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Toulouse Blagnac
Toulouse Blagnac is a typical modern European Airport with a noteworthy difference
- it is the home of Airbus Industrie. Local traffic is typical with low
cost carriers such as EasyJet plus most of the mainline European carriers.Service
is generally of the short haul variety with RJs, 737s, and the A320 family
dominating the scene. |
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Toulouse Gate 2-7
and Airshow
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A310 Model
This model of the Toulouse built A310 hangs in the departure hall of Toulouse
Blagnac. The A310 was a significant aircraft in that it launched the electronic
flight deck and 2 pilot flight deck for Airbus when it first flew in 1984.
Much of this technology was incorporated in its big brother, the new technology
(1989) A300-600. |
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Air France A320 Series
200
Air
France, naturally was the launch customer for the extraordinarily successful
A320. The aircraft pioneered computerized Fly By Wire via sidestick in subsonic
airliners, plus numerous other high-tech advances at its 1988 service entry
date. With the exception of its interior, the A320 is assembled in Toulouse
while the A319 and A321 are assembled in Hamburg, Germany. |
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 Airbus
Industrie Flightline and A330/340 Assembly Hall
All wide body aircraft are assembled in Toulouse , with the exception of
their interiors. Half of the fleet are delivered from here, while the
other half are delivered from Hamburg. In front of the assembly hall are
the giant Super Transporters A300ST "Belugas" used to transport
fuselages and wings. There are 5 of these beomeths in the fleet which
replaced the Guppys beginning in 1994. A full Airbus Factory Tour is coming
soon to airchive!
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AirPost Europe Boeing
737
Air Post Europe specializes in night mail flights with a fleet of a substantial
number of quick-change 737s, French carrier L'Aéropostale renamed
themselves Europe Airpost in January 2001. Their aircraft continue to operate
for other carriers during day time, including Corsair. |
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BMI Baby 737-500
BMIs low cost subsidiary "Baby" competes with low cost carrier
incumbants EasyJet and RyanAir from its hubs at East Midland (Manchester)
and Cardiff, Wales. |
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Air France A320-100
and Spanair MD-80
A rare A320 series 100 follows a Spanair MD-80 to the gate. Spanair is the
2nd largest airline of Spain, catering to leisure travelers. |
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Easy Jet Boeing 737
NG
Easy Jet, the 2nd largest low cost airline in Europe, is phenomena. Beginning
with just 3 Boeing 737-100s from its Luton, UK base in 1995, it has gone
from strength to strength. Its founder, Stelios, has achieved celebrity
status in the UK who has transformed the brand from car rental agencies
to internet cafes. EasyJet offers an even more stripped down service from
Southwest with beverages and checked baggage sold at extra cost. The airline
acquired a major competitor, Go, from BA in 2002. Unusually, Easy just announced
a major fleet replacement program with a large order of A320s replacing
the 737s, an unusual move for a LCC. Its principal rival RyanAir placed
a similarly extensive order for the 737. Easy's A320s are reported to be
devoid of window shades and to utilize very thin seats to save weight, cost,
and increase density. |
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Air France Regional
F-100
These are increasingly rare birds since the bankruptcy of parent company
Fokker in 2001. |
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Blagnac 1950s terminal
and BAe 146
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