Merry Christmas!

This is a Christmas Message from Aircraft Aviation in Europe.

Another year is almost over but we cannot forget our special time of the year which is Christmas. This year was exciting because I graduated from college for Airline Operations and spend 2017 travelling to Malta, various UK airports in London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London City, Southampton and Bournemouth, Paris Charles de Gaulle & Paris-Le Bourget, France and three airshows for Paris Airshow 2017, Bournemouth Air Festival 2017 and Malta International Airshow 2017. Now we come close what is for future of Aircraft Aviation in Europe for 2018 with travel movements other than Malta is currently planning somewhere new like this year and last year. This year was a lot busier than I wasn't expected to do with travel movements and spotting however there was a lack of absent on my social media due to my laptop is still not fully working so I'm using my phone for this blog because my recent blog for my Top 10 pics for 2017 and London City, UK my laptop monitor & my SD card slot is very faulty due to it's age so I give up hope using the laptop for now & will get a new one so Aircraft Aviation in Europe is back on track for next year.

From Aircraft Aviation in Europe I wish to all the fans from all over the world a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! "Il-Milied it-Tajjeb" and a Happy New Year 2018.

So now we finally close the book for another great year of 2017 in aviation as I have one last upcoming flight this Thursday (No Full Flight video) I just want to say is thank you once again for all your support for my social media with so many fans liking my Facebook, more subscribers on YouTube and more followers on Flickr.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From Aircraft Aviation in Europe

Bournemouth, UK new owner

For years Bournemouth, UK's owner at the time Manchester Airport Group (MAG) wanted to sell Bournemouth airport for specific reason. Before I go into the details I give you a back story & talk about some of it's airport facilities in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth, UK is one of Dorset's closed airports in the UK for passengers who live around Dorset county, Isle of Wight, parts of Hampshire in Southampton and Portsmouth (depending on airline, fares and destinations) Now I'm not sure back during World War Two who owned Bournemouth, UK at the time I might have been the local council till the 21st Century so lets carry on the gap. During the 1950's in 1958 Palmair was the first airline airline to operate Bournemouth Airport to Palma, Spain with the aircraft type Viking then in the 1970's flights from Bournemouth operated with Dan Air and Silver City as scheduled flight. From what I heard in 1969 it was part of Bournemouth Corporation and Dorset County Council and rename the airport "Bournemouth Airport" later become Bournemouth International Airport.

In 1996, Bournemouth, UK upgraded the runway with the arrival of Concorde by British Airways & started a charter flight across the Bay of Biscay with champagne during the short flight. Then in the late 90's Irish carrier Ryanair started their main flight with their Boeing 737-200 from Bournemouth, UK - Dublin, Ireland where the hub was starting to be born in today standard. However Ryanair wasn't the first hub for Bournemouth in the first place it all!

But first Bournemouth joined in the Manchester Airport Group in March 2001 was the UK's second-largest owner at the time. So when it comes with hub MAG need promises new airliners & new destinations. So in 2005 a former TUI brand Thomsonfly (Now called TUI Airways) became the first low-cost British carrier to establish a hub for Bournemouth with their two Boeing 737-300 at the time to operate within the European Union. British carrier EasyJet announced it will operate Bournemouth with a winter flight to Geneva, Switzerland with their Airbus A319 & still operating today. There have been some trial & errors with Bournemouth for example Blue Islands a British/Channel Island carrier operated & failed in 2009 then Hungarian carrier Wizzair tried & failed for flights to Poland Gdansk, Katowice and Krakow in 2006-2007.

As the airport was suffering for lack of flights, in 2007 Ryanair starts to increase Bournemouth starting with Marseille in France, Alicante in Span and Milan in Italy. The following year Palmair operated dozens of charter flights with their Boeing 737-200 & some 300 series flying to Tunis in Tunisia, Fuerteventura in Spain, Naples in Italy, Rhodes in Greece and Malta. In 2008 Ryanair added more routes to Spain and two domestic flights from Bournemouth to either Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh however domestic flights in Bournemouth didn't last long for Ryanair. In 2009 a British carrier BMI Baby (BMI Parent company) operated to Jersey with their Boeing 737-3500 sadly it did not last long. Bournemouth wanted to challenge any airliner to travel long haul so Thomsonfly was the chosen one as a charter cruise flight from Bournemouth, UK - Bridgetown, Barbados with the airline's Boeing 767. As the years went on in late 2000's Ryanair increased 18 more flights as Thomsonfly increases more European flights & long haul range like I mention Bridgetown, Barbados (still flying today with either Boeing 767 or Boeing 787 Dreamliner) and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with Thomsonfly's brand new Boeing 737-800 Winglets it was Bournemouth's only long haul schedules flight before Metrojet Flight 9268 to St. Petersburg,  Russia exploded by terrorist bomb in October 31st 2015. Since then Thomson Airways & all UK airliners suspended Sharm El Sheikh.

