Ajax, Porto and Inter on the road - Europa League 20 February 2020

20 February 2020

Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Arsenal

Arsenal travelled to Greece on a widebody plane, Boeing 767-300/ER ZS-NEX, which has seen quite some use on behalf of Premier League teams in the past. The rather private nature of these flights made it difficult to track them however.

ARN219 STN 1421-1916 ATH B763 ZS-NEX (19/02/20)

FC Brugge vs. Manchester United

Manchester United are playing the UEL once again and at least have made it through to the  round of 32 in what otherwise looks like a very difficult season. They face a trip to Belgium, where they will play against FC Brugge:

GDA**** MAN 1000-xxxx OST E190 (19/02/2020)

GDA**** OST xxxx-2215 MAN E190 (20/02/2020)

Info courtesy of AlphaFive from Manchester.

VfL Wolfsburg vs. Malmö FF

Malmö are a team that is capable of anything and for once they made it to the round of 32 in the UEL, where they will face a Wolfsburg team that sits right in the middle of the table in the Bundesliga.

DW769 MMX 1100-xxxx BWE E195 (19/02/20)
DW769 BWE xxxx-0200 MMX E195 (21/02/20)

Shakhtar Donezk vs. SL Benfica

Benfica has a long trip on hand to face Shakhtar at their exile in Kharkov. They will travel there on 18 February 2020 already, with two planes.

MLT892 LIS 1455-xxxx HRK B735 9H-VOX (18/02/20)
PVG7885 LIS 1515-xxxx HRK EC-ISY (18/02/20)

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Espanyol Barcelona

In a clash between two sides not very used to international football, Espanyol will travel to Wolverhampton first up. Espanyol will use a KlasJet B737-500 for this trip. There will be a charter flight for the supporters as well, on a Privilege Style B757-200.

KLJ3270 BCN 1030-xxxx BHX B735 (19/02/20)

PVG1900 BCN 0900-xxxx BHX B752

KLJ3271 BHX xxxx-0245 BCN B735 (21/02/20)

PVG2000 BHX xxxx-0335 BCN B752 (21/02/20)

APOEL Nicosia vs. FC Basel

The Swiss vice-champions are back to European Football in spring and are up for a long trip right away. Helvetic Airways is going to take the team to Larnaca and back with an Embraer EMB-190:

2L1362 ZRH xxxx-0700 BSL E190 (19/02/20, ferry flt)
2L8362 BSL 0800-xxxx LCA E190 (19/02/20)
2L8365 LCA xxxx-1720 BSL E190 (21/02/20)
2L1365 BSL 1820-xxxx ZRH E190 (21/02/20, ferry flt)

Sporting Lisbon vs. Istanbul Basaksehir

A very late goal away at Borussia Mönchengladbach earned Erdogan's young favourite club a spot in the last 16 of the Europa League. Now it seems that they got a little upgrade for their upcoming trip to Lisbon for what will be a true challenge for them.

TK3381 IST 0940-1130 LIS A333 (19/02/20)

TK3382 LIS 1300-2030 IST A333 (21/02/20)

FC Getafe vs. Ajax Amsterdam

The Dutch champions dropped out of the Champions League at a very late stage in the sixth round of the group stage, while Getafe finished the Europa League group stage in second place behind FC Basel. There will be two rather normal charters from Amsterdam to Madrid for this first leg match, with TUI Netherlands and Transavia.

OR7347 AMS xxxx-1535 MAD B738 (19/02/20)

HV6019 AMS xxxx-0930 MAD B738

OR7358 MAD 2300-xxxx(+1) AMS B738

HV6020 MAD 0000-xxxx AMS B738 (21/02/20)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. FC Porto

This 19 February 2020 will be special in Porto, for there will be two HiFly A340s taking football teams to different destinations. One of them will fly to Cologne, right next to Leverkusen, where FC Porto will face Bayer Leverkusen. 

HFM631 OPO 0945-1315 CGN A343 (19/02/20)

HFM652 CGN 0150-0320 OPO A343 (21/02/20)

CFR Cluj vs. Sevilla CF

Sevilla has enjoyed a lot of success in past seasons in the Europa League, notably winning the trophy three times from 2014 to 2016. Their knock-out journey will start a long way from home, with a trip to Cluj.

ZT5071 SVQ 0900-xxxx CLJ A321 (19/02/20)

ZT5072 CLJ xxxx-1230 SVQ A321 (21/02/20)

AZ Alkmaar vs. LASK Linz

Currently Austria's next best team, LASK have earned themselves a trip to the Netherlands to face Alkmaar. LASK's European journey this season is quite long already, having played a number of rounds in the Champions League qualifiers in summer last year.

