The Airline: TPThe Routing: FNC-LIS-MAD-DOH-SHJ then 13 hours layover, then DXB-CMB-KUL followed by 20hrs layover, then KUL-SYDThe Segment: FNC-LISThe Aircraft: CS-TJO Airbus A321neoThe Date: Friday June 21, 2024

So, the return home begins!





Engines are rather quiet but it was refreshingly rattle free compared to other members of the A32x family I have flown in. The pilot gave us a spiel from the front, and he was quite articulate and excitable about Madeira, and was rightly applauded when he finished speaking. Then more applause when he repeated what he said in English. I loved his passion for his home island and it reflects accurately the people I have encountered in my travels around the island.





I brought my bread roll with jamon as my lunch aboard and enjoyed the non-scenery as we flew over water and above cloud. The Recaro seats are as thin as on a suburban train, clearly to maximise the number of rows they can pack into the flying bus, instead of optimising legroom. The tray table is laughably small, like putting a sail on a rubber duck and expecting it to win the Americas Cup.





Landed at another remote gate and thankfully my choice to be last to disembark was fruitful as I had a near-empty apron bus and opportunities to photograph the planes on the tarmac.