tayara ‎طائرة: May 2016

Tayara means 'airplane' in Arabic.

This blog is about airplanes and anything that involves them.

It is mostly about Commercial Aviation, but also General and, occasionally, Military.

During my travels around the world I take pictures and video as a hobby of everything and anything related. I also include some acquaintances’ contributions from time to time, giving them proper credit.

Please, feel free to comment or suggest on my posts.

** Pictures here are copyrighted and only for your own enjoyment**

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 G-VBIG / 2014.11.09

LHR (Heathrow airport. London, United Kingdom)

The Queen of the Skies in the superb Virgin Atlantic colors: Boeing 747-400 G-VBIG ('Tinker Belle') on approach to 27R. ✈

Aeroflot Boeing 777-300ER VQ-BQE / 2016.02.22

SVO (Sheremetyevo International airport. Moscow, Russia)

On hold, waiting for clearance for takeoff in the midst of a snowstorm. Lots of activity at the airport, but nothing they're not used to over here in this part of the world. On board Aeroflot-Russian Airlines (Аэрофло́т-Росси́йские авиали́нии) Boeing 777-300/ER VQ-BQE ('M. Lermontov'), bound for HKG (Hong Kong) as Flight SU212. Seat 35K. ✈

Southwest Boeing 737-700 N442WN / 2014.07.03

LAX (Los Angeles International airport. Los Angeles, United States)

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 N442WN passing over Aviation Boulevard on short finals before landing on runway 25L. ✈

AeroMéxico Boeing 737-700 N965AM / 2015.01.02

MEX-UIO—Flight AM684, Mexico City-Quito

As we you approach the airport when landing in UIO, chances are you can have a great view of the city of Quito from the left side of the aircraft, if the usual landing patterns are in place. Seen from seat 21A on board AeroMéxico Boeing 737-700 N965AM. ✈

Swiss BAe Avro 146 HB-IXN / 2014.09.26

BCN (El Prat airport. Barcelona, Spain)

British Aerospace Avro 146-RJ100 HB-IXN has been faithful to this registration and to Switzerland since she was built in 1996. Originally delivered to Crossair, now wearing the Swiss International Airlines colors after the company reorganization following the collapse of Swissair in 2002. ✈

AnadoluJet Boeing 737-700 TC-JKM / 2011.04.29

SAW (Sabiha Gökçen International airport. Istanbul, Turkey)

Even the cloudy and stormy weather couldn't prevent me from taking this awesome shot as I was on my way to a quick return trip to Ankara within a few hours frame.

AnadoluJet Boeing 737-700 TC-JKM ('Kalkan'), bound for ESB (Ankara) as TK7242. ✈

Thai Airbus 330-200 HS-TED / 2014.12.07

HKT (Phuket International airport. Phuket, Thailand)

Like gliding over the beach, just seconds from touchdown... What a beautiful sight! Thai Airways (บริษัท การบินไทย) Airbus 330-200 HS-TED ('ดอนเจดีย์', or 'Don Chedi') was delivered to the carrier in early 1995 and retired in late 2015, almost 21 years later, and only nine months after I took this picture. ✈

Estafeta Boeing 737-300 XA-ECA / 2016.04.05

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

No modern-built aircraft carries these any more. This one belongs to a Boeing 737-300 built in 1989. Estafeta Carga Aérea XA-ECA previously operated for TEA Basel, Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, TEA Switzerland, EasyJet and Bulgaria Air. She was converted to freighter in 2007 and then joined the Mexican company. ✈

Belavia CRJ-200LR EW-303PJ / 2016.03.12

ARN (Arlanda airport. Stockholm, Sweden)

I was so thrilled to catch this one as we were taxiing to the gate after our arrival. Belavia Belarusian Airlines (Авіякампанія Белавія) Canadair CRJ-200LR EW-303PJ gets airborne right in front of my lens. Next stop, MSQ (Minsk). ✈

Iran Aseman Airbus 320-200 EP-APE / 2016.03.01

THR (Tehran Mehrabad International airport. Tehran, Iran)

Iran Aseman Airlines (هواپیمایی آسمان ایرانن) Airbus 320-200 EP-APE, on short finals under the sunset. This aircraft has an impressive record, having flown for a total of 14 different airlines before joining the current operator in November 2014. Nonetheless, she looks in pretty good shape. ✈

Korean Air Boeing 747-400 HL7472 / 2014.12.12

ICN (Incheon International airport. Seoul, South Korea)

Korean Air (대한항공) Boeing 747-400 HL7472 gets ready for departure as the snow begins to fall on a cold winter December day. ✈

