London Gatwick, UK North Terminal 11th January 2014

EasyJet  G-EZTG Airbus A320-200 new to EasyJet June 2009.

As I arrived in London Gatwick from Malta I don't have a lot of photos there wasn't many planes at the current winter season so before I went to check through immigration here are photos I took. When EasyJet arrives in Gatwick they normally take a rest from EU flights during the winter.

British Airways G-TTOE Airbus A320-200 new to BA in 2002.

British Airways don't operate a lot of short haul international flights in the winter season just Common Travel Area destinations (domestic). The main fleet that British Airways flies to London Gatwick are Airbus A319, A320, A321 Boeing 737-400 and Boeing 777-200 or 300. G-TTOE new to BA in 2002 operated by GB Airways when it was ceased in 2008 now a parent company to EasyJet.

Thomson Airways G-TUIB Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner new to Thomson Airways in 2013.

Of course you remember this one! I already done a blog of my first Boeing 787 Dreamliner photo I'll do a little re-cap. Thomson Airways has 4 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in 2013 operating long haul flights. This

aircraft G-TUIB is the second Boeing 787 Dreamliner been built and new to Thomson Airways in 30th May 2013.

Thomas Cook Airlines G-JMCG Boeing 757-200 new to LTU Suedin 1995 ex D-AMUQ.

If you remember I done a blog of new Thomas Cook Livery this is not the complete livery yet! At the moment Condor and UK Thomas Cook Airlines only have a new logo at the tail in almost every fleet. Well Thomas Cook Airlines is currently planning to withdrawn the oldest Boeing 757 in the fleet. This aircraft I saw Thomas Cook Airlines G-JMCG is a Boeing 757-200 new to LTU Seudin in 1995 ex D-AMUQ encase I won't be able to see more Thomas Cook Airline's 757's I will be seeing Condor's 757-300 in Malta this summer.

Turkish Airlines TC-JSE Airbus A321 new to Turkish Airlines 2013.

 I have seen Turkish Airlines A321 in Gatwick last year TC-JRY this time last month it's TC-JSE just arrived from Istanbul, Turkey it was number 2 landing as I landed first with EasyJet.
As you can see next to Thomson Airways 757 new livery, you can see a Boeing 767's Thomson Airways G-OOBM still in First Choice Airways livery! I'll be making a new blog on what happen to First Choice Airways unfortunately I don't have any photo of First Choice Airways in the past back in Malta as my camera in from 2006 did not support night time images. When I saw First Choice Airways in Malta it operated night tome from Gatwick. I'll make a new First Choice blog when I see more of Thomson Airways 767's in First Choice livery. 

American Airliners in Dublin Airport

Delta Airlines N190DN Boeing 767-300ER new to Delta Airlines in March 1997

Delta Airlines comes to Dublin every morning sending out Boeing 757 or 767 from New York-JFK and a summer seasonal flight from Atlanta. When Delta Airlines arrives in Dublin, Ireland every morning around 9am it continues to return to New York-JFK around before or after lunchtime as flight time is a bit shorter 6 & the half hours roughly.

American Airlines N174AA Boeing 757-200 new to American Airlines in November 2002

During the winter American Airlines travels to Dublin from New York-JFK and Chicago-O'Hare in the summer. The only fleet American Airlines are sending out is Boeing 757-200 from New York I don't know from Chicago American Airlines 757 are used for US domestic & international.

US Airways N202UW Boeing 757-200 new to USAir  July 1995 ex N633AU

US Airways a parent to American Airlines currently flies to Dublin from Philadelphia during late morning and it operates from Charlotte during summer. I last saw US Airways last year in London Gatwick, UK registered N280AY Airbus A330-200 before it ends it's operation & replaced to London Heathrow, UK. In Dublin US Airways sends out another Boeing 757-200.

United Airlines N17133 Boeing 757-200 new to Continental 1998.

Finally United Airlines destination to Dublin comes from Newark and Washington-Dulles. The fleet United Airlines come to Ireland is a Boeing 757-200 with winglets & 4 emergency exits over the wings making like a 757-300. It also comes to Ireland in early morning then continues going back to the United States I don't think Aer Lingus does it when it fly to the US.

