China Airlines B747-400 Summer Visitor

China Airlines have up sized their A330-300's on the TPE-BNE-AKL-BNE-TPE flights CI53 and CI54 which operate 3 days a week into Auckland to the larger B747-400 to keep up with the heavy demand over the summer months.

And the first flight, CI53 from Brisbane was operated by B-18203 wearing a special themed livery. Hope to get some photo's of the other side, as the theme is different.

China Airlines B747-400
B18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

B-18203

Aussie Competitors...B737-800's

Leaving 5 minutes apart here are a couple of Aussie Competitors heading back across the Tasman on a very warm November afternoon

First to depart was Qantas, ZK-ZQH followed close behind by Virgin Australia's ZK-PBA

ZK-ZQH

ZK-PBA

Air New Zealand's New Arrival ZK-OXC

Air New Zealand's newest and latest and 3rd to be delivered Sharklet Airbus A320, ZK-OXC arrived into Auckland just after 10:30am on Tuesday 26th November.

The delivery flight to Auckland started in Germany and then via Muscat, Singapore and Cairns.

On arrival into Auckland ZK-OXC taxied to the International Terminal, Gate 2, which will probably be the last time we will ever see it parked over there, as ZK-OXC will be a dedicated to Domestic Flying.

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC
Parked at Gate 2
International Terminal

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

ZK-OXC

Sunair ZK-ECM

Sunair is a small airline in the North Island of New Zealand operating scheduled flights and is also available for charters. Sunair is based in Tauranga and fly's to Whitianga, Gisborne, Rotorua, Napier, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland.

Some shots here of Sunair's Piper PA-23-250 Aztec ZK-ECM

ZK-ECM

ZK-ECM

Antonov 124 - Volga Dnepr

A Big One.........

Volga Dnepr's Antonov AN-124 RA-82044 has been in Auckland resting on the ramp since arriving after dark from Ohakea on the 15th November. Some photos of her departure from Auckland on the 19th November as VDA1193 bound for CGK.

Volga Dnepr
Antonov 124 RA-82044

RA-82044

RA-82044

RA-82044

RA-82044

Gear Up.......

A couple of shots of some departures at Auckland.

Air New Zealand Link, ZK-NED operated by Air Nelson and the bottom photo ZK-OJQ wearing the black tail an awaiting the new livery to be applied.

ZK-NED
Air Nelson - Q300

ZK-OJQ

Evergreen International B747-400BCF

Thursday the 14th Nov saw the arrival into Auckland of Evergreen's International
B747-400BCF freighter N492EV on a vary rare visit.

Flying into Auckland to collect "Mila" the elephant from the now closed Franklin Zoo, just south of Auckland. This is and will most likely be my only chance to get a photo of an Evergreen Aircraft as the future for the cargo operator is uncertain.

The flight back to LAX was scheduled to depart later that night at 2315

N492EV

N492EV

N492EV

Air New Zealand ZK-NBV

My all time favorite and most travelled in aircraft the mighty B747-400.

Time is fast running out for Air New Zealand's B747-400's, only 2 left ZK-NBV & ZK-SUH as next year will see their retirement from service with Air New Zealand as the B787's and the two new B777-300ER's arrive around mid year 2014.

These shots are of ZK-NBV arriving into Auckland from Brisbane as NZ136.
ZK-NBV (26910) was delivered new to Air New Zealand in October 1998.

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV

ZK-NBV