Tuesday 31 January 2012 - KLM Fokker 70 PH-KZN operates lunchtime Amsterdam service

KLM cityhopper Fokker 70 PH-KZN operated their lunchtime
service to Amsterdam in place of the usual Embraer 190

Monday 30 January 2012 - Meridian Antonov 12 UR-CAJ back again from Graz

Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BK UR-CAJ was an afternoon arrival....
.

.... from Graz with another load of priority freight
.

.... parking up to night stop on the Elmdon apron Photo: Mike Hollick
.

Gulfstream 550 N556TT was an afternoon arrival from Liverpool

Turkish Airlines to fly daily from Birmingham Airport to Istanbul from March 2012

Turkish Airlines (TK) is making a further commitment to
the Midlands by increasing flights between Birmingham
Airport and Istanbul from five flights a week to a daily
service from Sunday 25 March 2012
.
The move will give business travellers better choice and
flexibility to meet in Istanbul, and will provide more
onward connectivity from Birmingham than ever before
.

Over the last year, more and more people have been using
Istanbul Ataturk Airport to connect onwards with Turkish
Airlines' over 190 strong route network, benefiting both
business and leisure travellers
.
Martyn Lloyd, Head of Air Service Development, from
Birmingham Airport, said, "Turkish Airlines began services
from Birmingham in 2008 and has offered a vital service for
Birmingham and the Midlands, whilst increasing passenger
numbers year by year"

.
"However, business travellers need both choice and flexibility
and we have worked in partnership with Turkish Airlines to
secure a daily service from the end of March. We're therefore
delighted with this development to give our business and
leisure community even more choice for long-haul
connectivity from Birmingham"
.

Mustafa Yildirim, General Manager for Turkish Airlines at

the Airport, said, "As the Best Airline in Europe, we're
committed to Birmingham Airport and the decision to
increase our operation demonstrates this. Turkish Airlines
can offer travellers excellent choice, service and punctuality
across Europe, the Indian Sub-continent, the Middle East,
the Far East and Africa, with a choice of 190 destinations
across our network. We look forward to welcoming new
passengers on this growing route and giving people from
the region even more choice. We will continue our growth
by keeping our service and quality standards"
.
Turkish Airlines will operate an Airbus 320 and Boeing
737-800, which are configured for two classes; Business
and Economy. Turkish Airlines operates the youngest
fleet in Europe, amongst scheduled airlines
.
To celebrate the launch of daily services, Turkish Airlines
will be offering the following return fares, including taxes:
Istanbul £164, Dubai £337, Hong Kong £499, Beijing £482,
Delhi £415, Johannesburg £618, Cape Town £534
- for other destinations and to book please see
- http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-uk/
.

Turkish Airlines - schedule from Sunday 25 March 2012
.
1015/1115 TK1967/1968 320/73H from/to Istanbul
- operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
1315/1415 TK1969/1970 320/73H from/to Istanbul
- operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and and Sunday
.

Monday 30 January 2012

Birmingham Airport arrivals area goes Turkish!!

Turkish Airlines (TK) are now using the screening in the arrivals....
.

.... area at Birmingham Airport to promote their service to Istanbul
.

.... which moves to a daily operation at the end of March 2012
.

Monday 30 January 2012

Sunday 29 January 2012 - FAI Learjet D-CAAE is early morning diversion from Stansted

FAI Learjet 55ER D-CAAE was an early morning arrival when
it diverted in from Stansted - it spent the day parked on the
Elmdon apron before departing in the evening

Saturday 28 January 2012 - easyJet Swiss Airbus A320 HB-JYA makes first visit to BHX

easyJet Swiss Airbus A320-214 HB-JYA operated their morning
service to Geneva - the aircraft had previously been registered
G-EZTW with easyJet until it was transferred to the HB- register
and entered service with easyJet Swiss on Friday
.

Austrian Airlines Boeing 737-8Z9 OE-LNT operated their weekly
ski IT flight to Innsbruck - the aircraft is in "Star Alliance" colours

Friday 27 January 2012 - RAF Puma XW223 visits the Elmdon apron

Royal Air Force Puma HC1 XW223 was a morning visitor to the
Elmdon apron when it dropped for fuel.... Photo: Mike Hollick
.

.... later taxiing to departing off Runway 33 Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Air Contractors Lockheed L100-30 Hercules EI-JIV which had arrived
from Saarbrucken on Thursday evening positioned out to East Midlands
.

Lufthansa Airbus A321-231 D-AISV operated their morning
service to Frankfurt in place of the usual Airbus A319

Thursday 26 January 2012 - Antonov 12 UR-DWF is 7th An 12 to visit BHX in 2012!!

Meridian Aviation Antonov An 12BK UR-DWF became the 7th
Antonov 12 to visit BHX in 2012 when it arrived from Graz in
the early hours of the morning.... Photo: Ron Kosys
.

.... it was an afternoon departure back to Graz
.

Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BK UR-CAG was an afternoon
arrival from Graz with another load of freight....
.

.... positioning out to Amsterdam after unloading
.

