Welcome to Ringway Reports - Champions League Edition!

Facts from the event:

* 55,000 passengers

* 889 aircraft movements

* 400 pairs of extra aircraft wheel chocks

* Normal security staffing and equipment would have meant a 15 hour delay for passengers. Over £200k extra spent for extra staff and equipment.

* Runway 2 Fire station was used as a separate terminal for quick processing of the passengers on the MD-80s.

* Delays getting passengers from the planes was due to Tour Operators not ordering coaches.

* No football related arrests at the airport / Old Trafford / city centre during the 24 hours.

* Over 1,000 coach journeys to and from the football ground.

* 7,000+ aircraft enthusiasts from all over the UK, Europe and a US 'spotter' who arrived on the Continental flight the same morning.

* 7,000+ postcards sent to the local community warning them of the possible chaos during the event

Complaints:

* 3 noise-related during the day.

* None during the evening either noise or track deviation

* 100 complimentary letters from local residents.

** Busiest hour = 61 movements

** Maximum number of aircraft on ground  = 202

** Maximum number of aircraft in any 24 hour period = 942

UEFA quote "Best ever travel arrangements ever"

Thousands of Italian football supporters, officials and sponsors descended on Manchester Airport in anything that had wings, engines and could fly (!) on Wednesday 28th May 2003 as Juventus of Turin faced AC of Milan in the 2003 Champions League Final held at the home of Manchester United - Old Trafford.

Between the hours of 05.00 - 20.00 hundreds of football-related movements were recorded with aircraft noted arriving at a rate of one-per minute at regular intervals during daylight hours. By 8pm NEA resembled Davis Monthan (even the sun was out!), action at the terminals was non-stop throughout the day and over at Runway 2, ops appeared to be holding an MD-80 convention! Images of the Day

Off the airfield, and Manchester Airport officials, authorities and Police did as much, if not more, for visiting 'spotters' as they did for visiting fans with 'situations' arising from early morning queues into the Aviation Viewing Park kept to a minimum and more-than adequate on-site facilities making for a great day for both the thousands of enthusiasts who turned up and the airport itself.

Of course this article and the information and advice provided in advance would not be online as it is without the assistance of the airport, the Aviation Society and fellow enthusiasts who all made significant contributions, whether they knew it or not!

If you have a view on the 'big day', and/or would like to thank Manchester Airport and the Aviation Society please show your appreciation and sign the Champions League guestbook. It only takes a minute. Comments will be conveyed to the people, affiliations and authorities who made Wednesday 28th May happen for you.

Sign Guestbook | View Guestbook

Paul Yates. 29 May 2003

Monday 26th May

Champions League Final week kicked off with AC Milan arriving onboard Volare Airbus 330 I-VLEH as "VA 1882" early evening. The aircraft positioned to Dublin as "Volare 804P" just over one hour later.

Juventus arrived from Turin as expected in Blue Panorama 'team bus' Boeing 737-400 EI-CUN as "BV 5852". The aircraft returned to Turin as "BV 9853", but is expected to return later in the week. Movements

Tuesday 27th May

Football flights moved into day two of four with Volare Airbus 321 I-PEKN visiting over the lunchtime period as "VA 1874/975P". Blue Panorama 737-400 EI-CUN returned as "BV 5854/9855"

Lighter arrivals included Swiss Piper Aerostar HB-LIN, Citation LN-SUX ("Midnight 560"), Lear OO-LFV (ABG 23V) and Challenger HB-IVS. Movements

Wednesday 28th May

Aircraft arrived from the early hours throughout the day...

05:00 - 09:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Eurofly started as they meant to go on, with their entire Airbus 320 fleet visiting during the morning. First in was I-EEZG (EEZ 1958/8959), followed by I-EEZC (EEZ 1904/8905), I-BIKF and I-BIKD. Not to be outdone, Volare visited with A320s F-OHFR & F-OHFT early on along with Boeing 767-300 I-VIMQ (VA 1808).

The first of many flights operated by NEOS Boeing 737-800 arrived with I-NEOT arriving as "Moonflower 7233". I-NEOS and I-NEOU also visited several times during the day.

