Adria Airways ceased operations 30th September 2019

Another airliner hits the dust again. Slovenian carrier Adria Airways ceased operations again filed for bankruptcy.  Back in 24th September, Adira Airways suspended all flights. Later on the airliner filed for bankruptcy & ceased all operations today. This has been the fourth airliner in the row ceased operations from Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Aigle Azur, and XL Airway France. 

I've rarely seen Adria Airways in the past apart from this rough mobile photo seen in Catania, Italy in 2013. This for me is the only short memory of spotting and hearing more about Adria Airways & will always be remembered.  

Thomas Cook Airlines memories of spotting and travelling

As we all know, the struggled British charter company Thomas Cook Airlines has gone to administration & ceased all operations. This topic is all about my memories with Thomas Cook Airlines featuring spotting and horrors I've experienced with in my travel history of Aircraft Aviation in Europe.

My first photo of Thomas Cook Airlines started in Malta from the summer of 2005 back then it was new when JMC Air ceased operations in 2003 by the merger of Thomas Cook Group. Since then I was mostly seen Thomas Cook Airlines between London Gatwick, UK & Malta during my teen years. It wasn't till 2015 I was mean't to travel with Thomas Cook Airlines from London Stansted, UK - Las Vegas, USA with one stop over in Glasgow, UK.

This is where I started to hate Thomas Cook Airlines during my worst travel experience. First up, when I arrive at the gate at London Stansted, UK in August 2015 all passengers had given a letter by the gate agent the aircraft will be operating by Hi Fly Portuguese registration operating on behalf of Thomas Cook. I had three hour delay departing London Stansted airport then picking up passengers in Glasgow, UK we had another three hour delay it's normally 1 hour layover. Their was no flight entertainment just Hi Hly and Thomas Cook cabin crew. I've already done a flight report (ish) on my first long haul trip so go & check it out. Also I have a full flight video on this flight.

My second one coming back to the UK from September that year it was in full Thomas Cook brand with all Thomas Cook themed cabin and flight entertainment was perfect that was my good flight from Las Vegas, USA.

Overall on this flight back to London Stansted, UK I really had a good flight with only an hour delay. I've managed to get some good sleep till in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. I also have a flight report on this flight so feel free to check it out.

This is also where Thomas Cook has starting to go down hill in delays when spotting. In Malta (I'm also sure the same in few countries) are terrible in delays on their flights back to the UK when it  comes to spotting during the summer months. I know TUI has similar thing with long delays comparing Thomas Cook when waiting in hot summer months then you decide to give up. Thomas Cook always had leasing airliners during the busy season mostly summer where Avion Aviation and Smartlynx came along to operate with Thomas Cook. This photo you are familiar was from Aviation in Malta Summer 2019, this was  my final Thomas Cook Airlines in Malta for it's departure to runway 23 instead 13 taken 6th June 2019.

As a passenger I had my bad experience yet again on my latest Thomas Cook flight from Malta to London Gatwick, UK last year. I was almost two hour delay on departure due to landing slot, baggage issue and passenger errors. By looking at this old Boeing 757 cabin layout, it looked perfect.

The main reason why I chose this flight because Boeing 757-300 was due to retire returning to Condor in Germany as you can see on the winglet it has Condor logo. I also had an infant by me who kept screaming almost half of the flight so that's why I was let down by the airline this was also one of the passenger error who was the last one in family embarked the aircraft.I got a flight report and full flight video on YouTube. Other than the horrible delay I had last year, I enjoyed hearing the Boeing 757 engines again.

Of course their are also more Thomas Cook franchise across Europe. I took this photo in 2005 back in Malta this was the hydrid ish of old Condor and Thomas Cook branding. This was because in 2003, Thomas Cook bought the subsidiary to be part of the Thomas Cook group family. Theirs also couple of more Thomas Cook family other than UK & Germany. Theirs Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, and Thomas Cook Airlines Belerarcis from Spain which sadly they are all ceased operations. As of September 2019 Condor is still in operation currently seeking financial help.

After the collapse of Monarch almost two years ago, Thomas Cook Airlines introduced more of it's Airbus A321 aircraft from Monarch with only the heart on the tail and Thomas Cook font at the fuselage while the rest all Monarch. This aircraft was taken last September in London Gatwick, UK with a rough shot didn't expect to see. During the same time, Thomas Cook ordered second hand Airbus A321 from Aeroflot that has Areoflot livery just the heart & Thomas Cook font on the fuselage. 

Those are my memories of Thomas Cook Airlines, if you like to see more of my Thomas Cook Airlines photos check out my social media pages to share some memories you had with Britain's oldest holiday form Thomas Cook.

