Re: the SZG operating into MAN yesterday. G-STRJ (MAN based 733) went tech on 30th at EMA while doing base training. To minimise delays, the LBA based 73G (G-STRH) positioned to MAN to operate the MAN-SZG flight, and then back into LBA (bussing pax to MAN) so it would be ready to operated the LBA-RHO a few hours behind schedule

During April and May (once the main ski season has died down, and before the main summer season starts) a large number of the AEU fleet go in for their normal annual C check maintenance. G-STRA has overrun a couple of days, which is moving the maintanence back a bit. We’ve subbed a couple of flights on our own programme and flybe’s (look out for the UKJet Md-83 at BHX, NWI and LBA over the next couple of weeks). Subcharters normally operate on the original airline’s code. Hope that makes sense.

This winter AEU have operated three flights a week to BJL.

MAN-BJL-MAN for MyTravel
MAN-BRS-BJL-BRS-MAN for Gambia Experience
EMA-BRS-BJL-BRS-EMA for Gambia Experience

All flights are operated by B737-700s

The Gambia is mainly a winter sun destination. However, we will be operating scheduled flights from Gatwick to Banjul this summer using our 2 class 757s

AEU bases this summer;

LGW – 4x 757
MAN – 1x 737-700, 1x 737-300 (G-STRJ)
LBA – 1x 737-700
EXT – 1x 737-300 (Flybe operation)
BHX – 2x 737-300 (Flybe operation)

When G-STRB returned from it’s winter operations for Air Asia, the cabin was absolutely wrecked. The aircraft was quickly repainted, but flybe asked for a large amount of interior maintenance to be carried out before they’d accept it. This has been ongoing over the last few weeks during night stops etc. and has been operating many of AEU’s own charter flights. AEU aircraft have been operating from BHX on flybe services. I’m not sure, but I think RB enters flybe service in the next couple of weeks.

Our 737-300s have the uprated 22K thrust engines so only on the hottest days do they have problems on the return from TFS. However, the flights are timed later in the day to avoid this. We have been operating TFS on 733s since we started and I don’t think we’ve had a tech stop yet. Once or twice we have had to leave a few bags behind though. We’re operating the 737-300 regularly this summer from LGW to DBB (El Alamein on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast).

Leeds operations should be back to normal soon with AEU aircraft, although not the 73G’s that have been mostly operating there so far.