Gallery Update: Charters Galore at PDX!!!

Happy week of Thanksgiving everyone!

In the midst of the holiday chaos (which is only just beginning!) and longer work hours, I did another spotting trip to Portland today because something incredibly special was happening this week, which made the trip entirely worthwhile! This week, two college basketball tournaments are occurring as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday week here in Portland at the Rose Quarter and an obscenely large number of charter flights were coming to town; they are the Phil Knight Invitational (PKI) and the Phil Knight Legacy (PKL) tournaments, which both includes men's and women's divisions. This many charter flights, including several from airlines that are a rare sight for PDX means I HAD to chase a few of these down, especially some of the more notable ones!

I managed to chase down four different charters for this occasion and they include a Breeze Airways Embraer E-190, an Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-800, a Global Crossing/Global X Airlines Airbus A321, and a World Atlantic Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83. For me, personally, the biggest highlight was seeing the Breeze Airways E-190, Global X's A321, and of course World Atlantic's "Mad Dog." It's also notable that today apparently marked the first time that both Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways touched down into Portland for the first time. After getting spoiled at Las Vegas earlier this month, it was nice to see something out of the ordinary at PDX on this trip.

Portland (PDX)

Preview:

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990/ER (N486AS) sporting the OneWorld livery departing on 28L as ASA545 for New York-JFK.

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 (N421QX) in the retro livery departing on 28L as QXE2150 for Reno/Tahoe.

There's not much time left to catch Horizon Air's Dash 8s before the Alaska Air Group retires them early next year...

Check out those prop vortices!

We have until the end of January and that'll be the end of the Horizon Air Dash 8 saga...

American Airlines Airbus A320-232 (N647AW) taxiing for departure as AAL1439 for Phoenix-Sky Harbor.

AAL1439 departing on 28L for Phoenix-Sky Harbor.

After seeing nothing but A319s and A321s from American in recent months, it's nice to see their A320s again.

Jazz Air (d/b/a Air Canada Express) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 (C-GGFP) arriving on 28R as JZA654 from Vancouver.

JZA654 taxiing to the gate.

AirPac Airlines Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (N619MA) airborne off 28R as APC1911 for Tillamook. Last time I photographed this converted Caravan, it was operating for West Air. I'm guessing this airframe got transferred.

Breeze Airways Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW E-190AR (N114BZ) arriving on 28R as MXY6352 from Des Moines.

My first time photographing one of Breeze Airways' E-190s!

On board are the Iowa State University Cyclones men and women's basketball teams. 

The men's team plays Villanova on Thanksgiving Day at the Moda Center in the Phil Knight Invitational.

Meanwhile, the women's team will play Michigan State on Thanksgiving Day at the Chiles Center as part of the Phil Knight Invitational.

Airframe first delivered to Air Canada as C-FLWE in July 2007.

Airframe stayed with Air Canada for 13 years until the COVID-19 pandemic occurred; withdrawn from use in May 2020 as part of Air Canada slimming down their fleet in an effort cut costs in the midst of reduced travel demand.

Airframe ferried to Tucson for storage and remained there from May 2020 until April 2021.

Had the pandemic not screwed every aspect of life, it's likely a sure bet that the E-190 fleet would've been around throughout 2020 and perhaps even until the end of last year, as the 737 MAX family were brought back on line and Air Canada received enough Airbus A220-300s.

Aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) took ownership of this airframe in August 2020 and was temporarily re-registered as N92NB.

At the end of April 2021, this airframe was ferried over San Jose, Costa Rica for temporary storage in preparation for service with Breeze Airways.

Breeze Airways officially took delivery of this airframe in August 2021, just a few months after commencing operations.

MXY6352 clearing 28R. Apparently, this occasion is the very first time that a Breeze Airways flight has landed at PDX.

Breeze Airways commenced operations May of last year with the E-190 and E-195s.

The airline originally intended to launch operations with the Airbus A220-300, which they announced an order for in 2018.

However, in order to launch services sooner due to wait times for the A220 fleet, Breeze took on second-hand E-195s from Brazilian low-cost airline Azul (another airline founded by David Neeleman) as well as the E-190 from an aircraft lessor.

