For Mathew

MUNICH WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Yesterday was the inaugural flight of a daily Moscow to Munich West International flight by Russians version of Ryanair - Pobeda, the cheap flight sister of Aeroflot.

Munich West International is better known as Memmingen or 15 years ago as Memmingerberg, built in 1935 and later a US and German Air Force base for the somewhat infamous Starfighter. Runway is very long but only limited taxiing so only smallish planes allowed to use, such as B737 A320 etc.There is parking for 5 planes, 3 Schengen and 4 Non-Schengen gates. By the way Schengen was NOT an EU initiative but over time has become incorporated in to EU law structure. Membership is not restricted to EU states (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Vatican & San Marino). Several Balkan states still waiting to join. While Ireland is not in, they are "excused" as joining would endanger the long standing CTA agreement with the UK.

Who knows what will happen with Schengen, the EU and indeed Memmingen Airport. It is a superb airport for travellers and parkers but with just five arrivals and departures today, hardly financially viable. It is said they need 1m passengers a year, have broken the 800,000 level and hope to get to 900,000 this or next year. I'm looking forward to 6 of these arriving over the next few months.

I was in Memmingen for my pre-weekend wound check. All looking good and so long as they don't rip open themselves, back on Monday to have one stitch removed. Then with 6 minutes to spare shot out to the airport which took 7 minutes - Pobeda (Russian for Victory) hasn't quite learnt all of Ryanairs tactics and took off five minutes late.

Hope you enjoy it Mathew, a few more on your Flickr Album. and to you and all around you this weekend, have a great time.