to Malta is Boeing 737-300 & 500 they will be out of service by 2017 they will be replaced by Bombardier CS300. Air Baltic YL-BBN Boeing 737-500 new to United Airlines ex N944UA in 1992.

And finally we have Transavia France it first flew to Malta last month. At the monument it operate twice a week on Monday morning and Thursday evening from Paris Orly, France. F-GZHG Boeing 737-800 was new to Dutch's Transavia in 2002 ex PH-HZV.

That's all for new airliners come to Malta for summer seasonal I hope next year Malta International Airport will have more airliners for summer 2014.  

Gozo Heliport what happen now?

I just visited Gozo's empty heliport in Xewkija been closed since 2006 (no plan to be demolished or shutting down) You wan't to know what's going on in the future? let's find out I hope it's correct.

This was my first time I visited Gozo heliport as you can see it's a very small terminal building you have arrivals on the right and departures on the left. Three polls is meant to show flags of Gozo, Malta & EU flag. What route to Gozo heliport operate? back then it only operate domestic flights between Gozo and Malta International Airport. Malta Air Charter first started operating Malta to Gozo in 1990 till 2004 Helicopteros del Sureste a Spanish company took over from 2004 till October 2006.

Are there any plans to operate Gozo Heliport again? The answer is yes because in the future Heli Link Malta is currently on hold if they can operate normal flights between Malta & Gozo. I also found out few months ago the Maltese Government might try to operate from Gozo to Sicily.

That's the information I have found out if the Maltese Government will restore Gozo flights I'll let you know of you are thinking to come and visit Gozo.

Apologies for delay

I do apologies for long delay for this blog I have busy with my family. My plane spotting will start this week in Bournemouth, UK and back home to Malta seeing new airline visitors they just lunched for the summer. In September or October I will b going to Dublin, Republic of Ireland for the weekend and next year I will be planing to go to Larnaca, Cyprus in March or April next year.

I will make a new blog end of this week once again sorry for the delay enjoy my latest and popular video of Tunisair Express TS-ISA with landing in Malta with wonderful ATC.

Flybe news from London Gatwick, UK

Flybe is facing financial trouble from London Gatwick Flybe sells Gatwick slots to EasyJet  for £20 million. Flybe is London's mains hub for UK domestic flights to Belfast, Channel Island and the Outer Hebrides even  international flight to Bergerac, France. As Flybe is still operating in London Gatwick according to Flybe all routes will be out of service in 29th March 2014 and Bergerac, France this September. I don't have lots of Flybe photos in London Gatwick.

So what's going to happen with EasyJet? Will it operate domestic like Flybe from London Gatwick? Unfortunately I can't explain but a rumor that EasyJet might do domestic flights as I said I can't tell yet when the time comes. At the monument British Airways still do domestic UK flights.  

First ever aircraft photos from 2001

This is were it started it all!! This was my first ever aircraft photo (well two). These two Air Malta Boeing 737-300 planes in Malta August 2001. I can't see the registration very well I think it's 9H-ADH and 9H-ADM. When this photo was taken in 2001 I was only 10 years old I didn't have money to buy a new camera I asked my grandmother back in Malta to borrow her camera.

Interesting is after I took couple of photos the weather we know in Malta is hot and sunny but after my first plane spotting photos was done the weather was turning horrible!!! It was starting to rain hard with dark clouds in the sly and starting to thunder!!!! It is natural for Malta during the end of August when the season starts to change around September.

This photo I talked about on my Facebook page. Alitalia I-DANV McDonnell Douglas MD-82 new to Alitalia in 1991 was my first EU aircraft photo in 2001 at the time we Maltese was not in the EU till 2004. You can see on top right corner the clouds I talked about was coming. I don't know what happen now this is aircraft it is in USA to be Pennant Aviation registered N256PA in October 2010 but it's still stored since!!! I don't know if company don't exist or the US government law changed to modern planes like EU laws we don't see a lot of old noisy and smoke come out the engine during take off and landing much like older MD-80 planes, Tupolev Tu-15 series & other Russian planes and even Boeing 737-200 and 747-100 to 300 we don't see often.

Maycom AR-108 Air Scanner

This is my Maycom AR-108 Air Scanner bought it few months ago I wanted to get for years!!!! This will allow me to here live air traffic control around the world. The only times I use it is during plane spotting to find out where they are and if my flight was delayed if the plane is still in the air I can find out where it is from the airport.

It is small fits really well on your hand, the sound quality is perfect but the only problem is the areal don't give me wrong it works really well!! it wont reach far airports like I live in Portsmouth, UK my nearest airport is Southampton it won't reach Southampton Tower or Solent Control I need to buy a large areal for it, it currently picks up London Control South. I used it in Malta Radar, Luqa, Radar, Luqa Tower, Luqa Ground, Bournemouth Tower and Solent Control only if you live in Southampton or Bournemouth area if your areal is the same as mine.

You might be wondering how much is it? I payed £70 brand new in Farlington, Portsmouth it's pretty cheap. I do recommend to plane spotters if you want to get it because it small I say go for it.

