Ryanair FR 6906
Departure : 1850 Brussels Charleroi
Arrival : 2030 Girona Barcelona
Price : 18.27 euros inclusive of all taxes

Ryanair operates out of Charleroi Airport to the south of Brussels. At first, we were thinking of taking the bus from Midi Station for about 10 euros, but in the end we settled for a taxi for 80 euros instead. We had a lot of luggage and loaded up on chocolates a few hours earlier so it was a good time to sleep during the hour-long ride to Charleroi.

Here is what the bus from Midi looks like. It's an articulated double-decker!

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0944.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0945.jpg

Charleroi's airport terminal is small but very clean and tidy.

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0941.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0940.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0947.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0949.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0960.jpg

The aircraft :

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0956.jpg

Passenger safety leaflets are glued to the seatbacks.

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0958.jpg

Takeoff :

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0969.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0970.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0978.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0980.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0986.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1000.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG0993.jpg

Inflight

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1001.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1002.jpg

Towards Girona

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1006.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1009.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1014.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1018.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1019.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1020.jpg

@ Girona Airport - a small and clean airport about an hour from Barcelona

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1032.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1027.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1031.jpg

Another Ryanair flight ready to depart Spain!

http://www.globalphotos.org/brussels/20050419/RIMG1030.jpg

Although the flight originated in Brussels, the main language of communication on-board was English, with French pre-recorded announcements. The descent was quite bumpy and a lot of passengers were edgy. Ryanair's pilots seem to enjoy gutsy maneuvres with their aircraft! Service was decent - nothing really exceptional but nothing bad either.

Great flight report hk

Thanks for your report and for keeping alive the thread about Europe's two biggest low cost carriers.

nice report and great aerial pics.

:okay: