An 'airfit' that has largely been overlooked.
The date of the match was Wednesday 13th December 1995.
Some 35 aircraft arrived for the event, from both Ireland and Holland - which includes all but one of the Ryanair fleet. Largest aircraft involved was indeed the Aer Lingus Airbus A.330-300 EI-JFK with a double run. The aircraft, which notched-up the first visit by type to Liverpool Airport was in an all-white scheme, green tail and 'Vacations Ireland' titles - it had taken over from Jumbo EI-BED as the high capacity seated aircraft in the fleet, with 381 seat capacity - all filled. There is a photo of it at Liverpool in December 1995 towards the end of a thread:
derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/164.
Wed 13.12.95 EI-JFK f&t Dublin EI4244/4245 1011-1127, pax i/b
Wed 13.12.95 EI-JFK f&t Dublin EI4246/4247 1412-14th/0048, pax i/b and o/b
Thu 14.12.95 EI-JFK f&t Dublin EI4247/4248 0233-0353, pax o/b.
With supporters came aircraft (large and small) from Aer Atlantic, Aer Lingus, Airlinks Airways, Base Airlines, Interline, Ireland Airways, Jetair, Manx Airlines, Quick Airwasy, Rijnmond Air Services, Ryanair, Sabre Airways, Translift, Tulip Airways and Woodgate Aviation. Ryanair also sub-chartered Air UK Leisure, Air 2000 and European Air Charter.
With Irish supporters:
AER ATLANTIC (RDK): Cessna 406 Caravan EI-CKY f&t Dublin
AER LINGUS (EIN): A.330 EI-JFK twice, B.737-400 EI-BXA, EI-BXB twice, EI-BXD, B.727-500 EI-CDE & EI-CDS. Taking supporters home afterwards: EI-JFK twice, EI-BXD, EI-CDH & EI-CDS plus some that were at Liverpool during the match waiting.
AIRLINKS AIRWAYS: Cessna 340a EI-CIJ from Galway.
INTERLINE (GYP): Short 330 G-BIFH from Donegal.
IRELAND AIRWAYS (EIX): Navajo Chieftains EI-BYE and EI-JTC.
MANX AIRLINES (MNX): BAe.146-200 G-MANS from Waterford, and BA EXPRESS (MXE) extras from Belfast G-MANJ Wed, G-BUUP on Thurs.
RYANAIR (RYR): 54 extra flights in all using Boeing 737-200s and sub-chartered Air 2000 Boeing 757 G-OOOV, Air UK Leisure B.737-400 G-UKLG thrice and EUROPEAN AIR CHARTER BAC-111-500 G-AYOP four times in all.
SABRE AIRWAYS (SBE) Boeing 727s G-BNNI and G-BPND both from/to Cork.
TRANSLIFT (TLE) Airbus A.320 EI-TLE and other flights into Manchester.
WOODGATE (WOD) Navajo Chieftain G-CITY from Dublin.
Also operating into Manchester (due to a shortage of ground transport at Liverpool) were Air 2000, Airtours and Monarch.
From Holland:
The Dutch aircraft were mostly GA twins, largest being Base's Jetstream 31 and there was also a Metro II. The Dutch supporter's airline charters using Manchester for segregation purposes.
In all Paul Ellison, who was editing 'North West Air News' Liverpool Airport Movements Review at the time reckons, that in all both sets of supporters accounted for:
Monday 11th December 1 arrival 0 departures
Tuesday 12th December 5 arrivals 5 departures
Wednesday 13th December 78 arrivals 43 departures
Thursday 14th December 28 arrivals 64 departures
TOTAL 112 arrivals 112 departures
.