A320 Family & Containerized Loading
The A319, A320, and A321 are among the very few narrow‑body aircraft certified for containerized lower‑deck operations.
They accept LD3‑45 / AKH containers, which are shorter and narrower than the standard LD3 units used on wide‑body aircraft.

According to ANA Cargo’s A320/321 specifications, the Airbus A320 can load:
Forward hold — 3 containers
Aft hold — 4 containers
Total capacity: 7 containers per A320.

This capability is why airlines such as Discover Airlines (Lufthansa Group) can operate full containerized baggage loading on their A320s — even at smaller airports like Skiathos.

Why Most Airlines Don’t Use Containers on A320s
Even though the aircraft supports ULDs, most carriers still choose bulk loading because:

Specialized equipment is required
Many small airports (including Skiathos) are not optimized for container operations
Bulk loading is cheaper and simpler for short‑haul flights

This makes Discover Airlines’ operation at Skiathos truly unique for Summer 2025, as they are the only airline using containerized loading on the island.

#A320 #A320neo #AirbusA320 #ULD #LD345 #AKH #ContainerLoading #Aviation #AviationGeek #AircraftOperations #GroundHandling #DiscoverAirlines #LufthansaGroup #Skiathos #SkiathosAirport #JSI #Summer2025 #AviationLovers #PlaneSpotting #AirportOperations

Stay tuned on this post for updates (last update 20SEP 17:28)

Full video here: https://youtu.be/sivyrqo-8D0?si=5nkxtee9tlSGqWjq

A unique visitor in our airport
Embraer E195-E2 Profit Hunter Livery – the Tech Eagle registration PR-ZIQ
ATH 14:00L – JSI
JSI 21:00L – ATH

Videos on https://www.youtube.com/@skiathoslandings

Update 13SEP2024-20:45 – The aircraft expected to land in Athens at 18:00L from Gran Canaria

Today, Friday 22 July 2022 morning, after a recent incident with jetblast, Fraport Greece replaces the old signs with new more efficient and more clearly warning signs.
The most important think is written on the middle warning sign:

“ENJOY YOUR HOBBY WITHOUT RISKING YOUR LIFE”

Since standing behind jetblast is not a hobby, the meaning is for SPOTTING! SO here in Greece, in SKIATHOS, we have the FIRST EVER official SPOTTING LOCATION in the country.

The new signs placed above the old, on one side (west side) of the runway only, and not on the east side, where the assigned backtrack turn is taking place.

Below you can find our first LIVE video on skiathoslandings YouTube channel.

The first flight of TUI Air landed in Skiathos on Monday May 2, 2022.

It was flight TOM-4142 from London-Gatwick operated by Boeing 737-800 (G-TAWK).

The crew give a warm salute, by placing a Greek flag, at the captain’s’ side window, after the aircraft came into complete stop.

Just for history, the previous similar flight at Skiathos, TOM-4142, was on 20 September 2021 and operated by Boeing 757-200 G-OOBN.

WELCOME TUI Air at Skiathos!

TUI Air Boeing 737-800 G-TAWK at Skiathos apron during 1st TUI flight for summer 2022

Today, Saturday April 23, 2022 the first charter flight arrived at Skiathos airport,

It was Transavia (France), flight TO-3670 from Paris-Orly, with Boeing 737-800 (F-HTVP). Also it was the first flight from France in the island after more than 20 years! The flight arrived at 10:24 and departed at 11:24.

That route was supposed to start in 2021, but due to COVID pandemic we finally have the first landing this year.

The date of the arrival of the first flight this year is also a milestone in the history of the airport. It was the earliest arrival of aircraft for years. Soon we will post more details about that fact.

The first flight was streamed live on skiathoslandings youtube channel.
The live is available below.

TUI Air brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration G-TUMH was named “Skiathos” during spring of 2019. Unfortunately the plane was waiting at Boeing Field airport (KBFI/BFI) to be delivered to TUI Air, since the aircraft type was grounded after the Ethiopian crash.

TUI Air “Skiathos” Boeing 737 MAX 8 (G-TUMH) made its first flight on 19 March 2019 with registration N1786B with call sign “BOEING-867”, from the assembly line factory Renton (RNT) to Boeing Field (BFI).

On 1 April 2019 one more test flight was performed locally at Boeing Field (BFI) using once more call sign “BOEING-867”. Since then was parked at Boeing Field (BFI) waiting for the delivery flight.

Finally the airplane was delivered to TUI Air on 12 March 2021. Flew from Boeing factory in Seattle, nonstop to London Gatwick, as TOM-943P.

On 4 June 2021 was transferred from London Gatwick to Manchester in order to perform its first revenue flight. The first revenue flight was on 14 June 2021 from Manchester to Corfu as TOM-2120.

On 10 August 2021 G-TUMH with name “Skiathos” arrived at Skiathos airport as TOM-2200 from Manchester.

Skiathoslandings.com was present and with help of Fraport Greece and Hellenic civil Aviation Authority (Air Traffic Control) we all welcomed the airplane to our island!

Total four Boeing 737-8 Max are carrying Greek Island name. Those are:
G-TUMS Rhodos
G-TUMT Chania
G-TUMG Samos
G-TUMH Skiathos

Aircraft details
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737 MAX 8
Serial Number/Line Number: 44602/7439
Engines: 2x CFMI LEAP-1B
HEX: 407739
Configuration: 189 passengers single economy
Aircraft name: Skiathos

Yes, finally the first flight from Netherlands arrived in Skiathos on 20 July 2021.

It was Transavia HV-1861 arrived from Amsterdam with Boeing 737-800 (PH-HSJ) and departed as HV-1861 back to Amsterdam via Mitilini.

Of course if we compare this late date of first flight with last year, 2020, with no flights from Netherlands at all, we may consider it as a positive result!

Rolling back the years we are publishing two photos of the “season start” on 2008. It was Monday 28 April 2008 with two flights from Amsterdam.

The first was Arkefly and the second was Transavia, both with Boeing 737-800.

On Monday 12 July 2021 first flight of TUS Airways arrived from Larnaca in Skiathos. The flight CYF-852/853 arrived with the new Airbus A320 of TUS Airways (5B-DDL).

TUS Airways fleet renewal completed with the replacement of old Fokker 70/100 aircraft by Airbus A320.
The renewal was announced on 2019 but due Boeing 737Max grounding and next year due COVID-19 plans delayed.

The first flight was merged with Cyprus Airways flight, depicts the situation during the second summer season by COVID-19.

TUS Airways Larnaca flight operated every Monday and Friday
Cyprus Airways flight is every Monday and Wednesday

We will expect to see more merged flights between the two carries on that route since load figures are looking very low.

Today, 9 July 2021 the first charter flight from U.K. arrived at Skiathos.

It was British Airways / City Flyer CFE-2225 from London-City with Embraer 190SR (G-LCYL), arrived at 14:12 and departed at 15:04.

During the first summer after COVID-19 pandemic, summer of 2020, the first flight from U.K. arrived on 15 July 2020 by Jet2.com (video of that flight HERE)

The difference of 6 days between the two seasons is not a good number at all….