Still find it VERY hard to believe a big airline like BMI can’t get some sort of replacement!!

At the moment there are no spare A330s. They are a very popular plane.

OK so they may get a “crappy” 767 that does’nt have their interior designing

That will upset the customers. They booked for a flight of luxury, only to be stuck in a old 767 with no IFE. The number of 767s with full AVOD (as availablt on the BMI 330s) is very small. I am not convinced there are any available at the moment.

they would not be losing revenue on what is said to be a very lucrative route,

From what I hear the route is not that lucrative. You should not mistake loadfactor with profit! The yield on this route is rather low.

as an example (distant one at that) if my van had to go off the road for a long period, i would find a suitable replacement from somewhere rather than just lose all my business it generates for a few months.

Judging from your location I am assuming you are a “white van man”. Do you haul pax or freight? You should realise that freight does not care whether it is moved in a ’06 DAF XF or a ’71 Ford Transit. As long as the freight arrives in one piece, on time and on budget you won’t here the forwarder complain.

Now passengers are a bit more demanding. If they are promised a nice bus (plane/train/ship) with all the trimmings, and get a bus that has nothing, they are pissed of. They may not be able to get (part of) their money back. But they are able, and likely, to take their money elsewhere for their next trip.

There are aircraft easily suitable out there, maybe soon even A330’s since the charter airlines will be winding down a bit for winter.

If anything it will increase the long distance flights for charterers to places like the Carribean.

Visit http://www.schipholspotter.com for a list with spots and directions. If you got any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask them and I shall answer them.

Note that the Aalsmeerderbaan is closed due to a botched up runway resurfacing. Send me a mail/PM around the 29th or 30th and I will let you know the most likely runway usage.

In due course a list with expected visitors can be found at http://www.scramble.nl (don’t ask for expectations, they will be placed sooner or later). Another site for expectations is http://www.aviationphotos.org/. Again, don’t expect the list to pop up untill the 30th at the earliest. Only special visitors are listed a few days in advance… if at all.

Unfortunately you are 1 day late for the last NW DC-10 flight. It is scheduled for the 30th .

Back to work for me now… just 4 hours 4 minutes 23 seconds to go. Quiet day today so time goes very slowly indeed. 🙁

Did you manage to get some replacement umbrellas? 🙂

Not yet. I got myself a rain suit though. This I can wear, while people catching a ride can just get wet. :diablo:

Now that British Aerospace is out of Airbus, and EADS N.V. being 100% owner of Airbus S.A.S., wouldn’t it be an interesting option to liquidate Airbus S.A.S. and directly integrate it into EADS N.V. as “Commercial Aircraft Division” (analogue to “Military Transport Aircraft Division”), with the planes marketed under the brand name of “Airbus”?

Pro – Con?

Btw, I find it strange, that they have a “Military Transport Aircraft Division”, but no “Military Aircraft Division”, and their share in Eurofighter GmbH being part of “Defense & Security”. I know – historical reasons, but the whole structure looks in need of serious restructuring.

The idea is good from a business point of view. Are you going to explain to the French that Airbus will (in name only) become a Dutch company? If anyone is going to be able to pull of that feat, I think there might be a chance of Airbus becoming “commercial aircraft division”.

In the end it is just a name and a tax office.

I have one place in mind but I would be worried about upsetting too many people if I aired it!

Since the UK is the only country that is represented by more then 1 user on this board, I hazard a guess and say it is Wales? :diablo: