#airbus

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JetBlue A320's at Isla Verde International Airport

[airsllides]

airsLLide No. 22922: C-GPTS, Airbus A330-243, Air Transat, Glasgow-Abbotsinch, September 8, 2003

Glasgow Abbotsinch or nowadays Glasgow International airport is located just some 40 miles/65 kilometres West of Edinburgh-Turnhouse and some 25 miles/40 kilometres North of Prestwick airport. Given this proximity it is inevitable that traffic to Scotlands most densly populated area is divided between the three airports of the region, with Prestwick mostly seeing cargo and low cost traffic, Edinburgh seeing a mix of European mainline and low cost traffic, and Glasgow focussing on regional feeder traffic including many flights to outlying islands off the Scottish coast, outgoing leisure traffic and domestic mainline as well as low cost traffic. All three airports do also have intercontinental flights, freight in the case of Prestwick, and various seasonal as well as some year-round services across the Atlantic and to the Middle East at Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Air Transat's A330, delivered new from the manufacturer just the year before, is seen on a seasonal service from Montréal, competing with Air Canada and Zoom Airlines on the market between Canada and the Scottish highlands, as seasonal tourist demand is rather healthy on either side of the «Big Water».

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TJIG Traffic

[airsllides]

airsLLide No. 2192: D-AIAI, Airbus A300-603, Lufthansa, Frankfurt-Rhein/Main, May 14, 1988

In spring 1988, Lufthansa's second-generation A300-600 was just over one year old and early in her career with the German flag carrier that would extend for almost exactly twenty years more - she'd only be retired by Lufthansa at the begining of June 2008.

Although Lufthansa had acquired the basic -600 model and not the way more common, extended-range 600R version, it used its A300-600 on many medium-range flights, namely to the Middle East or Westafrica. In Lufthansa's opinion, the range of 6'800 kilometres (3'670 nautical miles) was more than sufficient for these destinations, and the gap to the 600R's 7500 kilometres (4050 nautical miles) - made possible by an additional trim-tank in the tailfin - seemingly not justifying a wait for the improved version.

[airsllides]

airsLLide No. 21180: D-AHLA, Airbus A310-304, ASA African Safari Airways, Basel/Mulhouse, March 10, 2002

During the winter schedule period of 2001/02, African Safari Airways replaced its sole McDonnell Douglas DC-10 that proved too big and costly for the leisure airline operating exclusively for a local tour operator. While ASA waited for the delivery of its chosen aircraft, former D-AHLC coming from Hapag-Lloyd stock, it tempararily leased sistership D-AHLA from the same source and flew it in a temporary hybrid scheme, combining its trademark zebra tail with the blue and orange cabin lines of Hapag-Lloyd.

D-AHLC is seen here completing her final flight on behalf of African Safari Airways, with D-AHLA on her delivery flight just being number two in approach right behind her on that specific day.

airsLLide No. 21182: D-AHLC, Airbus A310-304, ASA African Safari Airways, Basel/Mulhouse, March 10, 2002

Trailing her leased sister, D-AHLC arrives at her new homebase sporting the full ASA livery. She'll soon be re-registered and placed in the register of Kenya as 5Y-VIP. As such, she will serve ASA until the airline and tour operator decide to cease operations by March 25, 2008, at the end of the winter schedule of 2007/08.

[airsllides]

airsLLide No. 18807: G-OOAF, Airbus A321-211, Air 2000, Corfu-Ioannis Kapodistrias, June 19, 2000.

DIsplaying the «multimark» colors and the parent's brand of the British tour operator First Choice, G-OOAF completes yet another IT charter flight with sunseekers visiting the Ionian Sea.

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A Condor Airbus A320-271N in the company's "Passion" livery climbing out of Düsseldorf Airport

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KLM @ EHAM