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June at Brisbane Airport

June will be a great month for additional movements. We have one new airline, and three existing airlines increasing flights. Philippine Airlines will re-commence flights to Brisbane from June 2, with three flights a week from Manila via Darwin with Airbus A320s. China Southern will increase flights to Brisbane from June 19, with flights from Guangzhou increasing from four flights a week up to five flights a week.

 

Malaysian Airlines will increase flights to Brisbane from five flights a week up to daily, effective June 20. Qantas will increase flights from Brisbane to Hong Kong from five flights a week up to daily, effective June 24.

 

Later on in the year we will have Garuda Indonesia commencing daily flights from Denpasar to Brisbane (August 1) and China Southern increasing flights from five flights a week to daily (October 27).

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BNE Movements Today (20/5/13)

Today saw quite a few noteworthy movements.

Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200 VH-XFG made her first visit to Brisbane this morning. XFG operated flight VA473/464 from PER-BNE-PER. All six Virgin Australia A330s have now visited Brisbane.

Fiji Airways Airbus A330-200 DQ-FJT made her first daytime visit to Brisbane today. Flight FJ923 from Nadi, due to operate the previous night, was delayed over 11 hours due to an issue with the aircraft. This meant the aircraft would arrive in daylight. The flight arrived at 1030 and departed at 1215.

China Southern Airbus A330-200 B-6528 "Skyteam" livery was in BNE today operating CZ381/382 from CAN-BNE-CAN. This aircraft has previously visited BNE.

Icelandair Boeing 757-200 TF-FIW made her first visit to BNE today operating for Air Niugini. The airline is using this aircraft to cover for the maintenance of their Boeing 767s. TF-FIW operated PX25 from Port Moresby, arriving at around 1630. Local plane spotter Joshua Matica was at Brisbane Airport to capture its arrival. He took this fantastic photo of the 757 on finals for RWY01.

Flashback: Air Niugini Brisbane Operations

Air Niugini have been good to Brisbane over the years with a good variety of aircraft. Since I starting spotting in about 2003 they have operated Boeing 767-300s mostly, they have also used their Fokker 100s to Brisbane. In June 2002, the airline received their first Boeing 767-300ER ZK-NCE (ex Air New Zealand). The aircraft was re-registered to P2-ANG in August 2003, in November 2007 P2-ANG left Air Niugini.

 

In May 2008, Air Niugini received a Boeing 767-300ER from Icelandair. The aircraft was registered P2-ANA. In July 2010, they added a second Boeing 767-300ER P2-PXV and a third in April 2011 P2-PXW. These three 767s are still with Air Niugini. These three 767s operate the majority of the eleven flights a week into Brisbane.

 

 

The airline also operates a few Fokker 100s which have flown to Brisbane in the past. We don't see them too often now. Air Niugini have recently leased two Boeing 737s. Boeing 737-700 P2-PXD commenced flying for Air Niugini in June 2012 and Boeing 737-800 P2-PXC in December 2012. These two Boeing 737s operate a couple of flights a week to Brisbane.

 

To cover maintenance for their fleet they have previously leased a number of aircraft from other airlines. They have previously leased four Boeing 757-200s from Icelandair (TF-FIC, TF-FII, TF-FIS and TF-FIY). Air Niugini used TF-FIC from March 2012 to May 2012, TF-FII from December 2007 to December 2008, TF-FIS from April 2008 to May 2008 and TF-FIY (which was re-registered to P2-ANB) from December 2008 to April 2011. Air Niugini also used White Airways Airbus A310 CS-TDI from December 2007 to May 2008 and Viva Macau Boeing 767-300ER B-MAW in 2007.

 

 

 

And now here we are in May 2013 and Air Niugini have leased yet another Boeing 757-200 from Icelandair (TF-FIW). This aircraft will be with Air Niugini for a few months to cover for the airlines Boeing 767s whilst they are in maintenance. P2-PXW will be first, she is due to depart Port Moresby to Guangzhou tonight and I assume P2-ANA and P2-PXV will receive maintenance afterwards. TF-FIW will fly to BNE three times a week.

 

Mondays - PX25 POM-BNE

Tuesdays - PX26 BNE-POM
Thursdays - PX3/4 POM-BNE-POM
Saturdays - PX23 POM-BNE
Sundays - PX24 BNE-POM

New Virgin Australia and Qantas Boeing 737-800s

Virgin Australia have received another new Boeing 737-800. VH-YFN arrived in Brisbane on delivery today at 1532. YFN took the usual delivery route of BFI-LIH-NAN-BNE.

Qantas received yet another new Boeing 737-800. VH-XZF arrived in Melbourne on delivery on May 12. She entered service on May 16 and made her first visit to Brisbane on May 17 arriving from Sydney as QF556. She overnighted and departed the following morning back to Sydney as QF501.

Virgin have entered another five Boeing 737-800s onto the Australian register. They are VH-YFP, YFQ, YFR, YIU and YIV. Qantas also has another Boeing 737-800 that has been registered and that is VH-XZG. These six aircraft can be expected to arrive in Australia over the coming months.

Emirates to upgrade daily Dubai - Brisbane - Auckland service to Airbus A380s

Emirates has announced that they will introduce Airbus A380s on their daily EK434/435 service from Dubai - Brisbane - Auckland and return. From October 2 the superjumbo will take over from the Boeing 777-300ER currently used on the route. The second daily Emirates service (EK432/433 Dubai - Singapore - Brisbane and return) will continue to be operated by Boeing 777-300ERs. This change also means that Auckland will see Airbus A380s on all three daily flights. Finally Brisbane will see the Airbus A380!