VK111P VIE 1130-1210 LNZ A320 (Ferry flt)

VK4444 LNZ 1300-1430 AMS A320

VK4445 AMS 1210-1340 LNZ A320

VK122P LNZ 1430-1510 VIE A320 (ferry flt)

Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Inter Milan

Inter are chasing after Juventus domestically, but still present in European competition as well. They will visit Ludogorets, who like many other times in recent years are the only competitive outfit from Bulgaria:

AZ9018 MXP xxxx-1710 VAR (19/02/20)

AZ9019 VAR 1100-xxxx MXP (21/02/20)

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. FC Salzburg

Seemingly overtaken by their "in-house" competition from Leipzig, Salzburg made it to the Champions League for the first time ever this season. They are back into their more familiar territory of the Europa League now, up for a trip to Frankfurt with Condor.

DE9336T FRA xxxx-1310 SZG A320 (19/02/20)

DE9337 SZG 1400-xxxx FRA A320 (19/02/20)

DE9336 FRA xxxx-1215 SZG A320 (21/02/20)

DE9337F SZG 1305-xxxx FRA A320 (21/02/20)

FC Kopenhagen vs. Celtic Glasgow

Celtic is known for a big traveling fan base and their tie in the round of 32 against Copenhagen looks nicely poised. One thing that seems certain is that there will be plenty of atmosphere at the Parken, as always when Copenhagen plays at home.

ENT561 GLA xxxx-1230 CPH B738 (19/02/20)
LS6035 GLA xxxx-1750 CPH B738 (19/02/20)

Glasgow Rangers vs. SC Braga

The other A340 of HiFly to leave Porto on 19 February 2020 will go to Glasgow, where SC Braga will face Rangers FC at Ibrox Park. Rangers have had some troubles in recent years, but they are firmly back on the European stage now.

HFM731 OPO 1030-xxxx GLA A332 CS-TQP (19/02/20)

HFM752 GLA xxxx-1630 OPO A332 CS-TQP (21/02/20)

United using the Russians again - Europa League Group Stage MD3

First time back in the second tier of European Football this season. For those who follow the Champions League charters too, the reasons may be known, but it is quite simple. Compiling the data takes a lot of time, so please forgive me, if in busy times, I may have to keep this thing on hold.

24 October 2019

Getafe vs. FC Basel

After a win against Krasnodar and a draw away at Trabzonspor, Basel is traveling down to Madrid on the Helvetic EMB-190 again:

OAW1072 ZRH 0830-0915 BSL E190 (23/10/19, ferry flt)

OAW8072 BSL 1000-1210 MAD E190 (23/10/19)

OAW8075 MAD 1400-1605 BSL E190 (25/10/19)

OAW1075 BSL 1650-1720 ZRH E190 (25/10/19, ferry flt)

Partizan Belgrade vs. Manchester United

Manchester United is once again using an Aeroflot A330-300 for the trip to Belgrade this time. Hopes of this turning out to be the SKYTEAM-liveried VQ-BCQ are over though, but VQ-BNS will hopefully do too:

SU7406 SVO xxxx-1300 MAN A333 VQ-BNS (23/10/19, ferry flt)

SU7410 MAN 1430-1825 BEG A333 VQ-BNS (23/10/19)

BSC Young Boys vs. Feyenoord Rotterdam

With Feyenoord, another team is traveling to Bern, but flying to Basel, using a Corendon Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-800

CND9291 RTM 1030-1145 BSL B738 (23/10/19)

CND195P BSL 1230-xxxx BJV B738 (23/10/19, ferry flt)

CND113 AMS 0815-0930 BSL B738 (25/10/19, ferry flt)

CND9292 BSL 1200-xxxx RTM B738 (25/10/19)

FC Porto vs. Rangers FC

LS6964 GLA 1020-1300 OPO B738 (23/10/19)
LS6978 GLA 1025-1310 OPO B738 (23/10/19)
ZT4201 GLA xxxx-1650 OPO B752 (23/10/19)

ZT4202 OPO 2200-xxxx GLA B752
LS6965 OPO 2230-xxxx GLA B738
LS6979 OPO 2240-xxxx GLA B738

Ludogorets Razgrad vs. RCD Espanyol

MLT662 BCN 0930-xxxx VAR B735 (23/10/19)

MLT663 VAR xxxx-0345 BCN B735 (25/10/19)

Sevilla CF vs. F91 Dudelange

KRP3049 LUX xxxx-1250 SVQ F100 (23/10/19)

KRP3050 SVQ 1100-xxxx LUX F100 (25/10/19)

FK Qarabag Agdam vs. APOEL Nicosia

AEE4950 LCA 1000-xxxx GYD A320 (23/10/19)

CSKA Moscow vs. Ferencvaros Budapest

ENT566 BUD 1000-xxxx VKO B738 (23/10/19)

AS Roma vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

EW5214 DUS xxxx-1305 FCO A320 (23/10/19)

NO4560 DUS xxxx-1030 FCO B738

Europa League Final, 29 May 2019

29 May 2019

Arsenal vs. Chelsea (in Baku)