AeroMéxico Boeing 737-800 XA-AMN / 2015.06.22

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

AeroMéxico Boeing 737-800 XA-AMN proudly showing her beautiful and stylish split scimitar winglets while over the piano keys, about to land on runway 9. ✈

KLM Airbus 330-200 PH-AOM / 2013.04.03

AUA (Reina Beatrix International airport. Oranjestad, Aruba)

Just arrived and slowly approaching the gate, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) Airbus 330-200 PH-AOM ('Piazza San Marco-Venezia'). I was surprised to see how dirty this plane was, considering she was only two and a half years old when I took the picture. ✈

JetKonnect ATR-72-500 VT-JCK / 2014.09.24

MAA (Chennai International airport. Chennai, India)

JetKonnect ATR-72-500 VT-JCK performs a steep climb on a hot humid day. This aircraft was delivered to the company in December 2007. ✈

Portugalia Fokker 100 CS-TPB / 2010.11.17

LYS (Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. Lyon, France)

Portugalia Fokker 100 CS-TPB ('Pelicano') just arrived from LIS (Lisbon), and getting ready for a quick turnaround as Flight TP473, which was was one of my few flights on board an F-100. ✈

Conviasa ATR-42/300 YV1008 / 2007.04.29

CCS-PYH—Flight V02027, Caracas-Puerto Ayacucho

Banking to the left during our approach to PYH, we get some bumpy final moments as we fly over the mighty Orinoco river. You can even see the runway far left waiting for us. Seen from seat 11A on board Conviasa ATR-42/300 YV1008. ✈

ANA Cargo Boeing 767-300ERF / 2011.03.15

NRT (Narita airport. Tokyo, Japan)

ANA All Nippon Airways (全日本空輸株式会社, 全日空) Cargo Boeing 767-300/ERF was originally delivered to the company as a passenger aircraft and was converted to freighter in October 2009, having operated as such since. Seen here while on finals before they applied the new livery to her. ✈

Iran Air Boeing 747SP EP-IAC / 2016.02.27

KUL-IKA—Flight IR815, Kuala Lumpur-Tehran (Imam Khomeini)

<In-Flight Entertainment>

The front part of the cabin (Homa Class) on board Iran Air (هواپیمايی جمهوری اسلامی ایران) Boeing 747SP EP-IAC ('خلیج فارس', or 'Persian Gulf') while cruising somewhere over India. That 70's-ish look gives the whole scene a special touch. Excellent service on board overall. ✈

Air France Boeing 777-300ER F-GZNJ / 2015.05.22

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

Air France Boeing 777-300/ER F-GZNJ about to put an ends to today's Flight AF090 from CDG (Paris Charles de Gaulle), leaving behind the dark clouds that brought a huge storm minutes later. ✈

Garuda Boeing 737-800 PK-GFF / 2016.02.27

KUL (Kuala Lumpur International airport. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-800 PK-GFF, getting ready for the hop back to CGK (Jakarta). ✈

Caspian Airlines MD-83 EP-CPV / 2016.02.29

MHD (Shahid Hashemi Nejad International airport. Mashhad, Iran)

Caspian Airlines (هواپیمایی کاسپین) McDonnell Douglas MD-83 EP-CPV during a quick turnaround. This aircraft has a long story, having been originally delivered to La Tur Charter in December 1990, and then flying for TAESA, Compass, Transwede, Spanair, Jetran Air and UM Air before joining the Iranian carrier fleet in August 2010. ✈

Sparrow ATR-42/500 OY-RUO / 2016.03.13

ARN (Arlanda airport. Stockholm, Sweden)

Sparrow Aviation ATR-42/500 OY-RUO found a new life in the Domestic Swedish market. After flying for Cimber and Cimber Sterling, this cutie then operated for Danish Air Transport and for Estonian Air and Air Lituanica, which ceased operations in May 2015. ✈

Southwest Boeing 737-700 N228WN / 2014.07.02

LAX (Los Angeles International airport. Los Angeles, United States)

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 N228WN, seconds from touching down, caught right in front of the landmark LAX building. Question: Can you guess where the free bags fly?... ✈

British Airways Embraer 170STD G-LCYD / 2016.03.09

DUB (Collinstown airport. Dublin, Ireland)
<At the Gate>

British Airways (BA CityFlyer) Embraer 170STD G-LCYD awaits her turn for the flight back home above the Irish Sea. The aircraft was delivered brand new to the carrier in September 2009. ✈

Delta DC-3 NC28341 / 2014.09.19

ATL (Hartsfield-Jackson International airport. Atlanta, United States)

Meticulously preserved at the Delta Flight Museum... Spotless Delta Air Lines DC-3 NC28341 was the first aircraft of the type to carry passengers for the company, starting December 1940. After flying for a number of other carriers she ended her operational life as N29PR, flying cargo for Air Puerto Rico. She was purchased back by Delta in 1993 and carefully restored to be an important landmark of the Museum. Extraordinarily well done job! ✈

