Route Development & Rumours

[LBA4EVER]

I hear IPS Airways are making a comeback with an all new blue livery.

X2 daily into LBA with A330s!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Seriously if this TUI rumour is something to come to fruition what will they offer to LBA?

Will it be a permanent year round base? (probably not knowing TUI even though LBA could easily sustain a winter operation)

Will they have been told something regarding the application LBA are going to put in re: NEO's and MAX's in November? (e.g. likely LBA will approve).

They have 16 Max 8's due for delivery of which they have stated they will replace the older 737-800's and further 10 Max 10's. The oldest 737-800 according to plan spotters.net is only 20 years old so they could keep it tbf and have some expansion, TUI need it after all.

In terms of routes they will feed the Cruise division that goes without saying.

Palma & Corfu in Summer, Tenerife and Gran Canaria in Winter.
Turkey - could easily be fed by Sun express though I'm one of these people that would prefer to see TUI metal on it.
Greece - Rhodes/ Heraklion/ Zante alongside Corfu.
Spain - Tenerife goes without saying - Lanzarote? Alicante is definitely sown up by JetRyanair2 from LBA.
Tunisia?
Egypt?
Cape Verde?

Egypt (Sharm and Hurgahda) and Cape Verde would be a shout for October to April time especially. Offers something different to JetRyanair2.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Seriously if this TUI rumour is something to come to fruition what will they offer to LBA?

Will it be a permanent year round base? (probably not knowing TUI even though LBA could easily sustain a winter operation)

Will they have been told something regarding the application LBA are going to put in re: NEO's and MAX's in November? (e.g. likely LBA will approve).

They have 16 Max 8's due for delivery of which they have stated they will replace the older 737-800's and further 10 Max 10's. The oldest 737-800 according to plan spotters.net is only 20 years old so they could keep it tbf and have some expansion, TUI need it after all.

In terms of routes they will feed the Cruise division that goes without saying.

Palma & Corfu in Summer, Tenerife and Gran Canaria in Winter.
Turkey - could easily be fed by Sun express though I'm one of these people that would prefer to see TUI metal on it.
Greece - Rhodes/ Heraklion/ Zante alongside Corfu.
Spain - Tenerife goes without saying - Lanzarote? Alicante is definitely sown up by JetRyanair2 from LBA.
Tunisia?
Egypt?
Cape Verde?

Egypt (Sharm and Hurgahda) and Cape Verde would be a shout for October to April time especially. Offers something different to JetRyanair2.

I would be stunned if Tui increase their committment at Leeds. As regards basing aircraft its pie in the sky.

 

[Starflyer]

If TUI open a base at LBA. You can guarantee the diversion rates will go up

Back in Britannia days with the based 757 (and for a time, a based 767) the LBA Base Captain (whose double-barrelled name I can’t immediately recall) had something of a reputation for diversions. This wasn’t just at LBA - he was nicknamed “Vasco de Gama” in BY Ops at Luton as you never knew which new place he’d find to land next …

 

[White Heather]

Seriously if this TUI rumour is something to come to fruition what will they offer to LBA?

Will it be a permanent year round base? (probably not knowing TUI even though LBA could easily sustain a winter operation)

Will they have been told something regarding the application LBA are going to put in re: NEO's and MAX's in November? (e.g. likely LBA will approve).

They have 16 Max 8's due for delivery of which they have stated they will replace the older 737-800's and further 10 Max 10's. The oldest 737-800 according to plan spotters.net is only 20 years old so they could keep it tbf and have some expansion, TUI need it after all.

In terms of routes they will feed the Cruise division that goes without saying.

Palma & Corfu in Summer, Tenerife and Gran Canaria in Winter.
Turkey - could easily be fed by Sun express though I'm one of these people that would prefer to see TUI metal on it.
Greece - Rhodes/ Heraklion/ Zante alongside Corfu.
Spain - Tenerife goes without saying - Lanzarote? Alicante is definitely sown up by JetRyanair2 from LBA.
Tunisia?
Egypt?
Cape Verde?