Virgin Australia commence Airbus A330-200 services out of Brisbane

Today, Virgin Australia commenced using Airbus A330-200s on the Brisbane to Perth route. The larger widebody A330s will operate VA464/469 daily except Saturdays and Sundays and VA474/473 daily except Sundays.

 

Fog in Sydney causes diversions to BNE and OOL

Due to heavy fog in Sydney this morning, many flights had to divert to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne.

The following aircraft diverted to Brisbane:

• Air Vanuatu Boeing 737-800 YJ-AV1 - NF10 VLI-SYD
• Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-HLP - CX161 HKG-SYD
• Emirates Boeing 777-300ER A6-ECV - EK418 DXB-BKK-SYD
• Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPC - QF130 PVG-SYD
• Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEH - QF8 BNE-SYD
• Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 ZK-PBJ - VA90 APW-SYD
• Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-VFI - JQ953 CNS-SYD
• Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-YFK - VA916 BNE-SYD

and lastly, the best diversion by far

• DHL/Polar Air Cargo Boeing 767-300F N644GT - PAC4011 NRT-SYD

The following aircraft diverted to the Gold Coast:

• Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXH - QF503 BNE-SYD
• Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 VH-YVD - VA504 OOL-SYD

Virgin Blue/Australia Boeing 737-700 VH-VBY

Here are some of my photos of VH-VBY from over the years. VBY is still patked at BNE awaiting her departure from Australia.

 

VH-VBY sitting at BNE a week after being delivered

 

Taxiing out to RWY19

 

Taxiing out to RWY19

 

Taking off on RWY19

 

Taxiing to the terminal after landing on RWY01

 

Parked at the terminal - now in Virgin Australia livery

 

Taxiing out to RWY16R at Sydney Airport with a red nose cone

 

Taxiing at Brisbane

 

Parked at BNE after being retired from the VA fleet

China Southern increase flights to Brisbane to daily!

China Southern are set to increase flights from Guangzhou to Brisbane from 5 flights a week up to daily. Flights will increase from October 27 and will continue to be operated by Airbus A330-200s. China Southern made an announcement in January that they would add a 5th weekly flight to Brisbane from June 19.

Singapore Cargo Boeing 747-400F due into BNE tomorrow (9/5)

Tomorrow we will have a Singapore Cargo Boeing 747-400F pass through. SQ7289 is due in from Auckland at 1125 and due out at 1325 to Singapore. 9V-SFD should be the aircraft operating the flight.



Brisbane Airport Photos - May 7

Yesterday I went out to the loop to do some spotting, also went into the terminal and up to the multi-storey carpark for a little while. The main reason was to see VH-VBY departing Australia after being retired from the Virgin Australia, however she never ended up departing. Special movements whilst I was there include: Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200 VH-XFB, which came up to Brisbane for ground handling training before Virgin commence using the Airbus A330 on the Perth to Brisbane route on May 15. Private Embraer EMB-135 Legacy VH-VLT departed for Gladstone, new Qantas Boeing 737-800s VH-XZD and VH-XZE were in Brisbane, new Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-LBA visited and Skytraders Airbus A319 VH-VCJ also visited. Anyway here are a few photos from the day.

 

Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEJ arrives from Los Angeles.

 

Emirates Boeing 777-300ER A6-ECL departs for Auckland.

 

China Southern Airbus A330-200 arrives from Guangzhou.

 

Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 ZK-PBL arrives from Christchurch.

 

Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200 VH-XFB arrives from Melbourne. She will be used for ground handling training in the lead up to Airbus A330-200s on the Perth to Brisbane route.

 

Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXG "Bring it on" livery bound for Canberra.

 

Korean Air Airbus A330-300 HL7587 bound for Seoul.

 

Qantas Boeing 767-300ER VH-OGJ bound for Perth as QF589. The aircraft flew for about 45 minutes and then had to return to Brisbane due to a technical issue. Passengers switched to VH-OGQ which operated the flight about 3 hours behind schedule. I saw her at the domestic terminal later, engineers were looking around the landing gear. The aircraft then operated a later flight to Perth (QF651) which was also 3 hours late.

 

Private Embraer EMB-135 Legacy bound for Gladstone.

 

Etihad Airways Airbus A330-200 A6-EYD arrives from Abu Dhabi via Singapore.

 

New Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZD bound for Townsville.

 

New Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-XZE bound for Melbourne.

 

Air Niugini Boeing 767-300ER P2-PXV bound for Port Moresby.

 

Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 VH-VOX arrives from Sydney.

 

Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 B-LBA arrives from Hong Kong via Cairns.

 

Air New Zealand Airbus A320 ZK-OJE arrives from Christchurch.

 

Alliance Fokker 70 VH-JFE bound for The Granites.

 

China Southern Airbus A330-200 departs for Guangzhou.

 

China Airlines Airbus A330-300 B-18358 arrives from Taipei.

 

Toll Priority Boeing 737-400F ZK-TLF arrives from Honiara.

 

 

Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEJ bound for Singapore.

 

Virgin Australia Airbus A330-200 VH-XFB with some ground training in process.

 

Virgin Australia Boeing 737-700 VH-VBY awaiting her departure from Australia.

 

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700 VH-VBV being prepare for a flight to Townsville.

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Skytraders Airbus A319 VH-VCJ arrives from Darwin.

 

China Airlines Airbus A330-300 B-18358 departs for Auckland.

 

Virgin Blue Boeing 737-700VH-VBV bound for Townsville.

 

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER ZK-OKH bound for Auckland.

 

Qantas Boeing 737-800 VH-VXG "Bring it on" livery arrives from Canberra.

 

Qantaslink Boeing 717 VH-NXR bound for Gladstone.

 

Adagold Airbus A340-300 CS-TQM bound for Sydney.

 

Air Niugini Boeing 767-300ER P2-PXW arrives from Port Moresby.