Thomson Airways G-FZDT new to Thomson Airways in 2011 seen at Bournemouth, UK taken 21st September 2017.

As Bournemouth opened a brand new terminal in 2011 it promised more flights as Ryanair added few such as Malta and Spain then Thomson Airways added more themselves.

Flybe operated Bournemouth in the past in May 2010 as a new service for Channel Islands (UK) after failure of BMI Baby and Blue Islands but discontinued in November that year, Then Flybe tried again in 2015 this time flights within the UK CTA flights to Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland and international flights in The Netherlands, France etc but failed again in March 2016 due to competitions with Southampton, UK and to expensive the airport to run by MAG.

As Bournemouth was struggling by MAG in recent years it's time to sell the airport because it couldn't reach the demand of improving Bournemouth as it was the lowest airport rank own by MAG it wants to focus on East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester as they operated more profit airports in Britain. So today 5th December 2017 Bournemouth is now owned by Regional & City Airports (RCA)

Bournemouth, UK Arrivals taken 21st September 2017.

So what are the promise for Bournemouth's new future from RCA? Their have been rumours from the owner of RCA that more flights will be introduce possibly adding Flybe because RCA is home of Flybe in Exeter and Norwich for domestic & International flights. These plans will include:

• Increase number of passengers compare to it's previous owner MAG
• Adding more flights for existing airline & new airliners in Bournemouth
• Introduce connections between Bournemouth to Africa, Asia and the America
• Currently planning flights Paris, France and Amsterdam, The Netherlands

As mentioned about connections between Bournemouth to the rest of the world, rumours by the owner of RCA might suggest KLM should work depends on Bournemouth Airport's neighbour Southampton Airport because KLM connects from Southampton to different continent or depending how friendly the environment Bournemouth and the airport it self. Maybe Frankfurt, Germany could be possible I hear online might work with German carrier Lufthansa for connection reasons for Frankfurt possible Lufthansa's parenting airlines (Eurowings). RCA have added some airliners could be possible for Bournemouth's future, however the list the owner interviewed is classified. 

Bournemouth. UK International Arrivals baggage reclaim taken 28th September 2017.

What you see taken recently is the baggage reclaim for international arrivals at Bournemouth. Every time I arrive in Bournemouth before going through customs after my flight from Malta, next flight to land is always the only flight every 2, 3 or even 4 hours before next flight arrives "Are we the only flight in Bournemouth?" that's what imagined. So it has 3 baggage reclaims two for international and one for domestic where you can see the white barrier. What's confusing for this area because when I was waiting for my luggage I wondered around the area finding where do domestic arrivals come through they can't go through international arrivals so is their passage to walk right the back of the domestic section next to the baggage reclaim? I find it odd for domestic arrivals because when I looked the area there is no way out for domestic flights after collecting your luggage so you will walk through customs "Arrivals from the EU" no custom officers don't have the right for that unless it's something odd. What about Common Travel Area do they walk through UK Border? "it is international from Republic of Ireland and Channel Islands without immigration but require customs" Most times flying from Ireland do not need customs arriving within the EU (My recent flight from Malta their were customs officers at the Blue Channel) but arriving from the Channel Islands in Bournemouth you will see  customs officers by requiring to walk to Nothing to Declare because Channel Islands is outside the EU because of tax.   

So that's all I have to say about Bournemouth Airport's new ownership lets hope it makes a great success of it's future than Manchester Airport Group.

Top 10 shots for 2017

As we come close to 2018. This year was a challenging one with so many travel movements and awesome aircraft spotting so today hear is my top 10 photos for 2017 I've been voted.

10: In loving memory of Air Berlin

Air Berlin  D-ABKM Boeing 737-800 new to Air Berlin in 2010 seen in Malta taken 27th September 2017.

Since 27th October 2017 Air Berlin has ceased operations causing the airline to go bankrupt with dozens of various Air Berlin aircrafts in storage mainly Shannon, Ireland still waiting for a flying future. Recent news British carrier EasyJet will absorb 1,000 employees and lease 25 Airbus A320 for Berlin Tegal, Germany. Some of former Air Berlin fleet are transferred to Niki. This photo you see is a Boeing 737-800 landed in Malta I can't remember where from if it's Dusseldorf or Berlin, Germany taken late of Air Berlin's life. 