XL Airways France ceased operations 22nd September 2019

Before Thomas Cook Airlines ceased operations on 23rd September 2019, French low-cost carrier XL Airways France ceased operations yesterday based from Paris Charles de Gaulle, France. Under a week ago, XL Airways France was placed under legal receivership due to financial difficulties. Ticket sales from XL Airways France was cancelled & went out of business the following day where Thomas Cook Airlines ceased operations.

XL Airways France had four of it's Airbus A330 and promise of two Airbus A330-900neo are now cancelled. It only operated seventeen destinations from various airports in France to mostly North America and some parts of Asia.

In general, I don't know much of XL Airways France as I remember XL Airways from the UK early 2000's for spotting reasons till it went to administration in late 2000's so I haven't missed much about XL Airways France.

Thomas Cook ceased operations 23rd September 2019

It has confirmed by British Holiday company Thomas Cook as ceased operations after the company is struggling for £200m rescue deal and hoping for a Chinese company might rescue the deal for Thomas Cook. Unfortunately it didn't made any promise the airline has ceased operations leading loss of 900+ jobs on captain, cabin crew, charter cruises and travel agency from British flag companies. Condor remains unaffected despite Thomas Cook has collapsed  Condor has applied transitional loan. It's unclear is Condor and other franchise to the airline from Spain & Scandinavia remains unknown.

All British holidaymakers who are booked & currently on holiday might be impacted on return flights to the UK might be covered on stranded Thomas Cook customers on different airlines according to UK Aviation Authority.

Thomas Cook Airlines operated European, Africa and North American flights with fleets of Airbus A330 for long haul, Airbus A321 for short haul flights. Their has been Airbus A320 & other A321 under the leasing program by Avion Express and Smartlynx.

It's very sad to hear Thomas Cook was one of Britain's oldest travel companies before going into aviation business in 2003. For those who are new into the aviation world, Thomas Cook's callsign was Kestrel later on it's Thomas Cook callsign. However Kestrel was also it's callsign from Airtours International Airways, then when Airtours International merged to My Travel Airways Kestrel was still it's callsign until Thomas Cook bought My Travel Airways. Their will be more news about Thomas Cook later on.

RIP Thomas Cook plc 

2007-2019

RIP Thomas Cook Airlines 

2003-2019

Malta International Airshow 2020 cancelled

For the third time straight in the row Malta International Airshow 2020 is cancelled. The organizer of the airshow Malta Aviation Society have to cease all preparations for 2020 due to Malta International Airport refused to provide adequate parking space for airshow aircraft with aircraft over the years were all parked at Apron 4 since the beginning. Malta International Airport has plans to create a brand new apron "Apron X"

For those you don't know, I visited Malta International Airshow 2017 with some of my favorite visitors featured Turkish Stars and Saudi Hawks their aerobatics was outstanding preformed similar to the Red Arrows. Sadly I doubt Malta International Airshow will continue with it's future very sad news to my friends back home.

Bournemouth Air Festival 2019

Bournemouth Air Festival 2019 has come & gone. I had some interesting visitors & wonderful aerobatic displays. Hear is one of the best fish photos I took in 30th August 2019.

I've seen couple of helicopters, Boeing Chinook from the RAF was their seen it a lot in Bournemouth. This is Black Cats from the Royal Navy the AW159 Wildcat by the manufacturer AgustaWestland. Black Cats flew from start to the end of the air festival with amazing stunts!

A classic from WW2 & true heroes in British Aviation history with BBMF Lancaster ontop followed by the Spitfire each later on done their own display before re-grouping once more. I don't have the best photos for 2-in-1, this one is the best with clouds in the background while it was overcast.

We've never seen a widebody jet airliner in Bournemouth Air Festival so this was the first ever Boeing 737 aircraft flying over Bournemouth beach when preforming around the beach twice. This is a U.S Navy P-8A a military & modify version of a Boeing 737 Next Generation the 800 series based from  Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy next door to Catania. For those who don't know Italy has seven U.S Navy basses for American military use and freighters for U.S Airforce and FedEx. 

This is a special part o Bournemouth Air Festival called Ultimate Warbird Flights preforming aerobatic displays and roleplay of dogfights for the Spitfire, Buchan, P-47D Thunderbolt and Mustang. 

Who love Typhoon? Yes! it did some outstanding aerobatic display roaring through our ears and car alarm goes off! I tried so many photos quickly as I could because this fighter jet is super fast that I couldn't keep up. This was also my last photo of the day at Bournemouth Air Festival 2019. 

With the absent of the Red Arrows currently in North America we hope they will return Bournemouth Air Festival 2020 as well as seeing them in Farnborough International Airshow 2020. 