Here is a really good ATC video of Emirates A6-EAJ departing Malta to Larnaca/Dubai it might be the best 2013 video can't decide after I return home to Malta this summer.

Bournemouth Airport April 2013

As I was waiting my Ryanair flight back home to Malta I have seen couple of interesting aircrafts in Bournemouth Airport, UK on 8th April 2013

This aircraft Titan Airways is a Boeing 737-300 G-ZAPW was new to British Airways in 1988 ex G-BOZB. It came to Titan Airways fleet in 2004 from Easyjet ex G-IGOX.

Now Ryanair has just started summer flights again after horrible British Winters UK had this year. Easyjet only operate to Geneva, Switzerland till end of March or early April. This photo of Ryanair EI-EVC is a Boeing 737-800 boarding to Murica, Spain.

I have been on this aircraft last year as you can see I have part 1 and 2 videos flight from Malta to Bournemouth taken 16th July 2012. I hope you enjoy watching the videos.

When I was listening to my air scanner I thought this aircraft was Atlantic Airways by looking at the stripe colours but instead it's Aviavlisa LY-ETM ATR-42 Freight service was new to Aero Trasporti Italiani 1988 ex I-ATRK.

To finish this off here is the aircraft caught my eye after I got out of Ryanair flight home from Malta last Thursday. This aircraft is a Royal Air Force of Oman before I enter the UK Border arrivals. This aircraft is an Airbus A320-200 registered 554 new and delivered to Royal Air Force of Oman 2008. Bournemouth Airport do have VIP aircraft not only A320s it can be Airbus A330 and Boeing 747!!! other than Southampton just smaller planes. I do have Thomson Airways photo but it's on my last blog about the new Thomson colour.

New generation of Thomson Airways livery

My early photo of Tui Group was Britannia Airways G-BYAL Boeing 757-200 was my first photo in new Tui livery seen in Malta August 2004 4 months before it changed to Thomsonfly till November 2008 it branded to Thomson Airways from United Kingdom. 

My early photo of Thomsonfly was G-OBYE Boeing 767-200 new to Britannia Airways 1998 taxing runway 32 (now 31) from Malta August 2005. 

This is my first photo of Thomson Airways G-FDZS new to Thomson Airways 2009 taxing runway 31 from Malta to Manchester taken 29th January 2013.

This was my first shot taken from my camcorder the new Thomson Airways livery Boeing 757-200 I don't know the registration of my old camcorder before I bought a HD one but it was seen in London Gatwick 30th January 2013.  

Here is a Boeing 737-800 G-TAWN only few months old in new livery!!! Seen in Malta 9th April 2013 from London Gatwick. Thomson is not the only British Airliner in this modern Tui livery, Jetair Fly has one too but I don't have the photo I will make one soon if Jetair comes to Malta this summer in the new look.

This is my latest photo G-TAWA seen in Bournemouth, United Kingdom yesterday morning after I got out Ryanair from Malta. Thomson does operate long haul flights to Barbados from Bournemouth couple of times a year as seasonal cruise charter Thomson don't use Boeing 737-800 to Barbados they use Boeing 767.

Just to finish off the blog I still have Air Malta boarding pass of Thomsonfly in March 2005 it was still operated by Britannia Airways at the time as you can see the old flight number BY009 to London Gatwick well from London Gatwick to Malta was BY009A then BY009B from Malta back to London Gatwick that's the last time I flew to Thomsonfly and last time I been on Boeing 757-200.

That's all for now I'll make a new Aircraft blog soon.  

Catania Airport 12th April 2013

It was Friday 12th April 2013 my flight Air Malta flight KM 640 to Catania, Italy was delayed for few hours. Why? I'll explain but first.

It is a very short flight takes 30/40 minutes I left Malta at 9am I arrived in Catania around 9:40am. It was nice the cabin crew give us water or orange juice when we was thirsty on the flight.

9H-AEN Airbus A320-200 was my first Air Malta flight with the new livery I was expected in the first place.

A volcano started on 11th April 2013 throughout 12th April in Mount Etna. Few flights were delayed until it's safe and volcanic ashes moves to another direction by wind.

This is an interesting one here. I though it was a Mc Donnell Douglas MD-80 models but when I research I found out it's a Boeing 717 the first photo I took! Volotea Airlines EI-FBK was new to Midwest Airlines 2004 ex N920ME. 

 About 6 years ago I took a photo of British Airways in Malta before it was no longer in service but now I found out it's coming to Catania I quickly took a photo since last time I took a photo was 6 years ago. British Airways G-DOCF was new to BA in 1991. The nearest destination it fly close to Malta is Catania and Tripoli, Libya.

I can't remember what was my first Freight photo but this one TNT OO-TNQ Boeing 737-400 was new to Aeroflot in 1998 ex VP-BAM.

It's been around 9 years since I last took a photo of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series which was Alitalia to Malta. As I was waiting for my flight back to Malta I saw this Meridiana Fly I-SMEB McDonnel Douglas MD-82 was new to Eastern Air Transport in 1991 ex B-28001 from China. 

Finally this one to me is confusing. Blu-express is based in Italy registered OM-CEX from Slovakia I'm trying to find more research. It was new to British Airways in 1992 ex G-DOCI.