9: Airbus A380 in Paris, France or Franborough, UK?

Airbus Industries F-WWOW first built in 2005 seen in Paris-Le Bourget, France taken 24th June 2017.

You might be thinking "This really was taken in Farnborough, UK from last year's airshow" you're presume wrong! For those who been following me on Facebook, this summer in June of 2017 before I finished college I went to Paris Airshow 2017 in Paris-Le Bourget, France for the weekend. For those who seen my Paris Airshow blog 2017 I mentioned about the Airbus A380, their were two of them. One retired/modified aircraft called A380 Plus (F-WWDD) and one is this in the air F-WWOW the first Airbus A380 to be built by Airbus. The display was very short compare to Farnborough International Airshow but it was worth seeing two A380's in Paris-Le Bourget, France. 

8: Queen of Speedbird Boeing 747-400 

British Airways G-CIVD Boeing 747-400 new to British Airways in 1994 seen at London Heathrow, UK taken 7th April 2017. 

In recent news from British carrier British Airways announced they will retire all their Boeing 747-400's in five years time while the airline is slowly withdrawing their 747's from the oldest. Most airline nowadays are retiring or limited use for passengers like example Virgin Atlantic will retire their 747's in 2019 and Lufthansa still has a bit a long life now all American airliners like United withdrawn their 747's it's sad to see them go. What special about the photo is that this is OneWorld special livery touching down at London Heathrow, UK.. 

7: Swiss Alps in Maltese Rain?

Swiss HB-IJH Airbus A320 new to Swissair in 1996 seen in Malta taken 24th September 2017.

Before Malta International Airshow 2017 day 2 announced it was cancelled due to rough weather conditions, I want to get some photos of aircraft in the rain for takeoff & landing so I spent 2 hours in the spotting wall all wet till the wind was calm & clouds are higher. I prefer this Swiss Airbus A320 on flight to Zurich Switzerland because of the water effects while rotate for takeoff. This was before Swiss ended Malta flights for the Summer so we will see more in 2018.

6: Double Me Double Delta

Two Delta Air Lines at Paris Charles de Gaulle, France taken 26th June 2017.

Their are a lot of American airliners in Paris Charles de Gaulle, France however it's not a hub for Delta Air Lines like Amsterdam, The Netherlands is. When I was by the gate this Boeing 767 was on hold on the taxiway for 20 minutes due to early morning rush hour for the airport while this Airbus A330 arrived at CDG.

5: Air Malta the sunset of the Maltese Islands 2

Air Malta 9H-AEI Airbus A320 new to Air Malta in 2004 seen in Malta taken 9th July 2017.

You might have seen my other Air Malta sunset photo from last year on the ground during sunset, this one is different as you can see this Airbus A320 lifting up to the Maltese sky one of the best spotting places for the Summer season around 6pm-7pm. 

4: Condor the Sunset in the Maltese Islands

Thomas Cook Airlines G-JMOG Boeing 757-300 new to Condor in 1999 ex D-ABOG seen in Malta taken 9th July 2017.

Similar to my Air Malta sunset departure but this British carrier Thomas Cook Airlines Boeing 757-300 departure is the best when climbing you can see smoke of the engines before landing gear was up more dark from buildings with orange sky some and shine effects of the aircraft. This is one of my least favourite photo came close to number one but we come to that later. This was operated by Thomas Cook franchise by a German carrier Condor to Frankfurt, Germany. 

3: Luxair in the Dark Side

Luxair LX-LBA Boeing 737-800 new to Luxair in 2015 seen in Malta taken 24th September 2017.

As Star Wars Episode 8 The Last Jedi is coming close to theaters I like to spread the darkness of these clouds or "The Dark Side" Anyway, during the same day with Swiss departing Malta in the storm this Luxair aircraft departed before the rain, high winds and thunderstorms arrived. This flight was in Summer service direct from Luxembourg, Luxemburg to Malta then from Malta to Palermo, Italy via Luxembourg, Luxemburg. 

2: Concorde Memorial 

Concorde Memorial at Paris Charles de Gaulle, France taken 25th June 2017.

At my last day in France my big request is to see any memorial of a former Super Sonic airliner Concorde. There are three Concorde Memorials around Charles de Gaulle area and I only found one which is this landing gear what remains after the crash of Air France Flight 4590 F-BTSC in 25th July 2000. The location is a long road called Allee du Verger next to the Marriot Hotel. I will come back to Paris Charles de Gaulle France to look at couple of more memorials including Tupolev TU144 memorial.

