As long as we still working for the final traffic analysis of Skiathos airport for summer season 2019, let’s see something interesting related with this year aircraft landings at our airport.
The “Aircraft Age Contest” is about the newest and oldest airplane, in terms of age, visited Skiathos airport during summer 2019.
THE NEWEST
The newest aircraft seen at Skiathos was Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Airbus A320NEO. Actually we notice a coincidence, two Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320NEOs, landed at Skiathos while their age was just 17 days!
On 14 July 2019 an 17 days old Airbus A320NEO of SAS, landed at Skiathos.
Below some details of the history and status of that aircraft:
Registration: SE-ROF (ex F-WWIR)
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-251N (NEO)
msn: 9032
On 27 June 2019 flew as SAS-9150 from Toulouse to Stockholm for delivery to SAS (ATD TLS 15:21 ATA ARN 18:22)
First revenue flight was made two days later, on 29 June 2019 from Stockholm to Split.
First time that airplane visit Greece was during its 15th flight. It was SAS-7633 from Stockholm to Zakynthos on 2 July 2019
The 72th flight on 14 July 2019 was from Stockholm to Skiathos, number SK-7601 landed runway 01 at 10:46 local time. The airplane that day was just 17 days old!
On 11 August 2019 another 17 days old Airbus A320NEO of SAS, landed at Skiathos. Notice the name of the aircraft: “Gandalf Viking”!
Below some details of the history and status of that aircraft:
Registration: SE-ROR (ex D-AUAJ)
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-251N (NEO)
msn: 8949
On 25 July 2019 flew as SAS-9150 (same call sign for A320 delivery flights by SAS) this time from Hamburg (XFW) to Stockholm for delivery to SAS (ATD XFW 17:00 ATA ARN 18:42)
First revenue flight was made two days later, on 29 July 2019 once more, like the previous A320 we wrote above, from Stockholm to Split.
First time that airplane visit Greece was during its 12th flight. It was SAS-2933 from Stockholm to Athens on 29 July 2019
The 68th flight on 11 August 2019 was from Gothenburg to Skiathos, number SK-7995 landed runway 01 at 20:49 local time. The airplane that day was also just 17 days old!
THE OLDEST
The oldest aircraft seen at Skiathos was Aviolet (Air Serbia) Boeing 737-300. The registration YU-ANI (c/n 23416) manufactured back in November 1985 and delivered one month later, on December 1985 to JAT. Since then, remains in service on the same country for 34years!
There is a small number of Boeing 737-300 (three) in Aviolet fleet. We have to notice that maintenance of Air Serbia is very high. This is the reason why those planes are still in service with a high utilization factor. When Etihad purchased the 66 years old JAT brand back in 1 August 2013, initial plan was to retire those planes.
But when they looked after the profit coming out of those planes operating charter flights every summer and their excellent utilization record, they decided to hold this operation under Aviolet name.
Since 2015 there are announcements for retirement of those planes but in 2019 they still in service!
Last year they operate under a “restriction” of 3 flights per day. We are preparing a special report for those planes. It will be published when they finally withdrawn from service.
During a rainy day in Skiathos, two Aviolet Boeing 737-300 together. First one is YU-ANI, and almost one year younger, 33 yeas, YU-ANK at the background.
