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Sunday 29 June 2014 - TUIfly "Haribo Goldbären" Boeing 737-8K5 D-ATUD flying with Scimitar winglets

TUIfly Boeing 737-8K5 D-ATUD which wears the HaribAIR "Haribo Goldbären" logo jet colour scheme
operated their morning service from Palma - Haribo is a German confectionery manufacturer....

.... and "Goldbären/Gold Bears" is the brand name of one of their sweets - this was also the first
visit to BHX of an aircraft fitted with the new Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar winglets

.... TUIfly operate this weekly flight on behalf of Thomson Holidays and it was soon on its way back to Palma

.... giving another opportunity to see the new Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar winglets

.... as the aircraft passed on Taxiway Sierra

.... before lining up and taking off on Runway 33

KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190-100LR PH-EXD which is in their new style colour
scheme operated their morning flight to Amsterdam

Turkish Airlines Airbus A319-132 TC-JLT operated their morning flight to Istanbul

Hi Fly Airbus A310-304 CS-TEX positioned in to operate their weekly flight to Paderborn

Turkmenistan Boeing 737-82K EZ-A005 operated their afternoon service to Ashgabat
making full use of the extended runway!

Twinjet Airbus A319CJ G-NMAK was an evening arrival when it positioned in from Cairo for further parking

Air Hamburg Citation XLS D-CFLY made a brief afternoon visit to the Elmdon apron

The day ended with flybe Embraer 175 G-FBJI operating the inaugural "Twilight" flight to Keflavik Airport,
Reykjavik Iceland, while Embraer 175 G-FBJD (behind) operated the first flight to Ibiza - for a report see here

Birmingham Airport Fire Service salutes Captain Bob Horton as he arrives on his final flight for flybe‏

The Airport Fire Service marked the arrival of the final flight piloted by Captain Bob Horton
with a traditional water canon salute prior to his retirement from flybe....

.... as flybe Embraer 175 G-FBJH operating flight BE 1847 to Birmingham from Florence - but
routing via Pisa - landed on Runway 15 the evening of Thursday 26 June 2014

....the Birmingham Airport Fire Service where in place and ready aside Taxiway Charlie

Captain Bob Horton, a former Naval helicopter pilot, was retiring from flybe and his position
as General Manager Jets after being part of the business for over 15 years....

.... during that time, amidst a variety of individual projects, he successfully managed the
introduction of the Embraer E-Jet into flybe service and oversaw many individual projects

.... including the volcanic ash incident, where much of European airspace was closed in 2010.
Bob took up the challenge of formulating the safety case enabling the airline to continue....

.... operations should any similar events occur - one of only 4 UK-based airlines to have
an operational safety risk assessment for volcanic ash operations accepted by the CAA

After a good soaking from Airport Fire Service flybe Embraer 175 G-FBJH taxied to Stand 4
- best wishes for the future to Captain Bob Horton from all at Birmingham Airport

Thursday 26 June 2014

Thomson will commence Boeing 787 "dreamliner" flights from Birmingham on Friday 18 July 2014

Thomson Airways will be commencing Boeing 787 "dreamliner" flights from  Birmingham Airport
on Friday 18 July 2014 when a "dreamliner" replaces the existing Boeing 767 to operate weekly
services to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Cancun, Mexico, and Orlando Sanford in Florida, USA
 
The Boeing 787 "dreamliner" is a "next generation" airliner that Thomson Airways will operate in
a 291 seat two class - Economy Club and Premium Club - configuration with a range of 8,000 miles


The initial weekly Thomson Airways Boeing 787 "dreamliner" schedule
from Birmingham Airport is set out below -

FRIDAY 18 JULY 2014

 N/S /1115 TOM796 788 to Montego Bay
- inaugural Thomson Boeing 787 dreamliner flight from BHX

SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014

0735/1030 TOM797/568 788 from Montego Bay/to Cancun
- planned aircraft allocation - Boeing 787 dreamliner - Thomson

