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G-XLAF 3 Boeing 737-86NW Excel Airways MAN 21APR06

Replacing an earlier digital photo with a better version 21-Apr-23.

 

Fitted with blended winglets.

 

First flown in Feb-02 with the Boeing test registration N1786B, this aircraft was re-registered N6055X for some Boeing test flights in early Mar-02. It was delivered to GECAS and leased to Excel Airways as G-XLAF in Mar-02.

 

It was wet leased to Air Europa (Spain) between Nov-02/Apr-03. The aircraft was wet-leased to Ryanair between Nov-03/Mar-04. It was fitted with blended winglets in Apr-06. In Nov-06 Excel Airways was renamed XL Airways UK.

 

The aircraft was leased to Sunwing Airlines (Canada) as C-GOAF in Dec-06. It was sub-leased back to XL Airways UK, operated by Sunwing, in May-07 and returned to Sunwing in Nov-07 for the winter season.

 

It was again sub-leased back to XL Airways UK in May-08. XL Airways UK ceased operations in Sep-08 and Sunwing returned the aircraft to the lessor the following day.

 

It was initially stored at Lasham, UK and re-registered N29883 in Oct-08. In Mar-09 the aircraft was leased to Garuda Indonesia Airlines as PK-GEI. It was returned to the lessor in Jun-16 and was leased to Sriwijaya Airways as PK-CMT the following month.

 

The aircraft was withdrawn from service and stored at Jakarta-CGK in Jun-20 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and financial problems relating to non-payment of maintenance and leasing charges. It was permanently retired and broken up at Jakarta-CGK, Indonesia in Jul-22. Updated 21-Apr-23.

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Uploaded on April 21, 2023
Taken on April 21, 2006