Breeze originally intended to launch operations some time in 2020. However, that ambition got pushed back a year due to the pandemic.

During the year 2020, a supposed opportunity arose for Breeze Airways to launch by purchasing the air operator certificate of regional airline, Compass Airlines, which ceased operations in April 2020 due to pandemic repercussions.

However, due to protests from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which demanded that employment contracts be preserved at the new company if the acquisition were to go through, Breeze instead elected to go forward with applying for its own AOC rather than buying Compass Airlines' AOC that would've come with stipulations from ALPA.

When they first launched a little over a year ago, Breeze utilized the E-jets on short-haul and regional routes while sticking with its business model of flying point-to-point routes on city-pairs that most other airlines currently don't fly.

Breeze started operations out east and have since moved their way out to the west coast, albeit slowly.

Face-to-face with the Breeze Airways E-190.

Having just seen a handful of Breeze Airways Airbus A220-300s at Las Vegas earlier this month, I'm thrilled to finally see one of their E-190s, the plane that played a role in starting their operations!

Breeze Airways was granted federal approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin operations on March 10, 2021 and granted its AOC on May 14, 2021.

MXY6352 taxiing to the FBO.

All of Breeze Airways E-190s are former Air Canada aircraft. The E-195s (which I've yet to see!) are former Azul and Air Europa Express aircraft.

The first E-190 was delivered to Breeze in February 2021.

Breeze Airways is among the few U.S. carriers to operate the E-190; they also hold the distinction of being the first U.S. airline to operate the E-195 (hence the reason I REALLY want to see one!).

With David Neeleman at the helm of his latest airline venture, we should expect to see Breeze Airways succeed.

Considering that Neeleman's industry experience and past successes, Breeze should be able shake up the U.S. airline industry.

Needless to say, this is one airline I'll be keeping an eye on!

Now the only sub-type I've yet to photograph from Breeze's fleet is the slightly-longer E-195s!

United Airlines Boeing 737-824 (N73270) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 28L as UAL380 from Chicago O'Hare.

Gulfstream Aerospace G280 (N686BE) airborne off 28R for Seattle-Boeing Field.

Diamond DA-62 (N646LA) airborne off 28R as LND124 for Bend.

Only my second time photographing the relatively-new DA-62.

This particular airframe apparently is frequently seen flying between Portland and Bend as part of some aerial survey work.

Horizon Air (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 (N430QX) exiting 28R after arriving as QXE2184 from Seattle/Tacoma.

Boutique Air Pilatus PC-12/47 (N842WF) taxiing to the FBO ramp after arriving on 28R as BTQ355 from Pendleton.

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-86N (N233GE) arriving on 28R as VXP8579 from Raleigh/Durham.

This moment is apparently the first-ever visit of Avelo Airlines into PDX.

Also my third time seeing an Avelo 737-800 overall.

Flight is carrying the Duke University Blue Devils men's basketball team.

The Blue Devils play against Oregon State this coming Thursday as part of the Phil Knight Legacy at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Note the N-number on this airframe is different compared to what Avelo typically registers their planes.

First delivered Jet Airways as VT-JFC in August 2012.

After its stint with Jet Airways, aircraft was returned lessor GECAS in June 2019 and re-registered as 2-JFCG.

GECAS leased this airframe out to SpiceJet in September 2019 and was re-registered as VT-SYV.

Face-to-face with Avelo's 737-800 under some gorgeous lighting!

After a year with SpiceJet, airframe was returned to GECAS and re-registered to the current N-number in October 2020.

VXP8579 taxiing to the FBO ramp.

In November 2021, aircraft lessor AerCap took on this airframe before leasing it to Avelo Airlines starting in June of this year.

Avelo intends to re-register this airframe as N804VL.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A319-114 (N364NB) arriving on 28R as DAL1471 from Los Angeles.

Boutique Air Pilatus PC-12/47 (N471SS) airborne off 28R as BTQ358 for Pendleton.

Global Crossing Airlines (d/b/a Global X) Airbus A321-231 (N277GX) arriving on 28R as GXA642 from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

My first time seeing Global X!

