{"id":8869,"date":"2023-09-14T12:00:56","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/?p=8869"},"modified":"2023-09-03T19:53:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T18:53:29","slug":"the-first-sky-airline-airbus-a319","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gacetaeronautica.com\/gaceta\/wp-102\/the-first-sky-airline-airbus-a319\/","title":{"rendered":"Low-fare pioneer: SKY Airline’s first Airbus A319"},"content":{"rendered":"

First flown on 08\/17\/2004, carrying test registration D-AVYP and manufacturer serial number 2283, our subject aircraft had been built in Airbus’ Hamburg<\/strong> (Germany) plant.<\/p>\n

Delivered two months later to British low-fare airline, Easy Jet<\/strong>, the aircraft was one of the first of over 200 A319s incorporated by the carrier and operated with it for seven years until it sent into temporary storage in 09\/2011.<\/p>\n

\"M\u00e1laga,<\/a>
Final approach to M\u00e1laga International Airport (photo: Javier Bravo Mu\u00f1oz, 09\/04\/2011).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Sold to leasing firm, Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management<\/strong>, the jet went looking for a new customer and found it early the following year in South America’s distant Southern Cone.<\/p>\n

There, it became the first A319 to join the fleet of Chile’s second domestic carrier, SKY Airline<\/strong>, which flew it for a further five years while the airline converted itself into the “first Chilean low-fare carrier”<\/em>, as advertised starting in 2015.<\/p>\n

\"Rare<\/a>
Other than the standard white and blue with palms livery, CC-AFX briefly wore diminutive stickers behind the left front door, presumably advertising SKY’s drive to become Chile’s first low-fare airline (photos: Carlos Ay, top 02\/21\/2016, bottom left 02\/27\/2016 and bottom right 02\/04\/2017).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

The aircraft started operating from Santiago de Chile “Arturo Merino Ben\u00edtez”<\/em> International Airport in 02\/2012, ahead of a further 12 A319s which would fly alongside older Boeing 737 Classic Series and early generation Airbus A320s until all three types were gradually replaced by brand-new A320neos starting in 2018.<\/p>\n

Our aircraft, registered locally as CC-AFX, was in fact returned to the lessor in 02\/2019 and nine months later found a new home in Germany, where it went on to fly for Sundair<\/strong> between 11\/2019 and 02\/2021.<\/p>\n

\"Santiago<\/a>
Landing in Pudahuel in its last winter season with SKY Airline (photo: Carlos Ay, 07\/07\/2018).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Stripped of Sundair’s markings and re-registered OE-IDI in Austria, it went into temporary storage as the world, the airlines and the aircraft leasing industry dealt with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Still wearing anonymous paint scheme, on 01\/27\/2023 OE-IDI got airborne again on a test flight from D\u00fcsseldorf International Airport in Germany, anticipating its imminent relocation with Swedish carrier, BRA: Braathens International<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"D\u00fcsseldorf<\/a>
Devoid of any commercial markings and waiting for a new customer at D\u00fcsseldorf Rhein-Rurh International Airport (photo: Jost Gruchel, 12\/06\/2022).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Within two days, the aircraft’s livery was adjusted to BRA’ needs, its registration changed to SE-RGV and the plane departed D\u00fcsseldorf in its delivery flight to Malm\u00f6 Airport in Southern Sweden.<\/p>\n

Under its latest uniform, the aircraft provides regular services for passengers in need of flying connections between Southern Scandinavia, continental Europe and more distant destinations as far West as the Canary Islands or East as Turkey.<\/p>\n

\"Stockholm<\/a>
Lined-up on runway 12 at Stockholm Bromma airport (photo: Nick Aviation, 04\/16\/2023).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Variants:<\/strong><\/h3>\n