TUI Airways

[Qing4theloo]

The cruise route to Singapore started yesterday. I'd not checked next winter but the article below confirms it's return.


TUI’s inaugural flight from Birmingham Airport to Singapore Changi Airport departed on 13 December 2023. The TUI flight from Birmingham is also the only non-stop route from the UK city to Singapore. The weekly flights on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will exclusively serve Marella Cruises customers heading out to Singapore to sail onboard Marella Discovery 2 for winter 2023-24.

This will be the first time that Marella Cruises has homeported out of Singapore, with the itineraries including an overnight stay in the city-state to give customers more time to explore and delve into modern metropolis and cultural haven during the day and night. The ship will call at various destinations, including Phu My in Vietnam; Malacca, Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia; and Laem Chabang in Thailand. The last flight of the season will depart Birmingham on 3 April 2024, with flights resuming for next winter on 11 December 2024.

Chris Hackney, Managing Director at Marella Cruises said: "The inaugural flight from Birmingham Airport to Singapore marks an exciting new chapter for our customers based in the Midlands, who now have more choice and flexibility when it comes to choosing their dream cruise. Our Asia itineraries mean that customers can be exploring tropical islands one day, and buzzing cities the next, and we’re excited to be offering all the region has to offer to those flying from Birmingham Airport.

Adam Parker, Senior Aviation Manager at Birmingham Airport said: "We are delighted that TUI has started flying from BHX to Singapore to cater for its Midland-based cruise customers. This investment represents TUI’s confidence in BHX and the Midlands region, and its commitment to providing more options for customers.

“TUI offers numerous sunshine destinations direct from Birmingham Airport. The addition of this direct long-haul service to Singapore to connect with Marella Cruises gives our customers even greater choice.”

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2023/12/tui-first-passenger-flight-to-singapore-takes-off-from-birmingham-airport/

Did Tui do this again in W24/5? Did they ever sell tickets to anyone not going on the Marella cruises?
Would have been great to have had a regular direct flight BHX-SIN. When I went to NZ in December 2022, I went BHX-FRA-SIN-AKL to avoid the dreaded LHR ...

 

[rollo]

Did Tui do this again in W24/5? Did they ever sell tickets to anyone not going on the Marella cruises?
Would have been great to have had a regular direct flight BHX-SIN. When I went to NZ in December 2022, I went BHX-FRA-SIN-AKL to avoid the dreaded LHR ...

Singapore was cruise specific for one season for Marella.Their twice weekly Barbados flights starting in November from BHX for TUI are cruise specific flights to Montego Bay are for Marella cruises or for a hotel stay or a combination of both.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Correct me from wrong but it looks like Tui are removing 3 routes from bhx.
Madeira is now winter seasonal
Santorini not even an option on the Tui app
Faro looks to end of April 2026

 

[HPsauce]

Correct me from wrong but it looks like Tui are removing 3 routes from bhx.
Madeira is now winter seasonal
Santorini not even an option on the Tui app
Faro looks to end of April 2026

I would be astonished if Faro wasn't available. It's a consistently popular destination.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I would be astonished if Faro wasn't available. It's a consistently popular destination.

Nope not available.Tbf though it’s 2 weekly frequency and there battling against EZY,LS and FR.

 

[thunderchild]

I would be astonished if Faro wasn't available. It's a consistently popular destination.

Faro is still available with TUI holidays but flights appear to be operated via “partner airlines” EasyJet and Ryanair.

 

[smithy108]

Nope not available.Tbf though it’s 2 weekly frequency and there battling against EZY,LS and FR.

Looking at the TUI site - they are offering holidays in Algarve but using other carriers, assume Ryanair and Easyjet flights. Looks wider than BHX as MAN isnt available either with same other carriers showing. Maybe TUI had fall out with Faro airport?

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Summer 2026 timetable

So far 4 B38M 4738s 1 B788 1 B789

One more slot to fill.

Looks like Pula,Thessaloniki,Gran Canaria,Dubrovnik have been awarded a Dreamliner flight.

