Comment / XL Airways have again leased a Finnair Boeing 757 for their Newcastle ops this summer. Two aircraft have passed through, with OH-LBS, seen here, completing the second half of the contract. Recently retrofitted with winglets, she has retained a basic Finnair scheme, with XL.com titles.

Comment / XL Airways have their largest program yet at Stansted this summer. G-XLAA arrives from Kos.

Comment / G-XLAG's nose wheel just starts to lift away from the tarmac after quite a lengthy take off run.

Comment / Now painted up in the new XL Airways livery, it was this Boeing 737-800, G-XLAA, that kicked off the Excel Airways story six years ago, back on May 1st 2001. Excel itself grew out of what was Sabre Airways, with whom 'AA first flew as G-OKDN upon delivery 1998.

Comment / XL Airways flew three charter flights into Stansted from Lourdes today, with G-XLAK seen here completing the last. 'AK was delivered to the recently rebranded carrier in January earlier this year.