Tuesday 18 August 2009 - Aer Lingus Airbus A321 EI-CPF operates their new flight from Cork

Aer Lingus Airbus A321-211 EI-CPF operated the first flight of

an additional peak season Tuesday service from Cork that now

operates until the end of September
.

Work continues on the demolition of the old International Pier

Iceland Express to serve Reykjavik!!

Birmingham International Airport is pleased to
welcome a new airline, Iceland Express
.
The low-fare airline will commence a new service between
Birmingham International Airport and Keflavik International
Airport, Reykjavik, offering travellers the first chance to visit
Iceland direct
.
"Launching this new route is an exciting development for
Iceland Express," says Matthias Imsland, Iceland Express
CEO. "We are seeing high consumer demand for travel to
Reykjavik and are confident our schedule will be a success"
.
"We are proud to be able to serve another UK destination
and look forward to working with Birmingham International
Airport. Our new route will make flying to Iceland more
convenient for many people and we cannot wait to begin the
service"
.
The new route is due to kick-off during the peak summer
months in 2010 and will initially run once-a-week, every
Sunday, for around 13 weeks
.
"We are delighted to welcome Iceland Express as a new
partner of the Airport," says Paul Kehoe, Birmingham
International Airport CEO
.
"This is the first time we have had a direct flight to Iceland.
This weekly service will give passengers the chance to visit
the world's most northerly capital and sample the delights of
whale watching, horseback riding or the spectacular Geysir"
.
"Initially this service will be seasonal, however we are confident
this service will prove to be popular so we can work with
Iceland Express to make this a year round service flying on more
days per week in the near future"
.
Iceland Express schedule for Summer 2010
.
Flight AEU 353 arrives BHX 1910 Sunday from Keflavik
Flight AEU 354 departs BHX 2000 Sunday to Keflavik
.
Flights operate from 6 June to 28 August 2010
Aircraft type - Boeing 737-700 operated by Astraeus

.

Tuesday 18 August 2009

July 2009 passenger figures

The new International Pier became operational during the month
Birmingham International Airport handled 969,226 passengers

during July 2009 - a fall of 6.5% on the previous year

.
Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport's Chief Executive Officer,

explains: "During July we saw a 6.5% downturn in traffic,

which is again in-line with the industry as a whole and

proves that the tough economic conditions are continuing

to impact on the travel plans of passengers. However,

despite the general decrease in passenger numbers, as

set against the same month last year, there are a number

of routes performing well."
.
"While conditions remain challenging, the Airport's new

£45 million International Pier is now in operation, providing

a fitting welcome to those visiting the Region for leisure or

business purposes. In addition, the Airport team continues

to discuss new opportunities with a host of various partners

and we are pleased to have recently unveiled our link-up

with ASM, the global aviation route development experts."
.
During July significant growth was achieved on

scheduled flights to destinations such as -
Krakow (+92.9%), Larnaca (+87.8%), Arrecife (+77.8%),
Alicante (+36.5%), Inverness (+34.9%), Reus (+28.8%),
Shannon (+25.7%), Palma (+25.4%), Tenerife (+22.7%),
Prague (+18.8%), Ibiza (+18.1%), Dubai (+17.5%),
Oporto (+17.1%), Mahon (+16.6%), Malaga (+15.8%),
Toulouse (+14.6%), Hanover (+14.3%), Olbia (+13.6%),
Bydgoszcz (+13.4%), Perpignan (+12.9%), Trieste (+10.8%)
and Trapani (+10.3%)
.
Charter traffic which experienced growth included -
Egypt (+44.2%) and Turkey (+24.7%)
.
Scheduled traffic accounted for 71.5% of the total

passenger traffic in July whilst charter passengers

made up the remaining 28.5%

.

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Monday 17 August 2009 - Swiss Airbus A319 HB-IPS diverts in from Manchester

Swiss Airbus A319-112 HB-IPS was one of three aircraft that

diverted to BHX due to landing delays at Manchester after one

of their runways was closed for repairs. The other aircraft

diverted were Emirates 77W A6-EBT and Turkish 73H TC-JGR

Sunday 16 August 2009 - Olympic Dash 8Q-402 G-FLBD departs on delivery to Athens

Olympic Dash 8Q-402 G-FLBD reappeared from the flybe hangar and

taxied to Terminal 2 in preparation for its departure on delivery....

.

.... to Athens to where it departed as the "BE 031P" at 1040
.

G-FLBD is being leased to Olympic Air - a photo of it arriving in

Athens and more details of the other flybe aircraft going to Greece

can be seen at - http://athensairport.blogspot.com/
.

Dash 8Q-400 G-PTHA - the next aircraft due to go to Olympic -

arrived at 1245 from Reykjavik at the end of its delivery flight

from Canada as the "BE 040". This aircraft was originally planned

to be G-FLBF with flybe but it will now painted in Olympic colours

at Norwich and become SX-OBA in due course
.

bmi Airbus A319 G-DBCI positioned in from Aberdeen to
operate the second of a series of peak season IT flights to Reus

Saturday 15 August 2009 - Dash 8 G-FLBD returns from Norwich after painting in Olympic colours

flybe Dash 8Q-400 G-FLBD returned from Norwich after repainting

into Olympic colours in preparation for its lease to that airline

.

.

Swiss Airbus A321 HB-IOD operated their evening service to
Zurich in place of the usual Helvetic Fokker 100
.

Mahan Air Airbus A310-300 EP-MHO operated their flight
to Tehran - its first visit to BHX
.

