Here we go lads, in the spirit of the recently announced 07/08 releases I thought it'd be appropriate to get working on the airport. Lots of new models make their first appearance in this update, as well as some new GSE to improve the overall quality of the airport.
Let's start the show.
The first newcomer comes in the form of an Airbus A350 operated by Singapore Airlines. The airline has deployed many different types on their long-standing Amsterdam rotation and said destination marked the A350's intercontinental inauguration. Flight
SQ324 from
Singapore is being unloaded with a Xiamen Airlines Boeing 787-8 in the background, almost ready for her push and tow to a remote stand.
Staying at the same pier, we join up with 2 fellow Asian carriers. Cathay Pacific has, like Singapore Airlines, exploited their Amsterdam route for quite some time. The 777 marks the latest fit for the route, replacing the B747-400 and A340-300 that operated in the past. B-KQM sports Cathay Pacific's new corporate identity, arriving from
Hong Kong-Chep Lap Kok as
CX 271. Due to the A380's huge wingspan, there is a limit on gate G07 (adjacent to the A380's G09 gate) and the maximum size aircraft. While officially having 2 A380 capable gates (G09 and E18, necessary due to the conflicting departure times of
CZ 346 (pictured) and
EK 148), the China Southern Airlines A380 arrives solely at G09. The airline will not utilize the A380 for Summer '17 season on the
Beijing-Capital rotation, but I think I never showed off this beauty.
Over at the E-pier, a mix of local carriers stand side by side. The star is the TUI Airlines Netherlands B787, making her first appearance. The airline underwent a name change and was the first of the TUI Group to be renamed to TUI Airlines. The 787-8 is the backbone of the long haul fleet, with 3 in service. While one is in the shop, one can see a nice variety of substitutes. Said airline will also utilize Surinam Airways' sole A340-300 on days the aircraft has an overnight at our national airport.
OR 347 to Punta Cana pushes back from E17 in front of N820NW, PH-AKA and N155DL.
Yet another newcomer comes in the form of Aeromexico. The airline launched direct flights between Amsterdam and
Mexico City-Juarez in 2016. An initial frequency of thrice weekly proved insufficient and the airline will start a daily operation in May 2017. In addition to that, the larger 787-9 will also be regularly deployed between the two airports. The picture shows N961AM at the 'SkyTeam pier', better known as the F-pier.
AM 26 is loading up for a 22:25 LT departure back home.
We move back over to the G pier where another new addition is being completely covered by the large jetways that are in place at the pier. Turkish Airlines flies up to 7 daily rotations between both
Istanbul-Atatürk and
Istanbul-Sabiha. Even with the recent political tension between the Netherlands and Turkey, the airline still deploys the large A330-300 on the morning flight
TK1951 from
Istanbul-Atatürk. If this bird is delayed, the other flight bound for
Istanbul-Sabiha, operated by the Boeing 737, can be seen together with her big Airbus sister (if there are no jetways obstructing your sight
)
Staying in the theme of Airbus A330s in a picture, today marked the first seasonal flight of Air Transat. The Canadian airline has been flying between Amsterdam and
Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto and
Montreal for close to 15 years. Utilizing a mix of A310 and A330-200 equipment, the Canadian carrier makes sure there is enough diversity at Schiphol airport.
TS 347, a surprisingly similar flight number to the China Southern flight mentioned previously, pushes from G07 for her flight home to
Toronto.
Talking about Turkish aviation, the airline deploys an A321 fleet for the other 4 daily
Istanbul-Atatürk rotations. One can be seen here at around 17:30 LT at G08, being catered, refueled and loaded for her flight home at 17:55. In the front, a SunExpress Germany B737-800, operated by SunExpress, passes by for gate G02. She will turn around in a mere hour before taking to the skies once more, bound for
Izmir, Turkey.
As the evening continues, one of the more iconic SkyTeam partners and KLM-daughter pushes back for a flight to Afrika. Kenya Airways is one of the few African carriers that can be regularly seen at the facilities. The airline purchased state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ERs for her Amsterdam rotations, but due to dwindling tourism in Kenya, the airline disposed her Boeing 777 fleet (-200ERs and brand new -300ERs). The former type went to Omni Air, with one stored, and the latter to Turkish Airlines). Despite all this, KLM still deploys a Boeing 747-400Pax on a daily basis and Kenya Airways utilizes an evining slot for the departure B787-8. Ever noticed that their tail-logo contains their flight code?
KQ 117 for
Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta is seen push-pulling on A14 and A16.
The final shot illustrates the many liveries KLM applies to her Boeing 777-300ER fleet. First, the regular new colours. Then there's the old colours, making 2. 2 Birds have KLM ASIA markings, one is painted in a Skyteam jacket and the final one is Orange pride, making a total of 5 different colourschemes. Pictured here are 3 of them; 'Orange Pride' leads the line-up as
KL 701 to
Santiago de Chile via
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, scheduled to leave at 21:05 LT. 'Skyteam' is second in line as
KL 835 to
Singapore-Changi and all the way in the back is PH-BVO, one of the 777-300ERs in the new colours, operating
KL 807 to
Manila via
Taipei. Do note the overhead exit markings on the Skyteam machine.
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That's all for today folks. Just some fun trivia, my fleet of KLM B777-300ERs stands at 7, with 3 of them being PH-BVA (Herpa regular cls, Aero500 regular cls, Herpa Orange Pride).
Next time we're gonna picture some other visitors that we haven't seen in a while. Also, American Airlines will launch the inaugural to
Dallas-Fort Worth soon on Boeing 767-300ER equipment, so we'll be there for that.
Still looking to expand the fleet with a necessary Jet Airways model, and easyJet would be a welcome visitor..
As for GSE, I have 200 LD3 containers that made their debut in today's update. They will likely be joined by some homemade pallets, which I have yet to construct (or even buy the building materials for..) but we're getting there. Some catering trucks will also be added soon. I have way too much work to catch up to.
Hope everyone enjoyed, leave a suggestion if you're really missing a model from my collection. The next update should incorporate some of my favourite 4-holers still operating to this (model) airport.