Lao Airlines ATR 72 registered RDPL-34137 arrived in Athens

A rare visitor in Athens today! Lao Airlines ATR 72-200 registered RDPL-34137 (c/n 316) arrived from TZX (Trabzon, Turkey) as LAO137. It landed on runway 21R at 15:55L and is expected to depart tomorrow. It is probably being ferried on return to lessor or for maintenance.

ATR 72 / RDPL-34137 / about to land in Athens

Mishap in Athens airport: Planes parked on taxiway "B" were moved and pushed due to strong winds

Last updated: 3/10/2009 19:45

A mishap occurred earlier today in Athens airport taxiway "B", where the Olympic Airlines fleet is parked. Due to the strong winds blowing in the area, two of the planes that were parked on taxiway "B" where blown away from their positions. The planes affected were Boeing 737 registered SX-BKF and ATR 72 registered SX-BIF. The Boeing was turned at least 45 degrees counterclockwise and moved into the grass. The ATR was turned almost 180 degrees counterclockwise but only the front landing gear was moved into the grass. It is very lucky that the planes didn't collide with any others next to them, since they are parked very close to each other. Currently there are 26 planes parked on the south part of taxiway "B". The position of the two planes can be seen on the last picture of this post.
The METARs of the time show winds up to 24 knots:
METAR LGAV 030950Z 20024KT 9999 SCT017 SCT080 BKN170 25/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030920Z 20023KT 9999 FEW017 BKN025 BKN160 25/19 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030850Z 20021KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 BKN160 25/18 Q1010=
METAR LGAV 030820Z 18019KT 9999 SCT018 SCT030 BKN080 25/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030750Z 18017KT 9999 SCT018TCU SCT030 BKN080 24/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030650Z 22010G22KT 190V260 8000 -TSRA FEW017CB BKN025 BKN080 22/18 Q1011 RETSRA TEMPO TSRA=

Update 3/10/2009
Also the Boeing 747SRF of Elite Airlines registered SX-DCB was turned a little and had to be towed back to its normal position on "B".

Thanks to Panagiotis for the following photos.

Boeing 737 / SX-BKF / turned and moved into the grass next to taxiway "B" (photo 3/10/2009)


ATR 72 / SX-BIF / turned into the grass next to taxiway "B" (photo 3/10/2009)


Taxiway "B" of Athens with 26 planes parked on it. SX-BKF is the first plane of the picture and SX-BIF is the second ATR on the picture (6th plane from the start).

Aegean Airlines leased ATR72 schedule

Here is the schedule of the two wet-leased ATR72 of Aegean (operated by Swiftair). This schedule is valid throughout September and till now, the two airplanes appear not to operate from October 1st.

ATH0600 - 0705EFL0730 - 0830ATH A3440-441 13
ATH0730 - 0835EFL0900 - 1000ATH A3440-441 24567
ATH1105 - 1200LXS1225 - 1325ATH A3262-263 1234567
ATH1410 - 1510SMI1540 - 1640ATH A3244-245 1234567
ATH1730 - 1825LXS1855 - 1955ATH A3264-265 1357
ATH2030 - 2130EFL2200 - 2300ATH A3444-445 57

ATH0720 - 0820SMI0850 - 0950ATH A3240-241 1234567
ATH1030 - 1140KVA1210 - 1325ATH A3154-155 1234567
ATH1405 - 1515IOA1545 - 1655ATH A3414-415 1234567
ATH1745 - 1855IOA1925 - 2035ATH A3416-417 357
ATH1750 - 1905KVA1935 - 2045ATH A3156-157 14

Aegean Airlines took delivery of second wet leased ATR 72 registered EC-KVI today

Aegean Airlines took delivery of the second wet leased ATR 72-500 in ATH, as we expected since yesterday (see post). It arrived at 18:30L from MAD as SWT991P and landed on runway 03L. Upon arrival it was parked on stand A38. This, along with EC-KUL that arrived yesterday, will be operated by Swiftair on various routes at Greek islands. The first one, EC-KUL, was towed into the Aegean Hangar and is expected to do some test flights tomorrow morning. It is scheduled to depart at 10:00L as A3 230 to KIT (Kithyra, Greece) and then JSI (Skiathos, Greece) before returning to ATH.


ATR 72 / EC-KVI / about to land on rwy 03L in ATH (photo taken 19/8/2009)


ATR 72 / EC-KVI / turning towards parking stand A38 in ATH (photo taken 19/8/2009)

Aegean Airlines wet leased two ATR 72s registered EC-KUL & EC-KVI from Swiftair

Aegean Airlines will soon take delivery in Athens of two ATR 72-500s registered EC-KVI (c/n 824) and EC-KUL (c/n 809). They are wet leased from Swiftair and will be operated by them on various routes to Greek islands. They were ferried on 8/8/2009 from MAD (Madrid, Spain) to SNN (Shannon, Ireland) in order to be painted to Aegean Airlines colors in Lufthansa Aircraft Painting facility. On August 17th they rolled out of the paintshop and the same day at 21:25Z the first one, EC-KVI, departed from SNN to MAD as SWT991P. The second one, EC-KUL, departed today at 07:35Z for BGY (Bergamo, Italy) as SWT 992P and then will continue to ATH. They have an all economy layout of 68 seats and are expected to begin test flights immediately upon arrival in ATH.

Thanks to Malcolm Nason for the following photos.

ATR 72 / EC-KUL / parked outside Lufthansa hangar in SNN (photo 17/8/2009)


ATR 72 / EC-KVI / parked outside Lufthansa hangar in SNN (photo taken 17/8/2009)

Thanks to Gerry McCready (aerspace.blogspot.com) for the photo.

ATR 72 / EC-KUL / ready for departure from SNN on course to BGY (photo 18/8/2009)