Air Berlin Airbus A319 D-ABGC operated their flight

to Hannover in place of the usual Airbus A320
.

RAF Tristar C2 ZE704 operated a medevac flight before

positioning to Brize Norton
.

Royal Danish Air Force Challenger C-172 was an early morning

arrival to pick up passengers off the RAF Tristar

Friday 14 August 2009 - RAF VC10 C1K XV107 operates a medevac flight

RAF VC 10 C1K XV107 operated a medevac flight

before positioning to Brize Norton

Thursday 13 August 2009 - Helvetic Fokker 100 HB-JVG operates Swiss flight from Zurich

Helvetic Fokker 100 HB-JVG operated the evening

Swiss flight from Zurich

Wednesday 12 August 2009

Following the closure of the old Pier - the last flight departed off it

on Wednesday 29 July 2009 - work continues on its demolition so

that the new International Pier can be completed

Tuesday 11 August 2009 - Hellenic Imperial Boeing 747 SX-BIE makes second visit to BHX

Hellenic Imperial Airways Boeing 747-230BM SX-TIE operated its

second flight to BHX arriving 22 hours late from Jeddah - where

the aircraft had gone "tech" - and Athens and making another low

approach this time to Runway 15....
.

.... and a firm landing exactly on the piano keys!!
.
. After offloading the passengers SX-TIE posiioned back to Athens

- this time departing off Runway 33

.

Cobham Flight Inspection Super King Air B200 G-FPLB was
an afternoon visitor making a number of low level runs down
Runway 15 checking the ILS
.

PIA Boeing 777-200ER AP-BGJ operated their service from Islamabad

Monday 10 August 2009 - Netjets Hawker 800XP CS-DFX visits the Elmdon apron

NetJets Hawker 800XP CS-DFX was an afternoon

arrival on the Elmdon apron

Sunday 9 August 2009 - bmi Airbus A319 G-DBCH operates IT flight to Reus

bmi Airbus A319 G-DBCH positioned in from Aberdeen to

operate the first of a series of peak season IT flights to Reus
.

Blue Line MD 83 F-GMLU operated the student charter to Malaga
.
Air Berlin Boeing 737-800 D-ABBJ operated their flight to Paderborn

Saturday 8 August 2009 - Onur Air Airbus A320 TC-OBD operates their flight from Bodrum

Onur Air Airbus A320 TC-OBD operated their IT flight from Bodrum

.

Swiss Airbus A319 HB-IPU operated their evening service
from Zurich in place of the usual Helvetic Fokker 100

.

flybe Dash 8Q-400 G-FLBD which is due to go to Olympic Air
went into service operating the morning service to Inverness
.

Eastern Saab 2000 G-CFLV made its first visit to BHX when it

arrived from Florence bringing in Fiorentina for their friendly

match against Aston Villa completing a football hat trick....
.

.... with Blue Line Fokker 100 F-GNLG which had arrived from

Asturias, Spain, with Real Sporting de Gijon for their match
against Birmingham City parked on Stand 82....
.

.... and Scot Airways Dornier 328 G-BZOG parked on the Elmdon

apron which had arrived on Friday with the Newcastle United

football team for their match against West Bromwich Ablion

- all aircraft departed BHX after the respective matches

Friday 7 August 2009 - Scot Dornier 328 G-BZOG arrives with Newcastle United football team

Scot Airways Dornier 328 G-BZOG was an afternoon arrival on

the Elmdon apron with the Newcastle United football team for

their match against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday....
.

.... while Blue Line Fokker 100 F-GNLG arrived Asturias, Spain,

with Real Sporting de Gijon for their friendly football match
against Birmingham City also on Saturday
.

Learjet G-SXTY was an afternoon visitor to the Elmdon apron
.
Netjets Gulfstream 4 N440QS was an evening arrival from
Bangor, Maine USA, nightstopping on the Elmdon apron

Thursday 6 August 2009 - PIA Boeing 777LR AP-BGZ operates their flight from Islambad

PIA Boeing 777-240LR AP-BGZ operated their service from
Islamabad in place of the usual 777-300

Wednesday 5 August 2009 - Lufthansa Canadair CRJ700 D-ACPL operates flight to Munich

Lufthansa Regional Canadair CRJ 700 D-ACPL operated their

afternoon flight to Munich....

.

.... while Airbus A320 D-AIQW operated their service from Frankfurt
.
Cyprus Airbus A320 5B-DBC operated their flight to Larnaca

Monday 3 August 2009 - Cyprus Turkish Boeing 737 TC-MSO operates their flight from Ercan

Cyprus Turkish Boeing 737-800 TC-MSO operated their
service from Ercan via Dalaman

.

Turkish Airbus A321 TC-JRF operated their service from Istanbul
.

Jet2 Boeing 737-300 G-CELP brought Aston Villa back from

Seville after their victory in the football "Peace Cup"

Sunday 2 August 2009 - flybe Dash 8 G-FLBD arrives on delivery from Canada

flybe Dash 8Q-400 G-FLBD arrived from Reykjavik at the end of its

delivery flight from Canada and parked up in front of Hangar 1 - this

aircraft is expected to be leased to Olympic Air in due course

.

London Executive Challenger 300 G-KALS was a

morning visitor to the Elmdon apron

Saturday 1 August 2009 - Swiss Airbus A319 HB-IPS operates morning service from Zurich

Swiss Airbus A319 HB-IPS operated their morning service

from Zurich in place of the usual Helvetic Fokker 100

.

Thomas Cook Airbus A321 G-TCDA operated their IT flight

to Mahon - its first visit to BHX - on a very wet afternoon!