SUNDAY 20 JULY 2014

0735/1030 TOM569/630 788 from Cancun/to Orlando Sanford
- planned aircraft allocation - Boeing 787 dreamliner - Thomson

MONDAY 21 JULY 2014
  
0600/0740 TOM631/631F 788 from Orlando Sanford/to Newcastle
- planned aircraft allocation - Boeing 787 dreamliner - Thomson

Details the first arrival of a Thomson Boeing 787 "dreamliner" into Birmingham
and the future weekly schedules will appear on the "What's due...." summaries 





Monday 30 June 2014

Monday 30 June 2014 - RAF Airbus A330 Voyager KC3 ZZ337 arrives for attention by Monarch

RAF Airbus A330 Voyager KC3 ZZ337 was a morning arrival from RAF Brize Norton
for attention by Monarch Aircraft Engineering - it taxied direct to the hangar
More photos later

"All Bar One" arrives at Birmingham Airport‏

All Bar One, famous for its stylish food menu and great tasting cocktails, is the latest
brand to arrive at Birmingham Airport, as two new bars open their doors to passengers

The first bar, located in the South departure lounge, launched back in April 2014 and
has been quickly followed by an additional unit on the upper level of the North landside
area of the terminal, which opened for business last month. The two locations mean that
both passengers and visitors to the Airport can meet, relax and unwind on their travels

There are close to 50 All Bar One bars nationally, all offering a busy, cosmopolitan city
vibe and serving continental beers, champagne, wine and cocktails. The stylish bars will
serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a wide range of meals for all tastes, including
the best in light bites, tapas, sharing plates, sandwiches and delicious mains

Susan Chappell, All Bar One Brand Operations Director, comments: "We are delighted
to be launching our second All Bar One within one of the country’s most vibrant and
expanding airports. It follows on from the recent success of London Euston station,
representing another step forward for the brand into the travel sector"

Richard Gill, Birmingham Airport’s Head of Commercial, added: "The arrival of All Bar
One to Birmingham Airport is great news for our passengers, who can now enjoy their
delicious menus and extensive bar choice before they fly. We now boast two All Bar
One units, one located in the South departure lounge and another located in the North
landside area of the terminal. The two locations mean that passengers and visitors to
the Airport can meet, relax and unwind, all within a lively and chic environment

Both All Bars One's are open seven days a week, between 04:30 and 22:00
 
Tuesday 2 July 2014

flybe operate the inaugural "Twilight" flights from Birmingham Airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, and Ibiza

flybe Embraer 175 G-FBJD (left) operated the inaugural flight to Ibiza while Embraer 175
G-FBJI (right) operated the first flight to Keflavik Airport, Reykjavik Iceland
flybe, Europe’s largest independent regional airline, has celebrated the start of its new summer
"Twilight" flights from Birmingham Airport to Keflavik Airport, Reykjavik Iceland, and Ibiza which
commenced on Sunday 29 June 2014 and will operate through to 7 September, 2014 - flights to
Reykjavik will restart at the end of October 2014 operating to a daylight schedule for the winter

The inaugural flight to Reykjavik was especially important as it marked the first scheduled service
to the Icelandic airport from Birmingham and the flight was welcomed at Keflavik by a traditional
water arch. Amongst the passengers was a group of high profile UK journalists accompanied by
flybe’s Routes Director, Fred Kochak who, on arrival, together with the crew and fellow travellers,
was honoured to be greeted by the UK Ambassador to Iceland, His Excellency Mr Stuart Gill
 
Mr Gill, said: "I am delighted to be here to welcome the inaugural flybe flight from Birmingham
to Reykjavik. British tourists are coming to Iceland in increasing numbers – more now than from
any other nation – to enjoy Iceland’s spectacular sights all year round. It’s one more example of
the ever closer links between our two countries and I congratulate flybe on becoming the newest
airline to fly here"

