I need a new pair of ears then. I could have sworn it was 'star*something*' followed by 2 numbers (which I couldnt remember)

The only callsign I know with "Star" in its callsign is the Danish cargo airline Star Air (Maersk Air) with the callsign "Whitestar".

Was typhoon 38, and it did proper Low approach and G/A - being a bit spotterish in the tower at the time!

*spotter mode - on*

It should've been ZJ805/BD a T.3 of 29(R) Sqn.

29(R) Sqn's callsigns are-
Typhoon 29, 30 Series, 40 Series, 100 & 300 Series
Bluster / Cobra / Fazer / Gunfighter / Ocelet / Relax
Shocker / Triplex / Warload / Rockstar /Ordeal

*spotter mode - off*

:ok: -RP

Was a two seat

@a_p, I wasnt looking that close

Summer aircraft based
 

From what i can gatter this is whats to be based at ema this summer please feel free to correct:

Thomson: x3 737-800, Tues & Wed 787 or 767-300
Thomascook: x2 A321
Jet2: 1 757-200, 1 737-800, 1 A320 (leased from Hamburg Airways) & 1 737-300
Monarch: x2 A321
Ryanair: x7 737-800
Flybe: Dash-8
Bmi Regional: 1 Embraer 145
Eastern Airways: Jetstream 41

Does anyone know if thomascook will still be operating the 757-200 on a W pattern into EMA on a Friday?

Jet2/Mon
 

According to Jethros the A320 isn't being leased now and has been replaced with a leased 737-800 from Travel Service.

Jet2

Through the Monarch website flight seating plans are still based on A320's being based at EMA for summer 2013 and this is how I have seen it in timetables although this could change.

The 2nd 737-800 could be right instead of the A320 from looking at jet2 seating plans and the monarch seating plan does seem to be 2 A320's I was just going by what was posted on the monarch forum earlier and what was said when the base was announced but it could well be 2 A320's

The second (leased) Jet2 737-800 most likely works out cheaper for them over an A320 as there crews are checked on 738's already. The likelyhood is crews may just have to familiarise themselves with the new a/c and differing equipment etc from the norm.

Mon A321's may appear at EMA yet we shall have to wait and see....

It seems a better option for them seeing as they don't operate A320's, shame it's not 2 757's this year though EMA down 2 757's 1 Tom and 1 Jet2, will have to wait and see about the A321's

No Thomson 757!

EMA should be 3x 737-800 and 1x737-300 for Jet2.

No thomson 757 all 3 737-800's, and jet 2 have 4 based aircraft this summer 1 757, 2 737-800, 1 737-300

The ZB flights are being sold as A320's...

Ryanair will have 8 B738 at EMA, 1 will be spare and used for training

Weird I thought it was 2 A321's this summer?

From the monarch forum and what was announced when the base was announced it seemed like A321's but the seating plan on the flights shows to be a A320

Maybe they are planning on seeing how well the flights sell and upgrading to A321's as they go. I guess the x2 A321's mentioned is what Monarch ideally wants by the second half of the season.

EXTRA RYANAIR FLIGHTS FOR AUGUST 2013
 

East Midlands is going to have yet another boost in Ryanair flights it seems with extra flights on sale for August 2013.

Schedules now suggest eight based aircraft will be in service at this time. The flight increases are as follows:

ALICANTE - from 14 to 15 (weekly departures)
BERGERAC - from 2 to 3
CARCASSONNE - from 3 to 4
CORFU - from 1 to 2
DINARD - from 3 to 4
FARO - from 9 to 10
GIRONA - from 2 to 3
IBIZA - from 4 to 5
LA ROCHELLE - from 2 to 3
LANZAROTE - from 2 to 3
LIMOGES - from 3 to 4
MALAGA - from 12 to 13
MURCIA - from 7 to 8
TENERIFE - from 4 to 5

Nothing has been removed/reduced so there will be 14 extra departures a week. Ryanair now have 354 flights (177 arrivals & 177 departures) as I make it at East Midlands Airport per week, IN AUGUST ONLY.