Airport Highlight: FNJ (Sunan airport. Pyongyang, North Korea)

FNJ (Sunan airport. Pyongyang, North Korea)

This was taken during my visit to North Korea in October 2014. Please, bear in mind that a new modern airport terminal with much more updated facilities was opened at FNJ less than a year ago. ✈

Iberia Airbus 321-200 EC-IJN / 2014.11.09

LHR (Heathrow airport. London, United Kingdom)

'Proud of our National Team' ('Orgullosos de Nuestra Selección') banner was applied to Iberia Airbus 321-200 EC-IJN ('Mérida') to support the Spanish Football Team that won a number of international competitions between 2008 and 2012. Just two months after I took this picture, EC- IJN was applied the new Iberia livery. Sadly, no enthusiastic sports proclamation was included this time. ✈

American Boeing 777-200ER N762AN / 2015.12.09

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

Arriving from LHR (London Heathrow) as AA039, American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER N762AN. This aircraft first flew on April 11, 2002 and was delivered to the company over two weeks later. ✈

Aeroflot Boeing 777-300/ER VQ-BQE / 2016.02.23

SVO-HKG—Flight SU212, Moscow (Sheremetyevo)-Hong Kong

It's a privilege to wake up, open the window shade and be able to admire this stunning and crispy view. Seen from seat 35K on board Aeroflot-Russian Airlines (Аэрофло́т-Росси́йские авиали́нии) Boeing 777-300/ER VQ-BQE ('M. Lermontov'), somewhere over South East China. ✈

Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus 340-300X LV-CSX / 2016.04.10

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

Left side, already burning some rubber. Right side, not yet, but only fractions of seconds away from it. Spectacular arrival shot of Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus 340-300X LV-CSX, inbound from EZE (Buenos Aires Ezeiza) as AR1304. ✈

Air China Airbus 330-300X B-6513 / 2014.10.14

PEK (Capital International airport. Beijing, China)

Air China (中国国际航空公司) Airbus 330-300X B-6513 majestically passes over my favorite spot at PEK while on short finals. The aircraft was four years and four months old when I took this picture. ✈

Air France Embraer ERJ-145EU F-GRGM / 2013.02.12

AMS (Schiphol airport. Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Air France (Regional Airlines) Embraer ERJ-145EU F-GRGM taxies in front of the terminal building, headed to the runway. This aircraft served the French carrier until April 2013 and from June 2013 wears the United Express livery, since she was leased to Trans States Airlines as N857HK. ✈

IndiGo Airbus 320-200 VT-IFJ / 2013.09.24

MAA (Chennai International airport. Chennai, India)

IndiGo Airbus 320-200 VT-IFJ taxies to the gate after arrival. This aircraft was only a little over seven months old when I took the picture. The Low-Cost airline is the largest one in India in terms of passengers carried, quite an impressive milestone considered it was only founded in 2006. ✈

Sky Holding Company MD-87 N599SH / 2016.04.20

OPF (Opa-Locka Executive airport. Miami, United States)

This duck won't fly any more for sure. Sky Holding Company McDonnell Douglas MD-87 N599SH has been at storage in OPF since July 2013. She first flew in September 1989 and operated for Midway Airlines, Great American Airways, Reno Air, American Airlines, AeroMéxico, AeroChaco and Leal Líneas Aéreas (the last two with the registration LV-BSC). You can still see the remnants of the latter in the paint scheme and the Argentinian flag. At some point there were rumors that she was going to join Pawa Dominicana, but this never happened. ✈

Cape Air Cessna 208 Caravan I N188SF / 2016.05.11

FLL (Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport. Fort Lauderdale, United States)

You really feel you live close to the Caribbean when you spot this while driving around town and waiting in traffic for the green light. Cape Air (Resorts World SuperFlights) Cessna 208 Caravan I N188SF takes off as Flight 9K1549 bound for NSB (Bimini) where she will land on water. ✈

Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EKZ / 2016.05.04

MAD (Adolfo Suárez-Barajas airport. Madrid, Spain)

Holding at the head of the runway, right before initiating takeoff for a time-travel hop to OPO (Porto), as the aircraft arrives 15 minutes before the departure time due to the time zone difference. Seen from seat 16F on board Ryanair Boeing 737-800 EI-EKZ, Flight FR5484. ✈

*Special thanks to my beloved sister for her contribution*

Atrak Air Airbus 320-200 EP-TTA / 2016.03.02

THR (Tehran Mehrabad International airport. Tehran, Iran)