All US airliners and Aer Lingus US destinations are located in Terminal 2. The interesting thing about Dublin Airport is it has United States border preclearance treating flights from US to Republic of Ireland as a domestic flight, US Customs check and United States Department of Immigration if your an EU or any non US Citizen you get immigrated to any US destination in Dublin Airport departures.   

Southampton, UK 4th February 2014

 Unfortunately when I was waiting for my Flybe flight to Dublin, Republic of Ireland there wasn't a lot of Southampton flights during the winter there were only lots of domestic flights, Common Travel Area to Isle of Man, Channel Islands & Ireland and some international flights to Amsterdam, Paris and few more.

I arrived in Southampton Airport at before 11am I came across this aircraft. Flybe G-JECF Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 new to Flybe in 2004 nicknamed Adam Stansfield from Exeter City. The reason Flybe named Adam Stansfield he died of cancer at the age of 31 in 2010. Flybe is the main hub for Southampton Airport.

Eastern Airways G-MAJY is a British Aerospace Jetstream 41 new to Atlantic Coast Airlines in 9th April 1997 ex N331UE. Eastern Airways operates UK domestic flights to Aberdeen and recent destination to Leeds/Bradford airport it replaced Flybe route. Fleet Eastern Airways have is 17 BAE Jetstream 41, 2 Embraer 145 for charter European destinations, 3, Embraer 145 and 8 Saab 2000 one leased for British Airways.

Blue Islands is Southampton Airport's focused cities in the UK. Other UK airports Blue Islands operate from Jersey and Guernsey is Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow, London City, Manchester and of course Southampton the only former UK destinations was Bournemouth. Blue Islands international flights are Amsterdam in The Netherlands, Geneva in Switzerland, Paris Charles De Gaulle in France and Zurich in Switzerland. The photo Blue Islands G-ISLI is ATR 72-500 ex Simmons Airlines N529AM in 1997 from the United States landed in Southampton runway 20 from Guernsey.

What happen to the older Airbus A320-200 & why some are withdrawn?

Lufthansa D-AIPS new to the fleet in 12th September 1990 seen in Malta 29th December 2013.

Over the past few years I try to learn the reason why airline companies decide to withdrawn oldest Airbus A320-200 from 1988 to around the mid 90's. Airbus A320 has very good safety record than it's competition Boeing 737.

During 1984 Boeing introduced Boeing 737-300 throughout 600 series in 2000 as the replacement on Boeing 737-200 with better technology in the cockpit and improvements before Boeing started building the 737 Next Generation.

Airbus improve the cockpit they upgraded the new GPWS voice from the old GPWS from A300, A310 & old A320 sounded horrible, new warning sound and automatic pilot disconnected sound to make it quiet. Airbus A320 had 100 & 200 series they do now ended the Airbus A320-100 around 2009 with British Airways and Air France for scrap or cabin crew training.

Lufthansa D-AIPH built in 27th January 1990 seen in Malta 5th January 2014

With Lufthansa they are still operating quite a few of older A320-200's in the fleet. the first Lufthansa's A320-200 is D-AIPA new & built to Lufthansa in 16th October 1989. The oldest Airbus A320 I have is this photo D-AIPH built in 27th January 1990 1 year before I was born. I am currently planning yo visit Germany in the future to spot old Airbus planes.

Wind Jet EI-DFO built in 1992 seen in Malta January 2013.

The oldest Airbus A320-200 photo I took was Luthansa D-AIPS new to Luthansa in September 1990 there are no news of withdrawing the oldest A320 at this time. Air France as recently withdrawn F-GFKJ new in 1989. The photo you might been familiar with is Wind Jet EI-DFO new to Canadian Airlines International around 1992 ex C-FLSJ brought to Wind Jet in 2004 unfortunately Wind Jet was ceased in 11th August 2012 some planes like EI-DFO and EI-DOP currently stored in Malta but more likely to be scrapped. EI-DOP was built in 1998 deliver to Dragonair in China ex B-HSF so you could say still a bit new ish some old A320 Wind Jet are still operational in some different airliners.

Vueiling EC-ICT built in 1992 seen in Malta 10th April 2013.

