We present a selection of images of visiting aircraft from airports around the UK. For the most part, they’re commercial jets, but almost all of them are unusual types, wearing new or unique liveries or first visits by an airline or airliner to a particular airport
The Royal funeral in London led to some welcome movements elsewhere in the country as aircraft were relocated to make space in the capital. This includes Weststar's sleek Boeing 767-238ER 2-TSSA (c/n 23896), which made its first visit to Birmingham in mid-September after positioning in from Stansted. The one-time Qantas example has flown for several private operators, including Google, before being acquired by its current Malaysian owner in 2018 Ashley FrenchWamos Air's Airbus A330-343 EC-NTY (c/n 1600), has been leased regularly this summer by TUI Airways to provide additional capacity. This included an extended period in early September when it was based at London/Gatwick to cover for a Boeing 787-8 that was down for unexpected maintenance. The A330 still wears the basic, albeit distinctive colours of its former operator Air Asia X Dave PotterWhile this Boeing 787-10 c/n 60293 wears full Vietnam Airlines colours, the aircraft was actually engaged in testing by the US manufacturer during its recent stay in the UK. The jet, one of numerous examples to carry the test registration N8290V, positioned from Charleston, North Carolina to London/Stansted as ‘BOE160’ on September 7 before undertaking a series of short flights – reportedly related to the testing of 5G mobile signals – to Heathrow and Manchester. It is expected to become VN-A876 when it is eventually delivered Nik FrenchFlybe's latest Bombardier DHC-8-402Q departing Exeter as ‘BEE031M’ on September 16 on the first of two test flights before its delivery to the carrier’s Birmingham base later the same day. The former Eurolot example arrived from Gdansk as SP-EQD on July 14 and has been undergoing maintenance ahead of its entry into service. It is expected to be joined by sistership SP-EQC, to become G-EXTA, imminently
Ian SimpsonHoneywell Aerospace’s Boeing 757-225 N757HW (c/n 22195) spent some time in the circuit at Bristol on August 31. The aircraft, which serves as a flying technology testbed, was detached to Europe for several days to collect radar altimeter data at the South West England hub and at Vienna in Austria before returning to the US. It’s no stranger to UK shores, having previously served with Airtours and MyTravel Airways as G-JALC Simon FewkesThis ATR 72-600 is sadly not quite as exotic as it first appears. The turboprop, OY-JZA (c/n 1110), still wore the colours of former operator Far Eastern Air Transport of Taiwan when it arrived at East Midlands on September 13, but has been in the ownership of Nordic Aviation Capital and stored at Billund since being returned to the lessor in March 2020. It was originally delivered in 2013 to Jet Time of Denmark and subsequently operated on behalf of SAS Scandinavian Airlines before being exported to Asia John GregoryJuneyao Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 B-20D1 (c/n 64316) was the second notable Dreamliner visitor at Manchester during September. The jet, which wears striking ‘Colourful Petals’ special markings, operated several rotations between Shanghai and the UK as part of the annual airlift to bring Chinese students to British universities Nik FrenchAirbus A320-214 9H-MSA (c/n 4349) has been in the UK twice recently. The one-time Saudia and Kuwait Airways jet, which was delivered to Medsky Airways in March 2022, brought Marseille fans to London/Southend on September 6 ahead of the team’s UEFA Champions League tie against Tottenham Hotspur. It operated another football charter to Glasgow a week later in relation to the Rangers-Napoli fixture in the same competition SH