Egypt (Sharm and Hurgahda) and Cape Verde would be a shout for October to April time especially. Offers something different to JetRyanair2.

I am afraid my trust in TUi is long gone and would be gobsmacked if they came here. Indeed, its been said not too long ago that TUi had no interest in a base, or even increased ops out of LBA. We know too of their love affair with DSA and we keep being told by the pro DSA lot that TUi will definitely be going back. If that is the case then there's no way they would set up a base 30 miles up the road within 12 months of DSA opening. Surely??

Let's put it this way. If TUi come to LBA instead of DSA, it would be the deal of the century by LBA and the perfect way to hit back at DSA with its public funding aimed specifically at undermining LBA and others. But only 2 weeks ago, Vince Hodder admitted he had been in discussions with TUi, who had indicated a substantial change in their business plan. But there was no hint of them coming here, and more one that they could be increasingly using other airlines rather than TUi airframes.

It could all be smoke and mirrors , who knows. Even if they did come, I could see them upping sticks and heading South again as soon as their contract expires at LBA. Or even before! They have history!

Imagine the queue of TUi crews sticking their hands up asking for a transfer to windy foggy slippery nasty LBA! I suspect the queue would be very short.

All that said, if it happened, then once I'd got over the shock, snd fully digested my hat, I'd be delighted, as an airport like LBA should be a TUi base. And an Easyjet base too.

Back in Britannia days with the based 757 (and for a time, a based 767) the LBA Base Captain (whose double-barrelled name I can’t immediately recall) had something of a reputation for diversions. This wasn’t just at LBA - he was nicknamed “Vasco de Gama” in BY Ops at Luton as you never new which new place he’d find to land next …

I recall him diverting to MAN one evening when weather st LBA was CAV OK and dead calm, and it wasn't a tech issue either with the 757. Gordon Dennison, LBA Director lodged a complaint about it with Britannia, particularly as next mornings outbound 228 pax had to be bussed over the hill and far away to MAN. As you say, it was a fairly regular occurrence.

As for the 'something blue' announcement, Eastern have been discounted by Pug, and they are increasingly not blue any more; TUi would be a miracle and I don't believe in those. Blue Islands live in the Channel Islands and that leaves our flag carrier snd we know it won't be them.

So perhaps British Midland are being secretly resurrected from the airline grave and basing here. Two DC 9 32s would be lovely. Just to keep G***A happy.

 

[Starflyer]

Let's put it this way. If TUi come to LBA instead of DSA, it would be the deal of the century by LBA and the perfect way to hit back at DSA with its public funding aimed specifically at undermining LBA and others. But only 2 weeks ago, Vince Hodder admitted he had been in discussions with TUi, who had indicated a substantial change in their business plan.

It would indeed be a superb way of boxing off questions about the future of DSA - a long-term deal with TUI at LBA which commits them to LBA far beyond any potential re-opening date for DSA.

Their ability to grow at most/all of their current bases is constrained by overnight parking and/or early morning departure slots. LBA is unusual in that it has a little bit of spare capacity on that front. TUI won't move aircraft out of current locations because for every based aircraft they take out of BHX, BRS etc, it's another one Jet2, easyJet or Ryanair can put in.

LBA currently has six inside W patterns per week on TUI, mostly from BHX. Move those onto an LBA based aircraft and you can grow at BHX by replacing the LBA W patterns in the schedule.

You can then use the LBA aircraft to cover W patterns to HUY (currently an EMA aircraft) or MME (a MAN aircraft) as you choose. Add in Marella Explorer 2 moving home port to Malaga from Summer 2027 and that's another destination you need covered from LBA if you want to fill any of that ship's capacity from Yorkshire.

If you take a view of where TUI has most travel shops but least share of the market across the UK, I'd bet that the customer home postcodes for the LBA catchment comes high, if not top, of that list.

There's a seismic change in the way that TUI is doing business - I'd rule nothing in and nothing out, and the airport wouldn't be doing its job if it hasn't landed all of the above points and more with TUI, which I am sure it has.

 

[White Heather]

It would indeed be a superb way of boxing off questions about the future of DSA - a long-term deal with TUI at LBA which commits them to LBA far beyond any potential re-opening date for DSA.