Sharm el sheikh increases to 4 weekly and so does hurghada to 3 weekly

Faro and Santorini not being served next summer
Madeira converted to winter seasonal



Monday

B738-PMI-6.00-11.55-ZTH-13.25-21.40

B738-IBZ-6.00-12.25-LPA-15.00-00.45

B38M-CFU-6.05-13.35-HER-14.35-23.45

B788-DLM-6.15-15.55-BOJ-17.55-2.20

B738-SKG-6.30-14.25-LCA-15.55-2.35

B38M-ACE-6.45-16.15-AGA-18.10-2.25

B38M-MAH-7.00-12.50-HRG-14.55-3.05

B738-BUD-7.35-13.45-PFO-15.15-1.55

B38M-NAP-9.00-15.35-RHO-17.35-3.00

B789-PUJ-11.00-6.00+1



Tuesday

B738-GRO-6.00-11.05-ZTH-12.35-20.50

B738-REU-6.15-11.35-HRG-14.25-2.35

B738-PMI-6.15-21.30

B38M-EFL-6.55-15.00-KGS-16.30-1.40

B38M-PUY-6.55-12.40-SSH-14.25-2.35

B38M-CHQ-6.55-16.05-RAK-17.25-1.20

B38M-ALC-7.05-13.35-HER-15.20-00.30

B738-JSI-7.55-16.05-TFS-17.25-3.15

B788-PMI-8.00-14.10-SID-15.45-4.30

B789-MBJ-10.40-7.30+1



Wednesday

B38M-IBZ-6.00-12.00-LCA-13.30-00.10

B788-PFO-6.15-16.55-PMI-18.25-00.35

B38M-AGP-6.30-13.15-SSH-14.25-2.35

B738-VRN-6.40-11.55-DLM-13.30-22.55

B738-PMI-6.55-12.50-AYT-14.00-23.45

B38M-MAH-7.00-13.05-FUE-15.00-00.15

B738-CFU-7.00-14.30–ACE-16.25-1.35

B738-KGS-7.00-16.25-___________

B38M-RHO-7.15-16.40-TFS-17.55-3.45

B789-CUN-10.40-7.55



Thursday

B738-DBV-6.00-20.30

B738-CFU-6.00-13.30-AYT-15.55-1.50

B738-MAH-6.00-11.50-MLA-13.45-21.20

B38M-IBZ-6.25-12.25-SSH-13.25-1.35

B38M-EFL-6.30-14.35-ACE-16.55-2.05

B788-SKG-6.55-15.05-LPA-16.30-2.10

B738-AGP-7.25-14.25-AGA-17.20-1.35

B38M-BVC-9.05-22.15

B38M-ZTH-9.30-17.45-HER-18.55-4.35

B789-PMI-9.55-16.10-PFO-17.55-4.05



Friday



B788-PMI-6.00-12.10-SID-14.15-3.00

B738-CFU-6.00-23.20

B38M-ALC-6.00-12.15-HRG-15.10-3.20

B38M-NBE-6.15-13.20-MAH-14.40-20.30-BOJ-21.50-6.05

B38M-CHQ-6.35-15.45-IBZ-17.55-23.55

B738-RAK-6.55-14.50-NAP-16.10-23.30

B738-JSI-7.10-15.20-LCA-17.50-4.20

B38M-TFS-7.10-16.45-DLM-18.15-3.40

B738-ZTH-7.25-15.45-RHO-17.10-2.35

B789-PUJ-10.40-6.15





Saturday



B738-ALC-6.00-12.30-PFO-13.50-00.30

B38M-MAH-6.10-12.00-LPA-13.40-23.30

B738-GRO-6.25-11.45-AYT-13.15-23.00

B788-PUY-6.45-12.45-KGS-16.10-1.35

B738-PMI-6.45-20.55

B738-SZG-6.55-11.50-REU-14.55-20.15

B38M-NBE-7.00-14.00-ACE-15.30-00.40

B38M-IBZ-7.15-13.15-RHO-14.45-00.15

B38M-VRN-7.45-13.05-FUE-14.25-23.40

B789-MBJ-9.45-6.15



Sunday:



B738-KVA-6.00-14.00-ACE-16.00-1.05

B738-PMI-6.15-12.20-ZTH-13.25-21.40

B38M-DBV-6.15-12.50-SSH-14.15-2.25

B38M-BVC-6.30-19.50-PMI-21.25-3.20

B738-EFL-6.30-14.35-LCA-16.30-3.10

B38M-RHO-7.35-17.00-CFU-18.50-2.20

B738-HER-7.45-16.55-TFS-18.20-3.55

B38M-AGP-8.25-15.25-KGS-16.55-2.20

B788-PFO-10.30-21.10

B789-CUN-11.40–8.55

 

[tompo]

Looking at the TUI site - they are offering holidays in Algarve but using other carriers, assume Ryanair and Easyjet flights. Looks wider than BHX as MAN isnt available either with same other carriers showing. Maybe TUI had fall out with Faro airport?

