Hello China!! - the first direct China Southern charter flight from Beijing lands at Birmingham Airport

On Tuesday 22 July 2014, Birmingham Airport welcomed the UK's first direct flight from China
into a non-London airport and inaugurated the use of its recently extended runway as the service
departed for its five thousand mile journey back to Beijing - for a photo report of the day see here

 

Thursday 18 September 2014

Tuesday 22 July 2014 - China Southern Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6056 is a morning arrival from Beijing

China Southern Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6056 was an early morning arrival from Beijing.....

 

.... operating the first of a short series of charters and being greeted to a water canon salute

.... for a full report of this historic day at Birmingham Airport please see here

Jettime Boeing 737-382QC OY-JTF operated the Mistral Air student exchange charter from Rome

Aegean Airbus A320-232 SX-DVL operated their weekly IT/inclusive tour flight from Heraklion Photo: Mike Hollick

Fleet Air International Saab 340AF HA-TAG spent the day parked on the Elmdon apron

Sky Taxi Saab 340A SP-MRB was a morning visitor operating a freight charter from Brno - the
aircraft wears additional IGAvion/Jura titles for when it is used on passenger services in France

Businesswings Cessna 208 Caravan I D-FALK was an afternoon visitor operating a freight charter

Windrose Air Challenger 300 D-BUBI was an afternoon visitor

Michelin Air Services Falcon 50EX F-HAPN and....

Citation Sovereign OE-GMM were day stopping visitors to the Elmdon apron Photos: Mike Hollick

Tuesday 5 August 2014 - China Southern Airbus A330-243 B-6058 operates final charter to Beijing

China Southern Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6058 rotates off a very wet Runway 15
operating the third and final flight of a short series of charters to Beijing, China....

.... it had earlier arrived in the half light at 0542 nearly an hour early!

.... and had a "Follow Me" vehicle to ensure it found its way

.... to Stand 56C

.... while it may have been a grey start to the day a couple of hours later it was sitting in the sun!

This flight was taking the second group of Chinese tourists home after their UK holiday....

.... China Southern Airlines Flight number: CZ3002

Unfortunately by the time Airbus A330-243 B-6058 was on its way to depart the rain had arrived....

.... so as it lifted off Runway 15 it produced a cloud of spray

.... before climbing away to Beijing - again nonstop from Birmingham!

Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS EI-EMK operated their morning service to Perpignan departing off Runway 15....

.... and giving another view of its "National Express - UK Airport Transfers" logo jet colour scheme

Jettime Boeing 737-382QC OY-JTF operated the Mistral Air student exchange charter to Rome

Thomas Cook Boeing 767-31KER G-TCCB was an afternoon arrival when it diverted after Manchester was closed
by a security alert involving a Qatar Airways Airbus A330 - after refuelling it continued to Manchester

Aviavilsa Antonov 26B HA-TCV was a lunchtime visitor operating a freight charter and departing to Stavanger

Gulfstream 650 N673HA which had arrived on Monday evening was an afternoon departure to Paris Le Bourget

Tyrol Air Ambulance Astra SPX OE-GBD made a brief afternoon visit to the Elmdon apron

FAI Learjet 55ER D-CAAE which had arrived on an air ambulance flight on Monday evening departed to Nuremberg

Piper Malibu Mirage N186CB which had arrived the previous week as an afternoon departure

Tuesday 29 July 2014 - China Southern Airbus A330-243 B-6057 flying in "Asian Games" colours

China Southern Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6057 was an early morning arrival
from Beijing operating the second in a short series of charter flights....

.... the aircraft is in the "16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010" special colour scheme

.... and touched down on Runway 33 shortly after 0630

.... and parking on Stand 56C - needless to say another first visit to BHX!

Airport and Travel agent staff were on hand to welcome the second group of Chinese tourists....

.... as they made their way from the arrivals area to the waiting coaches via the "red walkway"

It was soon time for China Southern Airbus A330-243 B-6057 to depart giving an opportunity....

.... for a closer look at the "16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010" logo on the rear fuselage

.... before it departed off Runway 33 non-stop back to Beijing

Aegean Airbus A320-232 SX-DGN operated their weekly IT flight from Heraklion - its first visit to BHX

China Southern Airbus A330-243 B-6056 operates their inaugural flight from Beijing to Birmingham

China Southern Airlines Airbus A330-243 B-6056 touches down on Birmingham's Runway 33 just before 0630....

... at the end of its nonstop inaugural flight from Beijing, China - needless to say its first visit to BHX!

The aircraft taxied to the terminal via Taxiway Echo....

.... and was greeted to a traditional water canon salute - rainbow included!

.... by the Birmingham Airport Fire Service

This is the first of three charter flights that are a joint initiative between Birmingham Airport, China Southern....

.... Caissa Travel Management and Birmingham China specialist agency, United Travel, and demonstrate

.... the demand for more flights between the two countries. Birmingham is the first airport outside London to offer
non-stop flights to China made possible as a result of the recently completed 400 metre runway extension

The aircraft parked on Stand 42C with Birmingham Airport's new ATC Tower in the background

.... the air bridge on this stand branded in Birmingham and MG colours - now a Chinese owned company

The flight had brought in a group of Chinese tourists who were clearly looking forward to their holiday....

.... and who were greeted on arrival by Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport's CEO, Mr Ren Jun, Vice President
of Caissa Travel, Lord Popat of Harrow, Aviation spokesperson in the House of Lords, the Lord Lieutenant
for the West Midlands, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham and The Mayor of Solihull, as well as representatives
from the airport and the local Chinese community....

.... and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - while the passengers went to collect their baggage

... attention moved back to the aircraft for a photo call of the VIP's plus a Chinese dragon!

.... the arrival of this first flight from China having attracted a lot of media attention

Mr Ren Jun and Paul Kehoe also posed with the two company's mascots - Caissa Bear and BHX's Zoom

.... and yes there was the traditional inaugural flight cake - Panda included!

By now the Chinese passengers who are one various one week tours organised by Cassia Travel Management....

.... were preparing to board their coaches but not before being interviewed by the BBC!

There was a carnival atmosphere in front of the terminal with two Chinese lions performing....

.... and Birmingham based MG - a Chinese owned company - displaying its latest range of cars

It was a glorious Birmingham July morning so before the coaches departed....

.... many of the passengers posed for a group photo first with Paul Kehoe and Mr Ren Jun

.... and then as a group before re boarding the coaches to start their UK holiday

The return flight was being chartered by Birmingham based China specialist agency, United Travel....

.... taking UK residents on a series of two week tours to China - non-stop from Birmingham!

On arrival at the departure gate the passengers - and the China Southern flight crew - were greeted by the lions

.... who give a another spirited dance display while the passengers enjoyed complimentary drinks and snacks

.... it was then time for the passengers to board China Southern flight CZ 3002 to Beijing

.... with Airbus A330-243 B-6056 still parked on Birmingham Airport's Stand 42C

.... unfortunately during loading the aircraft developed a technical issue which delayed its departure

.... but shortly before 1330 it was ready to line up on Birmingham's now extended Runway 33 with the
media waiting for its departure - the first to require the full use of the now 3,003 metres long runway

... by now the sun was much better from the Elmdon side of the airport as it rolled passed

.... Birmingham Airport's new Air Traffic Control Tower rotating

.... shortly after the runway intersection

Next stop China - Hello World! - a big well done to all at Birmingham Airport and their Partners

for organising a memorable inaugural event - there are two more flights on Tuesday 29 July

and Tuesday 5 August 2014 - for more information see here

Tuesday 22 July 2014