Air Malta Boeing 737-300 9H-ADN was the first aircraft to be directed to the southside after arrival. Unsurprisingly, the pilot became slightly disorientated after vacating the runway leading to a one hour delay off-loading passengers!

09:00 - 10:00 Movements | Images of the Day

With the rest of the Eurofly single-aisle Airbus fleet continuing to arrive, Azzurra Boeing 737-700 D-AGEY raised a few eyebrows with the first go-around of the day as "ZS 2320".

LTU Airbus 321 D-ALSA arrived as "LT 9916" whilst the day's first NEA arrival - Brasilia F-GVBR arrived and parked remote as "OCN 2176".

10:00 - 11:00 Movements | Images of the Day

The first arrival of the hour was a late addition to the expected list of movements - Air Luxor Airbus 320 CS-TMW touched down as "LK 2035".

The first bizjet came in the form of Falcon 20 I-GOBJ at quarter past the hour, narrowly beaten in by 767-300 EI-CRF .. the first of many 'large' arrivals as "Alitalia 8220". Turkish Falcon 900 TC-AKK showed up as planned.

It was joined by East African Boeing 767-300 5Y-QQQ - a last-minute replacement for the earlier-expected Livingston A321, bringing AC Milan supporters 'on safari' to Manchester as "Lauda Italy 5741".

LTU pair D-ALPE (A330) and A320 D-ALTD (wearing Hertha Berlin FC titles) completed the mid-morning increase in traffic.

12:00 - 13:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Executive and private aircraft began to appear, with Gulfstream 5 I-DEAS being the first arrival to grace the NEA apron. Other visitors were directed to remote parking, including Metro PH-DYM as DYE 141.

Continuing the diverse theme, former Khalifa-liveried A330 C-FRAV arrived on a Skyservice (of Canada) flight from Milan as "SSV 882"!

Star Airlines' sole Airbus 330 F-GRSQ arrived from Paris as "SEU 900L" and parked remote near terminal one.

MD-80s began to arrive to form an impressive line-up of the type on the southside of the airfield. Viking, a new Swedish operator, lent their '80 for the Italian airlift. SE-RDF arrived as "VIK 7330" late morning along with Nordic '82 HB-INR (NDC 801).

Air Dolomiti Canadair Regional Jet I-ADJA sneaked in as "EN 287" just before midday.

13:00 - 14:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Austrian Airbus 340 OE-LAK caused a stir, arriving as "OS 2741" late in the hour to join company A321 OE-LBA on-stand.

Travel Service Spain Boeing 737-800 EC-ILX arrived as "VSG 116" and parked near the Trident far training area south-side.

Croatian MD-80 operator Air Adriatic sent 9A-CBD with another 'plane-load' and joined Alitalia '80 I-DATP over the far side.

As aircraft began to arrive at a rate of one every three minutes, bizjets began to mingle in with the inbounds. Falcon 900 I-SNAB ("SNM 431"), Challenger HB-ILK ("Jet Aviation 902") and Lear 35 I-ZOOM joined Hahn Air Metroliner D-CSWF ("Rooster 800") and gave NEA ops their first main task of the day.

Rarely-seen in the UK Gandalf Airlines Dornier 328JET D-BGAG arrived as "GNF 8129" and went to the NEA apron to join the Learjet 35 OO-LFV and Gulfstream 5 I-DEAS.

14:00 - 15:00 Movements | Images of the Day

A minor dip in proceedings was brought to life with the arrival of Dutchbird Boeing 757 PH-DBH, on a charter for 'official beer' sponsors Amstel, from Amsterdam as "DBR 9325".

Further Executive arrivals during the hour included Falcon 2000 HB-IAZ (TAG Avation 430), Falcon 2000 I-SNAW (not today!) as "SNM 334"), Lear 31 LX-PAT and '35 I-VULC plus Citation I-JESO and Learjet 45 I-ERJC ("Jet Italia 1433"). 

