Aviation in Malta April 2018

Aviation in Malta International Airport was perfect by the time this is taken. So let's take a look what I've seen. I will go through important ones & seasonal visitors I've seen because their is a lot similar to Amsterdam, The Netherlands visit. 

EasyJet Europe OE-IZL Airbus A320 new to Air Berlin in 2016 ex Air Berlin D-ABNX taken 11th April 2018.

We starting to see ceased airliners still in their liveries until if their are airliners are ordering second hand aircraft. Air Berlin is still one of the few still have their liveries either in leasing, new registration for the order and some of former Air Berlin's Boeing 737NG are still in Ar Berlin livery. OE-IZL Airbus A320 will soon to join EasyJet Europe.

Tianjin-Airlines LZ-CMC Airbus A320 delivered in 2018 taken 11th April 2018.

This mystery of the newly built 5th month old Airbus A320 has been in storage since November 2017 originally to be JetStar Pacific Airlines as VN-A576 from Vietnam somehow cancelled currently storage in Malta for re-paint & due to be with Tianjin-Airlines from China. Recent update from late April 2018, it's now in service as B-300T.

Royal Air Force of Oman 555 Airbus A320 delivered in 2009 taken 11th April 2018.

Royal Air Force of Oman visited to Malta for technical stop no special visit. I thought to myself this is the same aircraft I saw in Bournemouth, UK 5 years ago, this one is registered 555.

Thomas Cook Airlines G-TCDX Airbus A321 new to My Travel Airways in 2003 ex G-CTLA taken 12th April 2018.

Recently British Charter Thomas Cook Airlines has introduced a new flight to Malta from Bristol, UK sending out Airbus A321 primary for Summer only.

TUI Airways G-FDZA Boeing 737-800 delivered to Thomsonfly in 2007 taken 12th April 2018.

Also British Charter TUI Airways has introduced two new Summer flights from Bristol, UK and Birmingham, UK using Boeing 737-800.

Jet2 G-GDFN Boeing 737-300 new to EasyJet in 1998 ex G-EZYH taken 12th April 2018.

Jet2 is one of the only British airliner that still operates the old Boeing 737-300 that are 31 years old or less from previous airliners. From now till January 2019, Jet2 has ordered more Boeing 737NG to be replaced the Boeing 737 Classics starting from the oldest till the latest production. 

Thomas Cook Airlines G-JMAB Boeing 757-300 new to JMC Airlines in 2001 taken 12th April 2018.

Thomas Cook Airlines G-JMAB Boeing 757-300 is due to be with Condor D-ABOR along with the other two Boeing 757-300's.. These Boeing 757 aircraft are primary for London Gatwick, UK flights to Malta.

12th April 2018. A special flight & the end of his career as the Armed Forces of Malta pilot. Lt. Loreto Spiteri seen doing a low flight path as a tribute to say farewell for protecting Malta around the Mediterranean Sea. This could be one of my top photos of 2018 list!

Volotea EI-EXI Boeing 717 new to Midwest Airlines in 2003 ex N906ME taken 14th April 2018.

Volotea has been introducing new seasonal flights multiple times in Malta & ended quickly. Newer flights are Bilbao in Spain, Bordeaux in France and Nice, France. We just have to wait & see if Volotea continues the Summer 2019 service if it succeeds.

GetJet LY-FOX Airbus A320 new to Iberia in 1999 ex EC-HDN taken 16th April 2018.

As Air Malta's fleet is around the corner (9H-AHS was on order by the time this was taken) GetJet operated Air Malta's destinations with their Airbus A320 and Boeing 737's (we'll cover the 737 in few photos down). GetJet is a Lithuanian Charter & aircraft leasing service similar to Smartlynx with older aircraft including the A320. LY-FOX is still operating for Air Malta until the Airbus A320neo is due to arrive shortly.

Red Wings LZ-BHK Airbus A321 new to Iberia in 2001 ex EC-HTE taken 16th April 2018.

Bulgarian carrier BH Air has withdrawn their Airbus A321's leaving three A320's in the fleet. Most of the BH Air aircraft have moved on like this one. Red Wings by the time this was taken was due to enter service in Russia as VP-BRA. 

LATAM Airlines Group EI-FXO Airbus A320 new to TAM Linhas Aéreas in 2012 ex PR-MYW taken 17th April 2018.

Mystery about this Chinese airliner. Originally when this Airbus A320 was withdrawn by LATAM Airlines Brasil as PR-MYW, it was stored by LATAM Airlines Group in Irish registration EI-FXO later in storage at Abu Dhabi, UAE in June 2016. Chinese Carrier Hongtu Airlines was originally order more Airbus A320's for it's Chinese domestic network based from Kunming Changshui, China. Unfortunately the order of this particular aircraft was cancelled in full  Hongtu Airlines livery so now the aircraft is unknown if it's still in Malta or somewhere else due to return to LATAM Brasil. 

The old Antonov AN-12BK is still alive in 2018! Taken in 17th April 2018, this old Antonov AN-12 series registered UR-CAH arrived in Malta with beautiful smoke during final approach.

Lufthansa D-AIHT Airbus A340-600 delivered in 2008 taken 18th April 2018.

I haven't seen so many Lufthansa Tecknik planes in Malta that are either arriving or departing. During my last day, I saw this Airbus A340-600 bound for Munich, Germany after completing the technician stop. Interesting fact of this D-AIHT aircraft, it was originally to be delivered to Virgin Atlantic as G-VJAM but the order was cancelled later delivered to Lufthansa in 2008. As a reminder, Lufthansa will be retiring all of their Airbus A340-600 still no information about the 300 series.

GetJet YL-GTW Boeing 737-400 new to Dan-Air London in 1990 ex G-BPNZ taken 18th April 2018

And finally we have one of the oldest Boeing 737 Classic I've ever seen that's still in service in 2018. As before, GetJet is operating by Air Malta with the arrival of two Airbus A320's & new destinations. Unfortunately in recent months Air Malta's customers has received complaints same for Air Malta to GetJet about the age of the aircraft, incidents and cabin facilities. This aircraft is not one of the problems what you see, it's LY-CGC Boeing 737-400 in Milan-Malpensa, Italy in 18th March 2018. Also reports of ground handling issues by Air Malta for this particular aircraft which happened on London Gatwick, UK KM117 flight with 12 hour delay or more.

From passengers comments to Maltese news websites and Air Malta that the aircraft is in more condition from the outside, cabin is very outdated when it was delivered in 1989 "two years before I was born!", air conditioner wasn't working due to the age of the Auxiliary Power Unit which is dangerous during early Summer months, flaps was still at 30 degrees on the apron once again is dangerous & incorrect standard procedure and maybe more you can look on The Times of Malta and Independent.com.mt article. With my photo LY-GTW I have not seen any information about any recent incidents unless it was one of those fuel spillage happened in Palermo, Italy, If it's true or not feel free to comment which I'll be much appreciated.

So Air Malta later replaced YL-CGC to GTW which is a 28 year old Boeing 737-400 delivered to Dan-Air London in May 1990 ex G-BPNZ. In my opinion, any older aircraft that are 30+ years old or less should be inspected by the European Aviation Safety Agency to the airline company who operates them that are not very well maintained etc for commercial use. Lufthansa is one of those airliners that still uses Airbus A320 from 1989 that's been very maintained & modified because the airline is rich as GetJet is poor.