Once again a final of two English teams takes place far away from home. In fact, Baku is quite possibly the furthest away from England a European final has ever taken place. The first known flights are a couple of extra flights by Azerbaijan Airlines, for once operating in and out of Gatwick:


GNJ57 LTN 1145-1945 GYD B752 SX-RFA (25/05/19, Arsenal team charter)
ARN129 LGW 1600-0030(+1) GYD B763 ZS-NEX (27/05/19, Chelsea team charter)
AHY4007 GYD 0320-xxxx STN B788 VP-BBS (28/05/19, ferry flt)
AHY4008 STN xxxx-1630 GYD B788 VP-BBS (28/05/19)

AHY4009 GYD 0500-0800 LGW B763 (28/05/19)

AHY4010 LGW 0910-1740 GYD B763 (28/05/19)
HFM421 STN 0900-1730 GYD A388 9H-MIP (28/05/19)
MLT638 STN 0915-1745 GYD A346 9H-PGS (28/05/19)
ENZ389A STN 0915-1500 OTP 1615-2005 GYD RJ85 G-JOTR (28/05/19)
ENT583 STN 0730-1700 GYD B738 SP-ESE (29/05/19)
PLM8243 STN 0930-1730 GYD B744 EC-KSM (29/05/19)
BV8320 LTN 0915-1730 GYD B738 EI-CSI (29/05/19)
BV8316 LTN 0945-1745 GYD B763 I-BPAD (29/05/19)

AHY4009 GYD 1230-1530 LGW A345 (30/05/19)

AHY4010 LGW 1650-0120(+1) GYD A345 (30/05/19)

UEFA Europa League Semifinal, return leg, 9 May 2019

9 May 2019

Chelsea vs. SG Eintracht Frankfurt

The German club with its massive supporter base is traveling to London in hope of a great surprise at Stamford Bridge. Eintracht has not made it to a major final in many years, while Chelsea has won the Champions League and the Europa League a few years ago. The team is traveling with Air X, while the supporters are on their way with Luxair and TUI:

AXY0803 FRA 1300-1315 STN B735 9H-YES (08/05/19)

TUI8978 FRA 1100-1130 STN A321 (08/05/19)

LG7753 FRA 1100-1120 STN B738 (08/05/19)

TUI8980 FRA 0900-0930 STN A321 (09/05/19)

TUI8981 STN 0300-0535 FRA A321 (10/05/19)

LG7754 STN 1205-1425 FRA B738 (10/05/19)

TUI8984 STN 1500-1735 FRA B738 (10/05/19)

UEFA Europa League Semifinal, first leg, 2 May 2019

2 May 2019

Arsenal vs. Valencia CF

Pegged back in the Premier League, Arsenal is still playing for a Champions League spot through the Europa League channel. Of course, with the competition nearing its business end, the opposition will only get stronger. Valencia was one of the teams to end the Champions League group stage in third place and has since found a path that has led the team up to the semifinal. In the quarterfinals they beat Villarreal in a regional derby:

YW2011 VLC 1130-xxxx LTN CRJX (01/05/19)
YW2012 LTN xxxx-0600 VLC CRJX (03/05/19)

UEFA Europa League Quarterfinals, return leg, 18 April 2019

18 April 2019

SSC Napoli vs. Arsenal

ZT713 LTN 1030-1415 NAP B752 G-POWH (17/04/19)

SG Eintracht Frankfurt vs. SL Benfica

Trailing 2-4 after the first leg in Lisbon, Eintracht at least had two away goals to play with. They still need two goals on their own to qualify - but did so in grand style. Filip Kostic and Sebastian Rode scored the two goals required to help Frankfurt into the semifinals, while Benfica returned home on a plain white A340 the next day.

HFY631 LIS 0900-1255 FRA A343 CS-TQY (17/04/19)

HFY651 FRA 1500-1700 LIS A343 CS-TQY (19/04/19)

Chelsea vs. Slavia Prague

SR8651 LGW xxxx-0600 PRG A320 (19/04/19)

UEFA Europa League, QF 1st leg, 11 April 2019

11 April 2019

SL Benfica vs. SG Eintracht Frankfurt

The supporters from Frankfurt have made themselves a name around Europe for arriving in vast number to games and this away trip to the big Estadio da Luz in Lisbon will be no different:

XG3899 FRA 1000-1210 LIS B738 D-ASXP (10/04/19)

AXY1002 FRA 1025-1220 LIS B735 9H-OME (10/04/19)

XG3899 FRA 0905-1115 LIS B738 (11/04/19)

DE9420 FRA 0905-1100 LIS B753 (11/04/19)

Slavia Prague vs. Chelsea

ZT2701 LGW xxxx-1755 PRG B752 (10/04/19)

Arsenal vs. SSC Napoli

AP7703 NAP xxxx-1110 LTN B738 (10/04/19)
NO4070 NAP xxxx-1215 LGW (11/04/19)