Their ability to grow at most/all of their current bases is constrained by overnight parking and/or early morning departure slots. LBA is unusual in that it has a little bit of spare capacity on that front. TUI won't move aircraft out of current locations because for every based aircraft they take out of BHX, BRS etc, it's another one Jet2, easyJet or Ryanair can put in.

LBA currently has six inside W patterns per week on TUI, mostly from BHX. Move those onto an LBA based aircraft and you can grow at BHX by replacing the LBA W patterns in the schedule.

You can then use the LBA aircraft to cover W patterns to HUY (currently an EMA aircraft) or MME (a MAN aircraft) as you choose. Add in Marella Explorer 2 moving home port to Malaga from Summer 2027 and that's another destination you need covered from LBA if you want to fill any of that ship's capacity from Yorkshire.

If you take a view of where TUI has most travel shops but least share of the market across the UK, I'd bet that the customer home postcodes for the LBA catchment comes high, if not top, of that list.

There's a seismic change in the way that TUI is doing business - I'd rule nothing in and nothing out, and the airport wouldn't be doing its job if it hasn't landed all of the above points and more with TUI, which I am sure it has.

You're almost convincing me they might come Starflyer. What you say makes a lot of sense. And LBA built the extra stands for someone.
But.................

 

[Aviador]

Seriously if this TUI rumour is something to come to fruition what will they offer to LBA?

I think this rumour only came about by @Jerry saying when Tui launch the brochures.

But the speculation is keeping us all on our toes.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I think this rumour only came about by @Jerry saying when Tui launch the brochures.

But the speculation is keeping us all on our toes.

I think my money is on Easyjet, but could be more Ryanair, or both.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I would be stunned if Tui increase their committment at Leeds. As regards basing aircraft its pie in the sky.

Stranger things have happened in the aviation world. TUI tried LPL, flopped. Now Jet2 have sown that up with 5 based aircraft growing to 6 next summer.


What if it’s all 3? More Ryanair, easyJet base and some TUI competition offering something different to the LBA market.

 

[Finger66]

Here's a thought. TUI market some of their own properties as TUI Blue. Just saying........

 

[Fernley]

I think my money is on Easyjet, but could be more Ryanair, or both.

I would say SOU for next Orange base

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I would say SOU for next Orange base

Limiting runway though.

 

[Jerry]

I would be stunned if Tui increase their committment at Leeds. As regards basing aircraft its pie in the sky.

Well for LeedsBradford they would be another piece in the puzzle based airline wise.

I think this rumour only came about by @Jerry saying when Tui launch the brochures.

But the speculation is keeping us all on our toes.

And the something blue part.

 

[Fernley]

Limiting runway though.

Just like Southend you mean?

 

[White Heather]

Well for LeedsBradford they would be another piece in the puzzle based airline wise.


And the something blue part.

If we got TUi it would fall under the 'something borrowed' category. After all, TUi at LBA are only borrowed temporarily from DSA, even now. That must be the case as the CDC Mayor said so!

 

[752]

Blue Islands have announced EMA & NWI today, surprised LBA didn't feature, however would rather something blue be Tui, Ryanair or something different! interesting. Hopefully something gets announced soon.

 

[Finger66]

@SierraHotel because we are talking GCI here and not JER. That was on the back of GR having not yet released anything for LBA-GCI for S26

 

[SierraHotel]

My bad, I misread the route announcements as JER and not GCI. It could suggest Aurigny will be staying on the route ex LBA?

 

[pug]

@White Heather regards the TUI discussion and crew basing, it might surprise some on here that DSA was TUIs least popular crew base. I forget which one took the mantle after it closed but think it might have been CWL. People just didn’t want to be based there. That does not speak for me however

LBA wouldn’t have an issue from a crewing perspective and you’d probably see people from Jet2 wanting to jump across. Not that this determines whether a base would happen but just something to consider. I fully believe LBA will be in negotiations with TUI currently, but it might be in line with any work they’re doing with Ryanair and easyJet due to their diversification of booking through third parties.