A very busy day today at London Southend Airport.

First up is a very tatty easyJet A319 about to be pulled over to Air Livery for a much needed repaint. This was in 2005 easyJet's 100th aircraft!


G-EZID easyJet A319 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

As I had anticipated, the scheduled flight from Waterford was flown by Aer Lingus Regional ATR42 EI-CBK. Quite apt, since it was announced this week that Aer Lingus Regional will fly 2 times a day to Dublin from May 10th, operated by a based ATR42.


EI-CBK Aer Lingus Regional AT43 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr


EI-CBK Aer Lingus Regional AT43 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

Now some more interesting movements, an Air Astana 757 taxiing out for a

VFR airtest conducted at 1500 feet in uncontrolled airspace!!! Quite an event!

P4-MAS Air Astana B752 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

It was back quite shortly afterwards, being much low than it should be! Now the extened runway is in use, the 24 threshold has been moved further into the runway, and this aircraft was low, even for the non-extened runway. I suspect the pilots hadn't got the new charts, as they were surprised full ILS was available and were expecting to be towed off the runway, instead now being able to turn round at the end under there own power!


P4-MAS Air Astana B752 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

After around an hour, it finally departed back home to Almaty, just as the sun was thinking about coming out!


P4-MAS Air Astana B752 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

And to think that was it! No, after 30 minutes or so, TC-IZL arrived from Bournemouth wearing its new Atlas Jet livery. The sole Atlas Jet A320 at the moment.


TC-IZL Atlasjet A320 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

And to make things even better, it parked on a stand outside the new terminal, where there was a considerable wait for steps to be attached!


TC-IZL Atlasjet A320 at Southend EGMC by AeroPics, on Flickr

All in all, one of the best days at Southend I've ever had!