Monarch east midlands fleet
 

Ref on a other forum EMA will be the two ex cy, airways A321 aircraft from the 1/5/13 , the programme does show 2 aircraft until april 2014, and with a bit of luck will be 3/4 aircraft from 1/5/14.Jet2 was qouted in the media that thy will have 5 aircraft this may be May 2014 when a b767 is due to arrive for flights to SFB plus other L/H routes.Stuart

Is this now a fact or just rumour?

jet2 extra aircraft
 

When i spoke to their manager 2 years ago at a travel fair, the plan was to move into L/H from airports with runway able to take the B767, when the close europe airports had been used to their best, SFB was than a area that was on the plan. Stuart

I can confirm that the two Monarch aircraft based at EMA from 01/05/13 will be the two ex Cyprus A321s.
Well that was the plan last week. :ugh:

Jet2 to acquire 767s? Would be nice to see a few more variety of L/H routes from EMA if it ever happens :)

Stuart, which 767 would this be? Can you substantiate this in any way?

Jet 2
 

Ref Leeds thread 'LBIA' B767-300ER, just needs to be confirmed.stuart

Looking back there has been rumours about Jet2 getting 767's and using them on routes to Orlando and Cancun since back in 2007 from Leeds & Newcastle, I suppose Jet2 is now doing well and may well be looking into L/H routes with larger A/C?

Thank you Stuart, Jet2 managers say it is not happening.

Long haul
 

Not for the first time I tried to book a flight from EMA using BE/AF and yet again the price is totally bonkers. This time it's to Toronto and the price for two of us is just over a thousand pounds more than using LH in P class from BHX. That sounds bad but for my last trip to ADL it was 2.5K more expensive!

I can't remember the last time I used EMA, it's only 15 mins away but the prices to long haul destinations make it a non starter, any idea why this should be the case? Do they want to attract business passengers or not? We're not all rich bankers with millions to spare!

Apparently the whole B767 rumour restarted due to a conversation between a EMA based Jet2 pilot and a Thomson pilot who "let it slip" that when the Dreamliner arrives at Thomson, Jet2 will acquire some of the outgoing B767s.

As to how more substantive this source is beyond The Cleaners or The Caterers remains to be seen.

Even more ryanair flights for august 2013
 

One extra flight per week to Chania, Minorca, Palma and Rhodes in August 2013 in addition to the extra ones put on sale last week.

Eight based aircraft in service and now 362 flights (181 arr/181 dep) a week in August. East Midlands will be second largest in the UK after Stansted for Ryanair during August by some margin now.

MAG seem to have the power 3 now, with STN/EMA/MAN taking the top 3 spots.

STN: ? flights per week ? based
EMA: 362 flights per week 8 based
MAN: 336 flights per week 6 based.

obviously a good relationship behind the scenes!

Well RYR do very well out of EMA, always seem to have good load factors and whenever they announce new routes/increase of routes there never seems to be any 'uptake time', they always seem to be popular from the outset.

Pax numbers are on the up and the airport now has more routes and seats than before WW left with more routes to come from a number of operators; not least of which is RYR who continue to support the airport with based aircraft, W sector aircraft and base training.


Its very nice to see the investment in EMA what with the terminal investment (including an increase in both retail and catering from both 'own brand' [Soho, Three Shires, Biza etc] and 'high street' companies [of which I'm hearing some very interesting companies are interested in space at EMA]), new car parks, new routes, expansion on existing routes and companies like TOM supporting the airport with the decision to operate the 787 from EMA or even the F1 movement and international aid flights etc.

MAG clearly believes the airport is worth investment and airline operators seem to agree - Just look how quickly MON and BE jumped into EMA when WW closed down with LS, RYR, BE and TOM continuing this 'take-up' of the lost capacity with their expansions this summer onwards.

Bernie what are the interesting high street companies you've heard being mentioned?

I'd rather not say as various aspects are still being negotiated and as such the identity will subject to corporate non-disclosure.

It's not even been officially announced internally at the airport.

Terminal upgrade
 

Has any work been started on the upgrade both on the exterior and interior? Also I've searched the web and all the information and renderings seem to be the same is there any information on who will be moving into the new shop areas created?

Yup - internally the large areas occupied by SoHo and Three Shires are boarded up most of the way out whilst the workmen are busy completely stripping out everything (including the wiring) and the first floor (Bar, BK and Servisair Lounge) is completely closed off for the duration of the works.

As I have said before there are some company names making their way round the staff but these contracts will be subject to non-disclosure until they are completed.

Jet2 new routes to prague and budapest
 

Jet2 will start 2 new city routes from East Midlands:

PRAGUE - from 7th November 2013
BUDAPEST - from 8th November 2013

Both routes fly twice weekly!

will this be flurry of new routes from other bases ?

Great if they would fly these routes from BFS