Saturday, 20 July 2013

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. 

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

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.

Monday, 15 July 2013

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.  

Saturday, 13 July 2013

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.


Tuesday, 2 July 2013

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.