Regarding “ a potential fall out with Faro”, it is feasible that Faro is on track to becoming the worlds most detested airport. Arriving and departing can take at least 3 years off one’s life and a thousand words cannot adequately describe the issues therein.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Regarding “ a potential fall out with Faro”, it is feasible that Faro is on track to becoming the worlds most detested airport. Arriving and departing can take at least 3 years off one’s life and a thousand words cannot adequately describe the issues therein.

If you think about it tompo

I think easyJet has taken the life out of tui on most of their routes since basing their fleet at bhx.

Also you gotta look at the other airlines with higher frequencies cheaper prices
Jet2 10 weekly
Ryanair 10 weekly
EasyJet 4 weekly
That’s 24 weekly flights and tui can’t compete with that sadly

 

[Matt995]

If you think about it tompo

I think easyJet has taken the life out of tui on most of their routes since basing their fleet at bhx.

Also you gotta look at the other airlines with higher frequencies cheaper prices
Jet2 10 weekly
Ryanair 10 weekly
EasyJet 4 weekly
That’s 24 weekly flights and tui can’t compete with that sadly

not quite true, see below TUI have just dropped flights to Faro from BHX, MAN & LGW :-

TUI is not completely dropping flights to Faro, but it is ending its own direct flights on some routes for package holidays starting in April 2026.

Customers can still book TUI package holidays to Faro, but these will be flown by third-party airlines, such as easyJet, from airports like Manchester. TUI will continue to operate its own flights to Faro from other UK airports.

Ending TUI-operated flights: TUI is stopping its own direct flights from certain UK airports, including Manchester, to Faro, starting in April 2026.

Continuing package holidays: You can still book TUI package holidays to Faro for summer 2026 and beyond.

Using partner airlines: These packages will be flown by partner airlines, such as easyJet, rather than TUI's own aircraft.

Other flights: TUI's own flights will continue to operate on other routes to Faro from different UK airports.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

not quite true, see below TUI have just dropped flights to Faro from BHX, MAN & LGW :-

TUI is not completely dropping flights to Faro, but it is ending its own direct flights on some routes for package holidays starting in April 2026.

Customers can still book TUI package holidays to Faro, but these will be flown by third-party airlines, such as easyJet, from airports like Manchester. TUI will continue to operate its own flights to Faro from other UK airports.

Ending TUI-operated flights: TUI is stopping its own direct flights from certain UK airports, including Manchester, to Faro, starting in April 2026.

Continuing package holidays: You can still book TUI package holidays to Faro for summer 2026 and beyond.

Using partner airlines: These packages will be flown by partner airlines, such as easyJet, rather than TUI's own aircraft.

Other flights: TUI's own flights will continue to operate on other routes to Faro from different UK airports.

This goes to show that they can’t expand there capacity on routes like this especially faro.using 3rd party airlines just goes to show that they cannot compete from big airports like you have mentioned which have been removed from tui flights.

However it’s good to see them expand out elsewhere.

They need to build on Tunisian,Moroccan and Egyptian routes

 

[gulftraveller]

I doubt it has anything to do with not being able to compete. They are still operating the holidays, just with somebody else’s metal. It is more likely about airframe deployment and standardising carriers to destinations such as FAO.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

TUI Airline Eyes Winter Season ACMI Business In North America | Aviation Week Network

TUI Airline is looking for solutions to increase utilization of its 130-aircraft-strong fleet during the European winter low season when less capacity is needed.

aviationweek.com

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025671203092906460

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Birmingham Aviation, that sounds promising to start with, nine months before takeoff. All we can do is to see what the demands are, then hopefully build upon it.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Hi there Birmingham Aviation, that sounds promising to start with, nine months before takeoff. All we can do is to see what the demands are, then hopefully build upon it.

It is only a short series of weekly flights but not complaining !

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Tui make a few changes for the summer

Gran Canaria increases to 4 weekly from 3
Fuerteventura increases to 3 from 2

Sharm el sheikh decreases to 3 from 4

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Tui have made several changes to its Summer 2027 schedule for BHX

Increases
Dubrovnik 2-3 weekly
Hurghada 2-3 weekly
Sharm el sheikh 3-4 weekly
Corfu 5-6 weekly
Skiathos 2-3 weekly
Rhodes 5-7 weekly

Decreases
Paphos 5-4 weekly
Malaga 3-2 weekly

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

From what I can gather from my timetable of schedules and this is very subjective to change is that Tui airways are to base an 11th aircraft at bhx.Extremely STC