Aviation in Malta Summer 2019

Summer of 2019 has come & gone, our airport had some amazing visitors from Europe and the Middle East so for that reason we're going to take a look at my photos of Aviation in Malta International Airport from May & June 2019.

Thomas Cook Airlines YL-VEC Airbus A321 new to Aeroflot in 2007 ex VP-BUM taken 30th May 2019

Since the retirement of the Boeing 757-300, Thomas Cook Airlines now use the Airbus A320 family either in UK reg or leased by either Smartlynx and Avion Express by the time I made this blog while Airbus A330 are either in popular destinations in Spain & long haul flights. 

TUI Airways G-FDZG delivered in 2008 as Thomsonfly taken 30th May 2019.

I was exited if I get a chance to see a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Malta because of the grounded Boeing 737 MAX. Or even Boeing 757 I was hoping to see because before I arrived to Malta, TUI Airways sends out meduim & long range aircraft. With big disappointment they didn't came when I was in Malta just normal Boeing 737NG.  

Smartlynx Estonia ES-SAV Airbus A320 new to Volar Airlines in 2003 ex EC-ISI taken 9th June 2019.

During the order of Air Malta's second Airbus A320neo 9H-NEB, their was a couple of foreign airliners operating on behalf of the airline just like 9H-NEO when it was on order. First up is Smartlynx Estonia ES-SAV it has been operating for Air Malta for some time before I was their.

Qatar Airways A7-AHP Airbus A320 delivered in 2011 taken 4th June 2019.

We have Qatar Airways the first ever direct flight will benefit Malta's service from Qatar, Doha primarily using Airbus A320 aircraft other than heavy aircraft. During the first arrival into Malta, Qatar Airways was on a VIP flight featuring a red carpet open ceremony. I use to have a photo of the water cannon, but my SD Card froze & lost part of it. This was a special one over the years I've seen Qatar Airways in the past as Qatar Amiri Flight and Qatar Airways C-17.

TUIfly Deutschland D-ATUG Boeing 737-800 delivered in 2006 taken 9th June 2019.

More TUI operators to Malta with TUIfly Deutschland this time the TUI Magic Life livery similar to UK's TUI Airways. Just like before, TUI fly Deutschland operates every Sunday to Malta from Colonge/Bonn, Germany.

TUIfly Deutschland D-ATYC Boeing 737-800 new to TUIfly Nordic in 2011 ex SE-RFU taken 3rd June 2019. 

Continuing with TUIfly Deutschland these aircraft is still in it's old TUI livery previously with TUI Nordic for that reason why I want to include this because you don't see old TUI livery that much.

Bulgarian Air Charter LZ-LDT McDonnell Douglas MD-82 new to Alitalia in 1991 ex I-DACZ taken 9th June 2019.

While Smartlynx Estonia operates by Air Malta, Bulgarian Air Charter made frequent visits in June for charters. However though because Air Malta at the time launching couple of more destinations Bulgarian Air Charter came to the scene  operating for Air Malta once again. These days depending where you live in life we don't always see these old McDonnell Dougals MD-80 series these days.

Sundair D-ASGK Airbus A320 new to Niki in 2006 ex OE-LEO taken 9th June 2019.

Since Air Berlin ceased operations a couple of years ago, you thought you'll never see the livery again. We are wrong because depending on the airline who is operating the former Air Berlin fleet, Sundair still operates in former Air Berlin livery from Berlin Tegel, Germany. And yes Sundair has their own livery. 

Iberia Express EC-LUC Airbus A320 delivered to Iberia in 1999 ex EC-HAG taken 30th May 2019.

Iberia Express once again started it's Summer service to Malta from Madrid, Spain in full new livery the last time I seen one is in old Iberia logo on the fuselage & tail.

Condor D-ABOM Boeing 757-300 delivered in 2000 taken 9th June 2019.

Condor once again operates the Summer service only using the old Boeing 757-300 every Sunday during the morning and later on in the evening from Frankfurt, Germany. 

Violeta EC-MUU Airbus A319 new to Frontier Airlines in 2004 ex N931FR 

Violeta has launched some more new destinations from Spain, France and Italy for the Summer season period using Airbus A319's and some Boeing 717 aircraft. 

Air Malta 9H-AEJ Airbus A319 delivered in 2004 taken 14th June 2019.

To make this the final photo Air Malta's only Airbus A319 9H-AEJ is set to be withdrawn at the end of next month. By the time I took this, 9H-NEB was still on order 9H-NEC still on order. I like to say a big thank you to Air Malta for the years of service of Airbus A319 it has been a great pleasure spotting and travelling with them.