1: Look up in the sky! It's a Turkish Star!

Turkish Star preforming in Smart City, Malta for Malta International Airshow 2017 taken 24th September 2017.

You see why this is my favorite photo of 2017! So after the horrible storms in Malta happened the airshow announce cancelled UNTIL 12pm Malta International Airshow 2017 announce the all clear and now open as the weather turned into Summer sunshine. The airshow is located in two areas.

1: Malta International Airport - Apron 4 for aircraft display on ground
2: Smart City - For air display

I visited both weekends Saturday I was at the Apron for ground & LTM from outside the hanger then Sunday while I was spotting in the storms I rushed into Smart City by bus after the announcement it was giving the clear apart Apron 4 remain closed. The airshow is not what I expected like Farnborough, UK and Paris Charles de Gaulle, France but I was looking forward for the Turkish Star air display which some turn out OK and this one I love the way it's closer from the zoom. There was a Saudi Hawk display in general I'm a big fan of the Turkish Stars. So overall I really enjoyed the airshow at Smart City in Malta.

So we close the book for my aviation shots for 2017 (yet) as I have a flight to Malta on 28th December which will not include my top photos. Thank you for liking & support my social media and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Christmas News coming on Christmas Eve.

London City, UK 27th October 2017

It's been a while since I made a blog of aircrafts in different countries & airports so for that reason, here is my blog of various aircrafts in London City. UK.

BA CityFlyer G-LCYM Embraer ERJ-190 new to BA CityFlyer in 2010.

As we all know London City is home to British Airways franchise BA CityFlyer with flights within the UK, International and Isle of Man (Common Travel Area) also another franchise by BA is SUN-AIR from Denmark in full BA livery it's on my previous blog about the airline itself. You might think the callsign for BA CityFlyer is Speedbird right?  Nope apart from Shuttle for UK domestic flights by British Airways, BA CityFlyer for domestic and international including Isle of Man callsign is Flyer as for SUN-AIR is also callsigned SUN-AIR.  

CityJet EI-RJT British Aerospace Avro RJ85 new to Mesaba Airlines in 2000 ex N532XJ.

CityJet still has their British Aerospace aircraft around by 2019-2020 to be replaced by Sukhoi Superjet 100 with 6 of them already in service 9 on order. Recently Swiss and Brussels Airlines have withdrawn their BAe 146/Avro RJ85 which leaves CityJet the last European airliner still uses these BAe 146 family left. CityJet only operates from London City, UK - Dublin, Ireland not anywhere else. 

Luxair LX-LQC Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 new to Luxair in 2015.

Luxair operated their Bombardier 11 Dash 8 Q400 from Luxemburg to London City.    

Flybe G-PRPM Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 new to Colgan Air in 2008 ex N188WQ.

Compare to London Heathrow with Flybe domestic flights that goes to Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Flybe operates more of it's domestic flights from London City to Aberdeen, Belfast-City, Edinburgh and Exeter (Cardiff recently withdrawn flight) including 2 international flights to Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Rennes, France (seasonal) only using the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 only in London City compare to London Heathrow and London Gatwick's PSO domestic flight to Newquay.

Aurigny Air Service G-HUET ATR 42 new to Eurowings in 1999 ex D-BQQQ.

Channel Island carrier Aurigny Air Service has recently ended it's Common Travel Area flight from Guernsey, Channel Island. 

Swiss HB-JBB Bombardier CS100 new to Swiss in 2016.

Swiss frequently operates London City, UK direct from Zurich & Geneva, Switzerland with their BAe Avro RJ100 recently withdrawn with their brand new Bombardier CS100. These brand new CS100 are also replacements for the older Airbus A319 & A320 who are previously with Swissair or any other airliners from the early till mid 90's.  

Alitalia CityLiner EI-RNE Embraer ERJ-190 new to Alitalia CityLiner in 2012.

Alitalia CityLiner operates their Embraer REJ-175 &  ERJ-190 aircrafts from two Italian airports Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Liante, Italy to London City, UK. 

KLM  Cityhopper PH-EZM Embraer ERJ-190 new to KLM Cityhopper in 2010.

And finally KLM Cityhopper also frequently operates London City, UK to Amsterdam, The Netherlands with their Embraer ERJ-170 & ERJ-190  so how can London City, UK compete while the airline operates London Heathrow, UK with two KLM brand?  We haven't seen KLM in London Gatwick, UK yet.

That's all my aircraft photos from London Cit,y UK. I highly recommend to visit the airport for spotting by the River Thames seeing aircrafts takeoff and land the runway right by you. Their are other airliners in London City, UK will check out in the future.