Air Contractors Lockheed L100-30 Hercules EI-JIV was
an afternoon arrival from Saarbrucken Photo: Mike Hollick
.

RAF C17 ZZ177 was a morning visitor operating a medevac flight....
.

.... departing to Brize Norton off Runway 15 passing Antonov 12
UR-DWF - Birmingham were east meets west! Photos: Mike Hollick
.

Flightline Metro II EC-GXJ which had arrived on Wednesday
spent the day parked up on the Elmdon apron Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Central Counties Air Operations Unit's Eurocopter EC 135P2+

G-HEOI was an afternoon visitor Photo: Ron Kosys

Wednesday 25 January 2012 - Meridian Antonov 12 UR-CAG arrives from Graz

Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BK UR-CAG was an afternoon arrival
from Graz - the 6th Antonov 12 to visit in 2012!.... Photo: Ron Kosys
.

.... after unloading it departed back to Graz Photo: Mike Hollick
.

BMW Gulfstream 550 N550BM was a morning arrival parking up
to night stop on the Elmdon apron Photo: Mike Hollick

Tuesday 24 January 2012 - Meridian Aviation Antonov 12 UR-CGV departs to Oslo

Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BP UR-CGV which had been
parked up since arriving from Graz last Wednesday....
.

.... was a morning departure to Oslo
.

Super King Air F-HEAL was a morning arrival
parking up to night stop on the Elmdon apron

Ryanair to serve Budapest from Birmingham‏

Ryanair will be launching a new twice weekly service to
Budapest from Birmingham on Wednesday 28 March 2012
.
Ryanair’s Maria Macken said: "Ryanair is pleased to announce
a new route from Birmingham to Budapest which will operate
twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays from March 2012.
Passengers in the West Midlands now have a choice of 24 top
Ryanair destinations from Birmingham Airport giving them
even more choice than ever"

.

Martyn Lloyd, Air Services Director commenting on the route
announcement said: "We are absolutely delighted that Ryanair
will be flying to Budapest. This is the first time people from
the Midlands will be able to travel direct from Birmingham to
Budapest which is cited as the most beautiful city in Europe
.

Ryanair schedule to Budapest from Wednesday 28 March 2012

.
Flight FR 5601 departs BHX to Budapest at
0730 on Wednesday and Saturday
.
Flight FR 5602 arrives BHX from Budapest at
1320 on Wednesday and Saturday
.
Schedule subject to change - all flights operated by 73H

.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Monday 23 January 2012 - Learjet 45 M-LRJT visits the Elmdon apron

Learjet 45 M-LRJT was a day stopping visitor to the Elmdon
apron departing back to Milan during the afternoon
.

Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BP UR-CGV was the only An 12 still
parked at BHX after Aero-Charter Airlines Antonov 12BP UR-CJN
had departed to Rovaniemi, Finland, on Monday evening

Tower Watch - Sunday 22 January 2012

The external cladding is now being attached
to the lower part new ATC Tower....
.

.... which now dominates the old tower
on the top of the Elmdon building
.
Sunday 22 January 2012

Sunday 22 January 2012 - easyJet Airbus A319 G-EZGR off to Grenoble

easyJet Airbus A319-111 G-EZGR operated their flight to
Grenoble - it had also operated their Saturday evening
service which was its first visit to BHX
.

Then there were two! - after the departure of UR-CBG on Saturday
afternoon two Antonov 12's remained parked on the Elmdon apron
- Meridian Aviation UR-CGV (left) and Aero-Charter Airlines UR-CJN
.

Netjets Citation XLS CS-DXD which arrived on Saturday
spent the day parked up on the Elmdon apron

Saturday 21 January 2012 - Gulfstream V N253CM visits the Elmdon apron

Gulfstream V N253CM was an afternoon arrival
parking up to night stop on the Elmdon apron
.

Austrian Airlines Boeing 737-8Z9 OE-LNJ operated
their weekly ski IT flight to Innsbruck
.

Aero-Charter Airlines Antonov 12BP UR-CJN (left), AeroVis
Airlines Antonov 12BP UR-CBG (centre) and Meridian Aviation
Antonov 12BP UR-CGV all spent Friday night at BHX....
.

.... with AeroVis Airlines Antonov 12BP UR-CBG
departing to Vatry at lunchtime

Friday 20 January 2012 - Denim Air Fokker 50 PH-KXX departs back to Paris CDG

Denin Air Fokker 50 PH-KXX which had arrived on Thursday
on its first visit to BHX departed back to Paris CDG while....
.

Pan Européenne Air Embraer 135LR F-GYPE departed
back to Toulouse
.

Lufthansa Airbus A319-112 D-AIBF operated their morning
service to Frankfurt - its first visit to BHX
.

While there were no Antonov 12 movements Aero-Charter Airlines
Antonov 12BP UR-CJN (left), AeroVis Airlines Antonov 12BP
UR-CBG and Meridian Aviation Antonov 12BP UR-CGV (back)
spent the day parked on the Elmdon apron Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Hawker 800B G-OGFS was an afternoon visitor while....
.

.... Citation XLS D-CAWU which had arrived on Thursday departed
Photo: Ron Kosys