4th Airbus A320 leased by AirBlue

[Abbas Ali]

I have received following information from my friend Alexandre Avrane.

Pakistan's privately owned airline airblue has acquired an Airbus A320 on lease from Atlasjet International Airways of Turkey. The aircraft was seen sporting airblue titles and tail colours at Madrid Airport, Spain, on November 28, 2005. Following are details of the aircraft:

Aircraft Registration: TC-OGI
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-232
Year of Make: 1996

Here's photo of this aircraft in Atlasjet International Airways livery:

Copyright Irfan Caliskan

Link to large photo: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/911281/M/

The other three Airbus A320s operated by airblue with Pakistani registration are:

Aircraft Registration: AP-BGU
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-211
Year of Make: 1992

Aircraft Registration: AP-BGV
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-231
Year of Make: 1993

Aircraft Registration: AP-BGW
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-232
Year of Make: 1997

[AP-BGL]

An excellent thing they did otherwise they couldn't meet the requirments of time and passengers.

Is this fourth airbus being leased by the same carrier from which the other three have been? I saw the same kind of registration on one of the airblue's a/c before its deleivery.

[B777240ER]

Is this fourth airbus being leased by the same carrier from which the other three have been?

No.

AP-BGU is ex Thomas cook(Belgium) ex reg OO-TCE
AP-BGV is ex Thomas cook(British) ex reg G-CVYG
AP-BGW is ex MEA ex reg F-OHLO

I think this a/c reg will be AP-BGX.

[hasan saleem]

If i am not mistaken AP-BGU, AP-BGV, AP-BGW have been leased from airbus. This new lease is on a wet lease from Atlasjet International Airways.

This new entry into the airblue inventory will be until the 8 A320 arrive.

Airblue could confirm!

[AP-BGL]

Thanks for the information B777240ER! I was confused with this

AP-BGU is ex Thomas cook(Belgium) ex reg OO-TCE

It has similarity with TC-OGI...

[Abbas Ali]

AP-BGU is ex Thomas cook(Belgium) ex reg OO-TCE
AP-BGV is ex Thomas cook(British) ex reg G-CVYG
AP-BGW is ex MEA ex reg F-OHLO

Yes, that's the correct information. Airblue leased these three A320s from three different companies.

I think this a/c reg will be AP-BGX.

AirBlue already has fulfilled Pakistan Aviation Policy's requirement of having at least three aircraft registered in Pakistan by having its first three A320s registered in Pakistan. So, it's not necessary for AirBlue to have this fourth A320 registered in Pakistan.

[AirBlue]

ok.. AP-BGU/V/W, all have been dry leased from ILFC where as this one has been directly taken from this turkish carrier on wet lease....all ED a/c's will be with a pak. reg. number. Now as this is on wet lease and the season is kinda slow, they plan to induct the other a/c's next year after spring and use this one for about 3-4 months. It will be based in dubai with the crew so now they dont need the pakistani registration as the aircraft is not based there. Flights that will be operated will be the DXB-ISB/LHE/PEW-DXB by this a/c and its crew members

ED is hiring more cabin crew for these flights...the airline is only providing ED with the cockpit crew in the deal

[Ehsen Ali]

Here's a photo www.airliners.net/open.file/967736/M/

[AirBlue]

nice shot ...i cudnt get such a nice shot

[PK777]

Here's a photo www.airliners.net/open.file/967736/M/

Quick find !! Is that the final version or will they remove the underbelly colours and add the cresent moon decals to the tail ??

[AP-BGL]

What I think is they would definitly remove those under balley colors and give it the white one. If you look closely see that the whole of the plane is not painted again they have just given it the titles and the tail colour, checkout the area under the tail getting bit dirty.