Atrak Air (اترک ایر) Airbus 320-200 EP-TTA was the first aircraft with which the airline initiated operations in late 2013. Seen here taking a break between flights. ✈

JetBlue Airbus 320-200 N627JB / 2016.01.07

FLL (Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport. Fort Lauderdale, United States)

Rotate! JetBlue Airways Airbus 320-200 N627JB ('A Friend Like Blue') takes off from 27L on her way to SJU (San Juan) as Flight B61553. ✈

Aeroflot Airbus 320-200 VP-BZS / 2016.02.19

SVO (Sheremetyevo International airport. Moscow, Russia)

The emblematic old building at SVO, currently Terminal F and built for the 1980 Olympic Games, confirms us that we arrived at our intended destination. Well, also does the snow, and of course the aircraft on the ground, like this Aeroflot-Russian Airlines (Аэрофло́т-Росси́йские авиали́нии) Airbus 320-200, VP-BZS ('M. Лазарев', or 'M. Lazarev'). ✈

Nicaraguan Air Force Antonov 26 FAN 150 / 2011.11.10

MGA (Augusto C. Sandino International airport. Managua, Nicaragua)

Unloading time after arrival at the capital airport for Nicaraguan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ejército de Nicaragua) Antonov 26 FAN 150, looking in pretty good shape. ✈

Centurion Air Cargo Boeing 747-400ERF N904AR / 2016.02.11

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

Arriving from MDE (Medellín) after a 2 hour-46 minutes hop as Flight KY520, Centurion Air Cargo Boeing 747-400ERF N904AR looks simply stunning. ✈

Turkish Airlines Airbus 330-200 TC-JIL / 2016.03.10

IST (Atatürk airport. Istanbul, Turkey)

Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları) Airbus 330-200 TC-JIL ('Yedigöller') gets ready for the next assignment in the wee hours of the morning. This aircraft belonged to Jet Airways (VT-JWH) and was added to the Turkish fleet only in April 2014. ✈

UP Boeing 737-800 4X-EKM / 2016.03.04

KBP (Boryspil International airport. Kiev, Ukraine)

UP (Operated by El Al Israel Airlines -אל על-) Boeing 737-800 4X-EKM initiates taxi for the flight back to TLV (Tel Aviv). The greenish color on top of the white means she has just gone through de-icing. Note the three Ilyushin and one Antonov parked on the background. ✈

American Boeing 737-800 N915NN / 2016.04.08

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

Sorry the sun was on the wrong side... or I was! But stunning nonetheless. Rotation time for American Airlines Boeing 737-800 N915NN with TWA retro colors. ✈

Azerbaijan Boeing 787-8 VP-BBS / 2016.03.19

GYD-JFK—Flight J2101, Baku-New York City (John F. Kennedy)

Shortly after takeoff I was mesmerized by this incredible sunrise light coming to us from the East. The Dreamliner wingflex makes the picture perfect. Seen from seat 27J on board Azerbaijan Airlines (Azərbaycan Hava Yolları) Boeing 787-8 VP-BBS ('Ordubad'). ✈

Avianca Airbus 330-200 N342AV / 2016.04.08

MIA (Miami International airport / Wilcox Field. Miami, United States)

AV007 is not a secret agent code for this Avianca Airbus 330-200. It's the daily evening flight number to BOG (Bogotá), served today by N342AV, departing on time under gorgeous light conditions. ✈

Iran Air Boeing 747-200 EP-ICD / 2016.02.29

THR (Tehran Mehrabad International airport. Tehran, Iran)

Another sunset at the Maintenance facilities for Iran Air (هواپیمايی جمهوری اسلامی ایران) Boeing 747-200 EP-ICD. This aircraft was built in 1988 and delivered to Martinair Holland. During her long life, she also operated for Qantas, Singapore Airlines, ACT Airlines and Ankair. ✈

Jetstar Airbus 320-200 9V-JSK / 2016.02.25

KUL (Kuala Lumpur International airport. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Jetstar Airbus 320-200 9V-JSK makes her way to runway 33R before takeoff under the gorgeous tropical midday sun (and heat). ✈

Northwest Airbus 330-300X N820NW / 2009.09.09

SFO (San Francisco International airport. San Francisco, United States)

Northwest Airlines Airbus 330-300X N820NW no longer wears the same livery but Delta's, after the two companies merged a few months later. Seen here banking to the right just after takeoff. ✈

EasyJet Airbus 319-100 G-EZEU / 2011.04.22

BCN (El Prat airport. Barcelona, Spain)

EasyJet Airbus 319-100 G-EZEU, about to touch down on 7L. Just seven months after I took this picture, this aircraft went to storage and in February 2012 was leased to her current operator, Chilean Sky Arlines as CC-AFX. ✈