British Airways franchise at London City, UK

British Airways is not only the main UK airliner to have their own airline company in the United Kingdom. There are three BA's subsidiaries under the franchise with some exclusive destinations & exclusive company from different countries. BA CityFlyer, SUN-AIR and Comair in full British Airways livery and part of OneWorld Alliance so let's take a look a few I have & what they operate from London City, UK.

Founded in 2007 after former BA franchise BA Connect founded in 2006 later was sold to Flybe the following year without BA Connect's destination from London City, UK. BA CityFlyer callsign "Flyer" in international and UK domestic flights the airline is now London City's biggest hub for all British Airways subsidiaries including one British Airways A318 aircraft we will take a look. But first lets look at the fleet & what destinations that BA CityFlyer serve in London City.


Fleets

BA CityFlyer G-LCYM Embraer ERJ-190 new to BA CityFlyer in in 2010 taken 27th October 21017.

BA CityFlyer has 14 Embraer ERJ-190 for ideal destinations mainly UK domestic travel and International flights such as Spain for extra seating. With these ERJ-190 they are mainly for Summer services for London City and Manchester. Most of these aircrafts are also for operated from UK's other airports from Bristol, Edinburgh and Birmingham to various European destinations to Spain, Greece, Italy and France.

BA CityFlyer G-LCYI Embraer ERJ-170 new to BA CityFlyer in 2010 taken 27th October 2017.

Next is Embraer ERJ-170 the shorter version as you might have seen on my Flybe blog for Southampton, UK.. E-170 for London City, UK by BA CityFlyer are the main aircraft for most international flights from London City. They can also be based from other UK airports to seasonal European destinations from either Bristol, London Stansted, Bristol and Manchester. Also with the aircraft registrations for all Embraer aircraft G-LCY* indicates from any aviation authority knows that this is a London City only based airline.

BA CityFlyer G-CDKA SAAB 200 new to Crossair in 1994 ex HB-IZC taken 27th October 2017.

And finally we have SAAB 200 which is BA CityFlyer's only turboprop aircraft by British Airways. Interesting about this aircraft it only has one destination which is an aircraft base from Isle of Man to London City, UK also currently leased by Eastern Airways since 2015. Normally now this aircraft Isle of Man - London City only flight it can also operate by Eastern Airways as a backup aircraft if no flights from the Isle of Man is available. If the lease ends what will happen next? Send out Embraer fleet?

Originally SUN-AIR from Denmark 1978 it wasn't till 1st August 1996 that SUN-AIR joined the British Airways franchise with every aircraft of it's fleet painted in BA livery, a member on Oneworld in 1999 and BA's frequent flyer program even though the airline is not based in the United Kingdom. SUN-AIR operate flights from Billlund & Arhus both in Denmark to 4 European destinations. SUN-AIR has 16 Dornier 328JET, 2 Dornier 328 (prop) and 2 BAe Jetstream 31. 

SUN-AIR OY-NCO Dornier 328JET new to Club Airways in 2004 ex N328HJ taken 27th October 2017.

And so there it is not the best quality during the evening at least I have it. Originally when operating a flight from Gothenburg, Sweden to Cambridge, UK till March 2006. Then SUN-AIR operate London City, UK from Billund, Denmark with thei Dornier 328JET. You can also find these Dornier 328JET in few European destinations for example an aircraft like this OY-NCO operates London City very frequently.

The end of Air Berlin

We know this was going to happen, German airliner Air Berlin will be ceasing operations next Saturday making the end of era due to bankruptcy similar to Monarch's recent ceased airliner. Last week, Air Berlin announced it's ending long haul flights from the United States to Berlin, Germany then shortly after news spreads the airline will be shutting down. Then we come to next possible Italian airliner Alitalia to go with so many disadvantages of aircraft shareholding deal by Etihad and refusal deal from Maltese airliner Air Malta. I'm not sure if Etihad problem with Alitalia is true or maybe Air Berlin.

Air Berlin D-ABKJ Boeing 737 new to Air Berlin in 2010 seen in Malta taken 30th July 2017.

Latest news from a German airliner Lufthansa has bought 81 aircraft from Air Berlin and it's staff for €21million this will also mean for Niki and LGW will be transferred to Lufthansa. However Irish low-cost airliner Ryanair is challenging Lufthansa deal with Air Berlin because of the Boeing 737-800 that's currently in service by Air Berlin at the monument as Lufthansa only has A320 family including Eurowings. In general for spotting wise I don't see Air Berlin very often but seeing Air Berlin operating Malta for so many years brings memories that will we never see again. We all know Air Berlin would go bankrupt for years now we got the sad news. Good bye Air Berlin you will be missed.

R.I.P. Air Berlin 

1979 - 2017

The end of Monarch

Today at 4am it was confirmed that a British charter & scheduled airline went bust with £291 million loss in the past year and with 2,100 staff and 35 fleets. Monarch has planned to order brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 all been scrapped. During 4am all Monarch aircraft are grounded & some who are in flight are forced back to the UK. It was Britain's longest airliner after Britannia Airways took over by TUI as the airline started in 1961 and Monarch started operations in 1968. There are 34 other airlines will be operated by passengers who are already aboard will be picking them back to the UK after their holiday finishes from Monarch bookings. 

Monarch operated long haul flights in the past with their Airbus A330-200 since 1999 operating to the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States until April 2015 Monarch ceased long haul flights due to financial difficulties & immediately withdrawn all Airbus A330 fleets focusing on short & medium haul with their A320 & A321.

I don't have many photos of Monarch so I dig out couple of them. 

Monarch G-MONJ Boeing 757-200 new to Monarch in 1988 seen in Dublin, Ireland taken 7th February 2014.

Lets start with charter. Even though I never spotted Monarch before but for this one I see in Dublin, Ireland caught my eye from my Dublin spotting blog. This Monarch aircraft G-MONJ Boeing 757-200 was on final at Dublin, Ireland from Cardiff, UK with Welsh Rugby Players as a charter flight, Monarch don't operate in Ireland only couple of British airliners operate in Ireland with Thomson as charter and BA CityFlyer seasonal flight to Ibiza, Spain. When this was taken in February 2014, the aircraft was withdrawn from service in November 2014 and scrapped in October 2015.

I also have a YouTube video as well to enjoy only departure.

Monarch G-ZBAF Airbus A321 new to Royal Jordanian in 2006 ex JY-AYG seen in Malta taken 9th July 2013.

In 2013 Monarch served Malta in summer season service from East Midlands, UK unfortunately with poor sales with Monarch, the airline withdrawn the flight & Ryanair took over the job it lasted for a year & the half. Back then when it operated Malta with their Airbus A320 or Airbus A321.

And so this is how I last spotted for Monarch in 2013 but at least I have some of my spotting photos on Monarch in my Blogger, Facebook and Flickr. Monarch now closes the end of the book of the airlines history, it's an honour to say goodbye as Britain's longest serving airliner. 

R.I.P. Monarch

1968-2017