Former Aer Lingus Boeing 737-500 returns to Ireland in new guise

                                                 

Credit @Elevationair 

A former Aer Lingus Boeing 737-500 returned Ireland this summer operating charters to Cork Airport and Dublin Airport in a new guise. The aircraft registered 9H-MAC Boeing 737-548 MSN 24968 to Malta Charter specialist Maleth Aero.

The aircraft was delivered to Aer Lingus as EI-BXG in January 1991 and was re-registered as EI-CDC in June 1991. Aer Lingus restructured it's fleet in 2004 on Airbus A320/321 platform and subsequently retired its Boeing 737-400/500 fleet from service.

EI-CDC was sold in 2005 becoming YL-BBH with Air Baltic.

Between 2005 and 2013 the aircraft was operated by Air Baltic, AeroSvit (UR-AAK) and Ukraine International (UR-GBE).

In 2015 the aircraft underwent a VIP conversion and was registered as G-UMAR to Opel Investments and in June 2017 was registered as 9H-MAC to Maleth Aero.

9H-MAC Cork Airport 8-10 August

9H-MAC Dublin Airport 31 July & 5 August & 10-11 September

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16 September 2018 All Rights Reserved

Ethiopian Airlines delivers second Boeing 737 Max 8 through Dublin Airport

                                               

Credit @Elevationair 

Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of the second of 30 Boeing 737 Max aircraft on order.

The Max 8 registered ET-AVL MSN 62447 departed Seattle on 28 August on delivery flight to Dublin and onto Ethiopian’s home base in Addis Ababa arriving 30 August.

In Ethiopian's configuration, its 737 MAX 8 will seat 160 passengers.

Marty Bentrott, Boeing Sales vice president for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia & Africa said "Ethiopian Airlines continues to fly at the forefront of Africa's commercial aviation industry by operating the most advanced airplanes. We are honored by Ethiopian's continuing confidence in Boeing airplanes and we look forward to growing our five-decade long partnership."

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said "We are glad to include the Boeing 737 MAX 8, the latest in Boeing's single-aisle series, in our young and modern fleet of over 100 aircraft with an average age of less than five years. As a customer-centric airline with a high adaptability to emerging technologies, Ethiopian has been pioneering latest-technology aircraft into Africa throughout its 72-year history. In line with the airline's growth targets under Vision 2025, we will keep on investing in further expansion of our fleet in acquiring the latest aircraft the industry has to offer."

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16 September 2018 All Rights Reserved

Brussels Airlines to operate Geneva to Dublin service on behalf of Swiss International

                                                               

Brussels Airlines Airbus A319 image credit to Travelux 

Lufthansa Group carrier Brussels Airlines is to operate a new weekly service on the Geneva to Dublin route on behalf of sister carrier Swiss International Airlines according to data from Swiss International online booking engine.

On Saturdays effective from 19 January 2019 till 30 March 2019 using Airbus A319 equipment in lieu of Airbus A220-300 to cater for peak season ski demand on the route.

• SWR410 departs Geneva 1145 arriving Dublin 1245 
• SWR411 departs Dublin 1330 arriving Geneva 1635

The Lufthansa Group is the third largest carrier group at Dublin Airport and currently has up to 68 weekly departures from Dublin Airport to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Munich and Zurich.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16 September 2018 All Rights Reserved

Ryanair re-commences Boeing 737-800 deliveries

                                                 

EI-GSD Boeing 737-800 Ryanair 

Irish budget carrier Ryanair has re-commenced it's Boeing 737-800 delivery programe after a summer break with the delivery of EI-GSD Boeing 737-800 construction number 44847 from Boeing Field to Dublin on 1st September.

Following post delivery modifications the aircraft entered revenue service the next day (2 September) operating RYR174/5 to and from Newcastle according to Flightradar24.

The carrier took delivery of a second Boeing 737-800 EI-GSF on Friday 14 September according to Flightradar24 data the aircraft has yet to enter revenue service.

On Thursday 13 September Boeing tweeted an image of 5 Boeing 737-800s currently on the production line for Ryanair.

According to various sources a further three aircraft are due for delivery this month namely EI-GSH, EI-GSI and EI-GSJ are due for delivery this month.  In October EI-GSK and EI-GSL and a new registration sequence will commence with EI-GXG, EI-GXH and EI-GXI.

Image above courtesy of Sean Flynn.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16 September 2018 All Rights Reserved