15:00 - 16:00 Movements

Flying the flag (out of the cockpit window!) for Juventus was domestic operator Air One, with Boeing 737-400 EI-CXJ parking over the far side after touchdown as "AP 8658".

Air Taxi operators for the day, Eurofly and Neos began to repeat visit, but there was sufficient biz traffic to maintain enthusiasts' interest. Falcon 50 F-GMOT (OCN 5118), BAe 125 I-ALHO, Citationjet 2 N158CJ, Lear 45 pair LX-DSL and I-ERJD ("ERJ 1443") arrived along with Gulf 4 I-LUBI (in a similar livery to G5 I-DEAS). Boeing Business Jet P4-GJC appeared, as it did on Quarter Final day when Real Madrid came to town to face Manchester United.

16:00 - 17:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Despite scheduled commitments elsewhere, Alitalia aircraft continued to appear, with Boeing 767-300 EI-CRO and MD-80 I-DACU joining late MD-11 I-DUPE ("AZ 8400").

Blueline's planned flight was operated by Air Mediterannee A321 F-GYAN as "Blueberry 424".

Gestair GlobEx EC-IBD arrived as "GES 102" and Vicaro Metroliner I-VICY arrived over an hour earlier than first expected, with the happiest-sounding pilot ever on-board!

17:00 - 18:00 Movements | Images of the Day

With less than three hours to the first whistle, things really started to 'kick off' with over 10 exec jet arrivals, including Global Express #2 of 3 N700HX, which parked southside.

Austrian Challenger OE-IYA joined Italian trio Beechjet I-TOPJ ("Sirioflight 300"), 125s I-RONY and I-CIGH ("FLJ 700"). Falcon 10 I-CREM also arrived to park off-NEA late in the hour.

Perhaps 'star of the show' for many, Italian Air Force Airbus 319CJ MM62174 arrived as rumoured, as "India 2173".

18:00 - 19:00 Movements | Images of the Day

The second MD-11 arrival, Alitalia's I-DUPD touched down as "AZ 8230" whilst other widebody movements included the returning 5Y-QQQ with another batch of supporters on safari to Stockport!

Octavia Beech 1900D F-HCHA arrived late on, just as it did for the previous final at Glasgow a year earlier, as "OCN 2176". Piaggio Avanti I-BCOM (WLR 328) also mingled in with the crowd off-NEA.

Globex C-GJTK arrived unexpectedly as "DeHavilland 1". Though not a football movements, the Indian-bound aircraft was still a welcome sight nonetheless.

19:00 - 20:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Aircraft 'cutting it a bit fine' included Challenger 601 VP-CBS, BJ-400 I-IPIZ ("PAJ 001") southside-bound Cirrus Dash 8 D-BKIM ("CIR 2128") and Falcon 900 I-TLCM "SNM 532".

Missing the queue for a pie and bovril completely was Slovenian Citation S5-BAX and Cessna 421 D-INTA. Both presumed football-related, but slightly late!

20:00 - 23:00 Movements | Images of the Day

Not a great deal on or off the pitch, with AC Milan eventually lifting the trophy via a penalty shoot-out after what seemed like three days of goal-less open play. A total contrast to the excitement of the day as the majority of enthusiasts began to head off home. 

23:00 - 00:00 Movements | Images of the Day

A further two arrivals were recorded as aircraft began to depart en-masse. Premiair Airbus 330 OY-VKI positioned in as "Viking 9064" along with Transavia 737-800 PH-HZI (HV 93).

First out was Spanish GlobEx EC-IBD as "Gestair 103". Twelve hours-worth of departures were to follow.

Wednesday 28th May - View from the tower

If it all looked impressive at ground level ... and you wished you could have seen it all from the tower - well now you can!! Special thanks to John Wildman for the following set of images.

T2 remote gets busy	Level 13 as you've never seen it before!	Freight terminal slightly congested!	Eurofly 'mopeds' double park	"There's a what and a what outside the FLS at the moment"?!
NEA-NBAA	Nose-to-tail MD-80s	Oh park anywhere then!	Room for a little one?	Ten more aircraft than you'd normally see on T2 early afternoon!