Nice Pic.

Where was the Spotting location.

regds

MEL

EK does operate the T7 sometimes...perhaps due to non availability of aircraft. I've seen it quite a few times. Guess the 330s are undergoig some checks.

Olly

It maybe they had more bookings for that day maybe some firm must have made more bookings.. one day IC operated a A300 in its BOM-SHJ route regularly its an A320 (i wish it wud be one of those new twin-class A319)

the_380 wrote:

---

It maybe they had more bookings for that day maybe some firm must have made more bookings.. one day IC operated a A300 in its BOM-SHJ route regularly its an A320 (i wish it wud be one of those new twin-class A319)

---

More bookings do not affect change of aircraft. Infact he number of seats that have to be sold on a particular sector/flight is already agreed upon between the airline and the local air transport/travel authorities and is discussed before an airline operates flights between any two sectors (even domestically). This aggreement does not permit any airline to carry more passengers than the stipulated number.

The rule is that if an airline is authorised to sell 250 (lets assume the a/c capacity is 250) seats on a particular sector. Even if 270 seats may have been sold on that particular flight... due to overbookings, airlines cannot operate a larger aircraft to accomodate more passengers. That is precisely why we have something called as 'Denied boarding situations' or DNB's (airline jargon) or bumped passengers. In this case if all 270 passengers turn up at the airport, once 250 passengers have checked-in the next 20 passengers will have to be accomodated on a next available flight, perhaps even on another airline.

For instance in 9W we had situations where sometimes a 737-700 would operate a leg normally operated by the ATR. The 9W ATR can seat 62 pax whereas the cap on the 737-7 is 122. The aircraft used to fly with 62 or less pax on board. Consequently with the change in aircraft the number of cabin crew would also increase. ATR operates with min 2 crew, the 737 with min 3.

So the probable situations for aircraft type change could be....

1. Non-avail of regular a/c type

2. The changed aircraft would be required to operate another flight from the destination. An a/c swap could happen there as well.

3. A/c sent for checks at destination airport. Generally happens on late night flights.

Pls feel free to correct me if I've erred anywhere. Thanks.

Olly

the_380 wrote:

---

ur right totally on general reasons for swapping a aircraft for another but at times group bookings also result in the change of the aircraft. i have flown BOM-SHJ thrice and two times it was a A320 but once there was also a A300.

---

Question - Was the A300 operating full capacity?

If yes, then possibly IC has the rights to sell as many seats on the A300 on that sector. They probably operate the A320 generally because of fewer loads and switch to the A300 when loads hit a seasonal high.

Besides, did you check IC's schedule. They might be operating different aircrafts on certain days of the week. As an example 320s on Mondays and 300s on Thursdays.

Group bookings may not cause an a/c swap on regular schedule (atleast I haven't heard of anything like this). However airlines might have to secure prior permission to operate a special a/c or flight to accomodate passengers. 

Olly

 

well one evening i had seen the EK 773 n den aftr bout 3 hours the a332!
very awsme the 773 looked as it had FIFA stickers!

cheers!