Flight is carrying the University of Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

The Crimson Tide will play against Michigan State on Thanksgiving Day as part of the Phil Knight Invitational at the Moda Center.

You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of Global Crossing Airlines/Global X. They are an American Part 121, domestic, flag, and supplemental charter airline headquartered in Miami, Florida founded in 2019 by Ed Wegel, who previously co-founded the reincarnated Eastern Air Lines (the 2015 version). 

GXA642 taxiing to the FBO ramp.

Global X commenced operations in August 2021 and specializes in providing ad-hoc passenger charter and cargo airlift to destinations throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America.

This airframe first started life with Vietnam Airlines in May 2005 as VN-A349. It was then leased to Cambodia Angkor Air in April 2012; it was re-registered to XU-349 while in Cambodia June 2013. Returned to Vietnam Airlines in March 2017. 

Airframe was re-registered to YL-LDE in 2019 and prepped for transfer to SmartLynx, but wasn't taken up.

Airframe went into storage in 2020 under the care of an Estonian lessor as ES-MLS.

Taken up by Global X in April 2021. It is the first A321 to join the Global X fleet.

C-GGFP airborne off 28R retaining the JZA654 call-sign for the return-trip to Vancouver.

N114BZ airborne off 28R as MXY6403 for Provo.

Breeze Airways, which is headquartered in the suburbs of Salt Lake City since early 2020 did NOT serve any Utah destination until they announced that they would establish a base at Provo May of this year.

Now that Breeze has a handful of Airbus A220-300s in their fleet in addition the E-190/E-195s that commenced operations with, the E-190s have since been relegated to charter work (such as this particular occasion!).

Out of their Provo hub, Breeze currently serves five destinations. I'm personally hoping for Breeze to make their way to the Pacific Northwest on a scheduled basis in the near future.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 (N802NW) taxiing for departure as DAL178 for Amsterdam.

DAL178 departing on 28R for Amsterdam.

Outside conditions were conducive to visible vapor forming on the wings!

Note the wingtip vortices.

Photographing effects like this is one of the few perks of living in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a lot.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-100 (N127DU) arriving on 28R as DAL1610 from Seattle/Tacoma.

N73270 departing on 28R as UAL2254 for Denver.

The blue shades of United's new livery looks fantastic under this evening light!

N233GE airborne off 28R as VXP9544 for a short hop down to Eugene.

Rather than take up ramp space at PDX, Avelo has elected to sent this airframe down to Eugene for the duration of the tournament until it is called upon.

The airline at least has out-station support down at Eugene, where they serve on a scheduled basis.

World Atlantic Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (N802WA) arriving on 28R as WAL8804 from Lincoln, Nebraska.

An MD-80 in 2022! This sight brought tears of joy to my eyes!

Ever since American, Delta, and Allegiant retired their "Mad Dog" fleets in recent years, MD-80 sightings have become an extremely rare sight anywhere here in the states!

This is only my second time photographing World Atlantic Airlines and it has been six years since I last saw this airline!

On board are the Xavier University Musketeers men's basketball team.

WAL8804 taxiing to the FBO ramp.

The Musketeers will play the University of Florida Gators this Thursday at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum as part of the Phil Knight Legacy.

While I got to see a few derelict MD-80s at Madras this past summer, I really missed the indistinguishable sound of the Mad Dog's Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines!

Airframe first delivered to Alaska Airlines as N942AS in July 1990.

After spending about nine years with Alaska Airlines, it went to Spanair as EC-HGA in August 1999. It was transferred to another Spanish airline called Air Comet as EC-KBA in February 2007.

Airframe went to a British carrier called Flightline as G-FLTM in June 2007; it operated on the behalf of an Irish airline called Aviajet.

Airframe acquired by ILFC in January 2009 and re-registered as N751LF.

World Atlantic took on this airframe in August 2009 and had it re-registered to the current N-number. This airframe is the very first MD-80 inducted into the World Atlantic Airlines fleet.

There's no doubt that the sight of a "Mad Dog" is one I'll never get tired of!