BasilFawlty From Netherlands, joined Jun 2009, 1017 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 5984 times:
A tribute to SkyEurope Airlines! AMS-PRG-AMS
As a tribute to this fantastic airline I decided to make this trip report. When GECAS decided to take back almost the whole fleet earlier this year, the end of SkyEurope was near. After struggling for months they finally stopped flying about a month ago. But before all those trouble it was one of the best low-cost airlines in Europe. Attractive schedules, good prices, new aircrafts and very friendly crews!
A year ago I went to Prague with a good friend of mine to do some plane spotting. As usual SkyEurope had a special offer, a return ticket for only 75 euros including taxes and creditcard fee.
We arrived at the airport around 07.15. Check-in was done online so the only thing to do was waiting until boarding time. This was actually the first Tuesday morning service since two months (the schedule to Amsterdam was reduced during the summer months) and it seemed that nobody was informed. The departure lounge remained closed until 08.00 when the security people arrived in a hurry. Inside lounge 4 all shops were closed. Well, lounge 4 is extremely boring anyway with only two shops available. My advise: go through security as late as possible when you are leaving from the M-pier.
The aircraft had arrived 25 minutes early and was almost ready for boarding when the first passengers arrived at the departure gate. A light load today so it took not very long before everyone was onboard and the aircraft was ready for pushback. We pushed back 8 minutes early and taxied to runway 24. With no other traffic in front of us we made a rolling take-off:
After take-off we climbed to 39000 feet and flew via Arnhem, Kassel, Erfurt and Dresden to Prague. I bought myself a very tasty mozzarella-tomato sandwich but I forgot to take a picture of it.
Paderborn
When we reached Dresden descending was started. During the approach for runway 24 we flew over the villages of Decin, Litomerice and Melnik. Touchdown was at 09.45, well ahead of schedule.
Prague Ruzyne Airport has two terminals, T1 for non-Schengen flights and T2 for Schengen flights. CSA Czech Airlines and Travel Service are based at the airport and most other flights are operated by the main European legacy and low-cost airlines. The interesting stuff is from Eastern Europe and Russia, Aerosvit Airlines and Ural Airlines for example. Below some pictures that I took during the day:
Boarding for the return flight started 20 minutes prior to departure time. Again a light load so the boarding process was ready 10 minutes later. We pushed back exactly on-time and taxied to runway 24. After another SkyEurope 737 was airborne to Milan Bergamo it was our turn:
The route to Amsterdam was the same as we flew this morning, via Dresden, Erfurt, Kassel and Dortmund, this time at 40000 feet. At 20.10, somewhere above the border between Germany and The Netherlands, descending was started. We approach runway 18C, also known as the Zwanenburgbaan, named after my village. Touchdown was ahead of schedule at 20.29.
After landing it was only a few more minutes to our parking stand, gate M5. At 20.34 we parked next to another SkyEurope aircraft, which had arrived from Vienna 2 minutes in front of us. The end!
Thank you for reading!
Best regards,
Jeroen
*Please feel free to comment or ask your questions.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1489 posts, RR: 45 Reply 1, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 5745 times:
Hi Jeroen,
Some nice pictures on this great little report. Thanks!
Funnily enough (well.. not really) I booked a flight on NE the very day they went bust - 31th August 2009 . No wonder it was so cheap. So unfortunately I won't have the chance to try them out any more.
Airbuseric From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3735 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 5599 times:
Hi Jeroen, nice report! Thanks.
But, I'm glad that NE is gone foregood. Never gave my money to them, as I didn't believe in this airline at all...
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): Is that a CF Embraer behind? What is is doing in AMS? Subbing for SK or operating or charter? Or did they actually fly to AMS back then?
This Embraer operated probably a charter for some company or so. It's in AMS from time to time, but only on special charters. No scheduled flights.
Regards,
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
Rcaq From Austria, joined Aug 2009, 98 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 5571 times:
I'm glad to have found the guy behind the interesting youtube videos - could you pls give me a link to the HQ version of the 737 PRG pushback? I just love the CFM56 engine start up sounds...
BasilFawlty From Netherlands, joined Jun 2009, 1017 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 5516 times:
Thanks all for your comments!
Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 1): Is that a CF Embraer behind? What is is doing in AMS? Subbing for SK or operating or charter? Or did they actually fly to AMS back then?
Braniff747SP From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 2037 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 5273 times:
Like the report! I hope you took the safety card. And I LOVE your username!!!!!!! (I'm probably the only 13 year old in the US that watches Faulty Towers again and again, huh?
The 747 will always be the TRUE queen of the skies!
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1489 posts, RR: 45 Reply 6, posted (2 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 5167 times:
Quoting Airbuseric (Reply 2): This Embraer operated probably a charter for some company or so. It's in AMS from time to time, but only on special charters. No scheduled flights.
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 4): I checked the registers for you:
CF812/511 17:10/09:15 (9th) GRS-AMS-CDG-GRS SE-DZB ER4
and on the 10th of September the aircraft was at AMS again:
CF512/813 19:10-20.00 GRS-CDG-AMS-MAD SE-DZB ER4
Thanks guys for such detailed information. Could that be a charter for some sports team or what?
CrimsonNL From Netherlands, joined Dec 2007, 1435 posts, RR: 43 Reply 8, posted (2 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 4709 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Hi Jeroen, nice report once again! I flew with NE on the same routing last may and I liked them pretty good, that was just after GECAS pulled all the planes but we still got the NGN and NGP. I liked the crew and it was a good experience but the last months of their operations were a mess!
Regards Martijn
Ps. The LBA trip was great, thanks for the inspiration
HansHubers From Netherlands, joined Feb 2006, 76 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 years 7 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 4299 times:
Very nice tripreport, Jeroen! I think this is wat NE deserves, although it's too late! A pity that I couldn't join this trip with you, but I'm looking forward to our next trip to MXP the 28th of october
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1463 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 4223 times:
I've never flown on SKyEurope but you report gave a good impression of their service. It is indeed sad to see so many reputable carriers disappear due to the economy.
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From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1489 posts, 
. No wonder it was so cheap. So unfortunately I won't have the chance to try them out any more.
From Austria, joined Aug 2009, 98 posts, 
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