Or as heard today on Radio 4……”Ryanair looking to buy Stansted” God ‘elp us!

I find it curious that the staunchest supporters of the ‘free market’ are so often the first to complain when market forces don’t work in their favour.

Mentioning no names, naturally…… 😎

I don’t find it curious at all. Most Free Market “Stalinists” react in this way whenever they see others of the same ilk doing likewise, its a fact of life. Here is a situation where Ryanair is not in control of these bookings or those making them and more importantly for them, is not able to subsidise the unrealistic fares being charged unless coralling the ‘punters’ through their own website to purchase the additional things to make the operation pay. The passengers must vote with their feet, there are many other cheaper and better airlines out there….use ’em.

Vandals. I’ve long had a soft spot for the Caravelle. It was the first aircraft I ever flew in. Luton to Kastrup with Sterling Airways. They painted their aircraft a sensible white back then.

As a Traffic Officer at Stansted in the 80s I used to ramp the Sterling Caravelle 10Bs and 12s, the ultimate stretched Caravelle, a beautiful aircraft in a lovely colour scheme, especially with the polished lower fuselage and wings. Also looked after Transwede Caravelles until their MD80s arrived. Flew on JAT Caravelles, Finnair 10Bs and also Transeuropa 11Rs which had main deck freight doors. Flew the Oslo-Gardemoen to Stansted and Stockholm Arlanda to Stansted a few times courtesy of Sterling. A lovely aircraft, better to look at and fly in than the very capable but souless airliners of today.

Great shots. Although I am involved with “ordinary airliners” day to day I do like the Global Express, Falcon and Gulfstream types. I was recently given a 1/48 scale Global Express model, what a beautiful design! Thanx for sharing those images.

Weren´t Tu-154-s delivered last year? Like Boeing 717-s?

Quite right, I believe that three or four new 154Ms were delivered to Govt agencies within Russia. Funny, but when I first got into aviation in 1979 no one had a good word to say about Soviet types…..how times change:D

Beautifully put Andy, as usual on this topic you are spot on. These carriers have never reflected the true costs of what they do, supported as they are by one subsidy or another, usually a handling agent or an airport driven into the ground financially to get the business with the usual result of decimated pay and conditions for the many staff involved or handouts from local councils or trade bodies. These carriers have been very fortunate to have been spawned in an exceptionally long era of cheap fuel which has been at the centre of this flawed business model for a long time. As a senior manager at the then new “Go” airline once told me, and I quote, “If King Faud gets out of bed the wrong side tomorrow then we are all fu**ed” Its going to be very interesting, especially to those of us in the industry to see how these so called “low cost” carriers cope facing the costs of the real world in which they operate.

Great shots. Love that DC10!

Sorry Neil, I like the Trident very much but the Tu154 is IMO better looking and more successful;)