Mr Kochak commented: "flybe is truly proud to be the first to offer scheduled flights between
these two great cities, linking Birmingham and Reykjavik with regular flights for the first time.
The enthusiastic welcome we have received has been overwhelming and we are pleased with
the way in which both of our new "Twilight" routes have been received by those wanting to
enjoy the very best of the wide variety of experiences that Iceland and Spain have to offer.
We look forward to welcoming all our flybe "Twilight" customers on board this summer"


flybe flight schedule from Birmingham to Ibiza and Reykjavik 
from Sunday 29 June to Sunday 7 September 2014  

Birmingham to Ibiza (IBZ)  Dep BHX 2140/Arr IBZ 0115+1  
Ibiza to Birmingham Dep IBZ 0145/Arr BHX 0325
Birmingham to Reykjavik (KEF)  Dep BHX 2130/Arr KEF 2320    
Reykjavik to Birmingham Dep KEF 2355/Arr BHX 0340+1

Flights are operated by a 88 seat Embraer 175 on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
Monday 30 June 2014

Sunday 22 June 2014 - Swiss Airbus A320-214 HB-IJE operates their morning service to Zurich

Swiss Airbus A320-214 HB-IJE operated their morning service in place of the usual Helvetic Fokker 100
 
Danu Oro Transportas/DOT ATR 72-201 LY-MCA operated the mid-morning Aer Lingus flight from Dublin....

.... the aircraft is currently on lease to Aer Arann/Stobart Air operating on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional

TUIfly Boeing 737-8K5 D-ATUJ operated their weekly IT/inclusive tour flight to Palma

Lufthansa Boeing 737-330 D-ABEI operated their morning service to Frankfurt

Netjets Gulfstream IV N413QS made an afternoon visit to the Elmdon apron while....

Netjets Hawker 850XPi CS-DRS arrived to park up and night stop

Monday 23 June 2014 - RAF Airbus A330 Voyager KC3 ZZ332 was an afternoon visitor to the Elmdon apron

RAF Airbus A330 Voyager KC3 ZZ332 was an afternoon arrival from Keflavik, Iceland....

.... operating a medevac flight and parking on the Elmdon apron

.... after unloading it continued on RAF Brize Norton

.... climbing quickly off BHX's now extended runway!

flybe Dash 8Q-402 G-JEDV positioned in from Norwich after becoming
their third aircraft to be repainted as a "#purpleplane"

Emirates Boeing 777-31HER A6-ENK operated their lunchtime flight to Dubai - its first visit to BHX

Blue1 Boeing 717-2K9 OH-BLO operated the SAS service to Stockholm

Lufthansa Airbus A319-114 D-AILU - "Lu" - operated their morning service to Frankfurt - the aircraft
wears additional markings as part of Lufthansa's "jetfriends" promotion for younger travellers

Zorex Metro II EC-JYC was an evening arrival on the Elmdon apron

Monarch Aircraft Engineering to fit out the new TCS Expeditions Boeing 757 at Birmingham Airport

Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), the award-winning independent aircraft maintenance
provider, has secured a contract with TAG Aviation to provide full maintenance support services
for its new Boeing 757-200ER aircraft that Farnborough based TAG will be operating on
"Around the World" flights on behalf of specialist tour operator TCS Expeditions 

In addition before entering service, MAEL will fit out the aircraft’s business class cabin at its 
new state of the art maintenance facility at Birmingham Airport. This will include the installation
of new seats, galley, overhead storage and an on board wi-fi system

Ian Bartholomew, Commercial Director of MAEL, said:  "Our versatility and broad range of
maintenance services, both here in the UK and at line maintenance locations across the globe,
make us a perfect fit for TAG Aviation’s needs"

Graham Williamson, President Aircraft Management and Charter Services at TAG Aviation
Europe, said: "Ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and service are key to our operations
for TCS Expeditions and their clients, and so Monarch Aircraft Engineering’s proven track
record made them the obvious choice of maintenance partner"

Monarch Aircraft Engineering was named "MRO of the year in 2013" by the industry at the
Aviation 100 Awards and is one of the leading MROs in the EMEA region
 
Friday 27 June 2014