 A Spanish company Vueling they too have few old Airbus A320-200's in different livery i.e. tail blank I think it's because it might be out of the fleet. EC-ICT built in January 1992 new to Iberia ex EC-880 or EC-FKD.

Air Malta 9H-ABQ built & new to Air Malta 25th March 1992

Air Malta 9H-ABQ was built & new to Air Malta in 25th March 1992 it left Air Malta in December 2004 it was replaced by newer A320's and A319's from other old Air Malta's A320's. It join with different French airliner F-GYAI Air Mediterranee it left in January 2012 & join with Hermes Airlines in Greece SX-BHV. 

Adria Airways S5-ASS built in 1993 seen in Catania, Italy 12th April 2013.

Here is Adria Airways. S5-ASS new to Leisure Air built in October 1993 from the United States it went't few more airliners from the US, Turkey, Germany and the UK. Her recent airline was MyAir ex EI-DOD.

I don't have anymore photos to share right now. What I'll do is make a blog of older Airbus A330's, A340's, and Boeing 737 Next Generations.

American Airlines my first Oneworld livery!!!

7th February 2014 it was my last day in Dublin, Republic of Ireland I like to share something special that I saw for the first time. As I spend half of my day plane spotting I woke up early morning taking photos of American airliners arrive in Dublin from the US I have United Airlines, US Airways and Delta Airlines I thought I might been too late seeing American Airlines arrive in Dublin from New York-JFK it was due to arrive after 8am till I found out on my phone it was delayed & arrived after 10am. When it was on final approach a local Irish plane spotter zoom his camera and it's American Airlines in Oneworld livery!

The aircraft N174AA Boeing 757-200 was new to American Airlines in 11th February 2002 one of the later 757 aircraft being built. Boeing stopped building 757 in 2004. N174AA features winglets this is because American Airlines they are designed for long haul flights I think some are used for US domestic flights, it also added 4 more emergency exits mind you it makes it like Boeing 757-300 and plus I think the engine might be quiet for a later 757 version.    

There are more airliners are in Oneworld livery which they are:

• Air Berlin
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific 
• Finnair 
• Iberia 
• LAN Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways 
• Qantas 
• Royal Jordanian  
• S7 Airlines

My experience on Flybe Dash 8 Q400

When I was a kid I always travel on Boeing 737 & 757 and Airbus A319-A321. My recent flight was  Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 couple of days ago this was my first ever turboprop propeller flight to Dublin, Republic of Ireland from Southampton, United Kingdom. How can I tell the flight between propeller and jet engine flight time? When I flew to Dublin from Southampton it took me 1 hour & 5 mins I think if I flew with Boeing or Airbus it might take me same time as Dash 8 and ATR. The noise is pretty loud than Boeing, Airbus and Embrear.

The cabin of Flybe Dash 8 is nice and simple. It has 2 seats with 78 seating capacity, the emergency exit is located at row 2, it has 2 cabin crews and you can only fit 2 hand luggage in overhead lockers. The overhead lockers are smaller than Boeing & Airbus it is a bit difficult to put your hand luggage in the over overhead lockers depend on the size. The strange of dangerous thing about Flybe's Dash 8 aircraft it doesn't have individual oxygen mask just life jackets. How will passengers can breath without oxygen masks encase of cabin pressure???

 The fasten seat belt & no smoking signs is pretty much like Boeing. The only different of no smoking sign is long like old Airbus A300-A340 the red cross is like Boeing.  

The main reason I want to fly on Dash 8 is the landing gear during the air for take off and landing. Also if any airliner has Dash 8 aircraft has problem of the landing gear encase of emergency landing sitting by the landing gear & taking a photo or video can be prove of advents if the wheel come off or a suspension can break free if the door of the landing gear is open. 

What do I think of Flybe's Dash 8 Q400? It's not bad  it had some issues like climbing the stairs with hand luggage, I bang my head twice when I got in the plane as it's pretty small and the overhead lockers I said are small. The Cabin crew are very friendly when your greet them and say goodbye unlike EasyJet and I think they are safe to fly. I give Flybe's Dash 8 Q400 7/10.