Oh dear. Oh dear. We must be at the end of that cycle and unlike in previous decades where one would depart and another would take up residence we don't have that. We have one major tour operator already operating in and out, and the other one is retrenching and trying to recover from years of decline (TCX) so unfortunately won't see another replacement. TUI are quite obviously wanting to expand the regional airports that they have without going head to head with Jet2/Jet2holidays (DSA, CWL as two examples).

Clearly they will be missed in LBA and it is a shame they cannot make LBA work without a seasonal base here for a few summers. The question now is how, if any reaction taken, Jet2/Jet2holidays will respond to this?
 
I would expect positively as they usually do. Having used Jet2 holidays pretty often I have to say from booking to coming home they are very very good and I'm not surprised TUI are struggling against them as they would need a compelling proposition at LBA. If other locals are like me, then Jet is the first go to website especially with the added bonus of the Raincheque - I've got 2 and plan to use 1 this week and haven't even looked at another operators site. The other thing worth bearing in mind is that whilst flights next summer are likely be flat (pending any Jet2 increase off the back of this - I would expect David Laws will have been on the blower to Jet2 as soon as LBA were informed) Jet2 must be using more 738s rather than 733s which gives an instant 20% or so capacity hit per flight. I agree more competition would be fantastic but Jet 2 are basically too bloody good at what they do!
 
Just tried to do a dummy flight booking for Rhodes for S 19 from LBA now showing as flight not available!

Yeap agree, TUi have now also dropped the route to Rhodes summer 2019. So they now only have the 3x routes on sale from LBA which amounts to 4x weekly flights as follows.

Tuesdays
TOM3251 = PMI 12:45 - LBA 14:30 / TOM3520 = LBA 15:50 - PMI 19:30
Fridays
TOM3551 = CFU 12:30 - LBA 14:00 / TOM3550 = LBA 15:35 - CFU 21:00
Saturdays
NOS6832 = VRN 10:30 - LBA 13:50 / NOS6833 = LBA 14:40 - VRN 15:50
TOM3619 = PMI 11:35 - LBA 13:20 / TOM3618 = LBA 14:30 - PMI 18:10
 
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It Will be interesting to see what options are offered for the unfortunate individuals who have booked these TUI flights.
 
Don't forget folks that TUI had a different programme running from LBA than that which they ran from DSA for S18 which was what led me to fly from DSA with them as they couldn't take me to the resort I wanted to go to from LBA.

No idea what their load factors from LBA were last summer. Anyone any idea if they were good or bad? This coupled with the fact that they had to lease in aircraft to run the LBA programme (which could have proved upopular in comparison with the DSA programme ) may have had a significant bearing on their decision to vacate LBA. There has also been a number of comments on here about their willingness to divert to MAN given the slightest excuse which no doubt hacked their customers off no end and resulted in complaints or possible compensation claims. How prevalent those diverts actually were isn't know to me but nobody affected would have been too happy. There may well be other factors that I can't bring to mind that helped them make their mind up to exit.

All of this may well have meant that the LBA programme wasn't profitable and nothing to do with the ever expanding Jet2 Holiday brand.
 
Don't forget folks that TUI had a different programme running from LBA than that which they ran from DSA for S18 which was what led me to fly from DSA with them as they couldn't take me to the resort I wanted to go to from LBA.

No idea what their load factors from LBA were last summer. Anyone any idea if they were good or bad? This coupled with the fact that they had to lease in aircraft to run the LBA programme (which could have proved upopular in comparison with the DSA programme ) may have had a significant bearing on their decision to vacate LBA. There has also been a number of comments on here about their willingness to divert to MAN given the slightest excuse which no doubt hacked their customers off no end and resulted in complaints or possible compensation claims. How prevalent those diverts actually were isn't know to me but nobody affected would have been too happy. There may well be other factors that I can't bring to mind that helped them make their mind up to exit.

All of this may well have meant that the LBA programme wasn't profitable and nothing to do with the ever expanding Jet2 Holiday brand.
There were relatively few diverts to MAN during the summer as the incentive to do so doesn't exist where Sunwing are concerned, as their Canadian flight crew are based here in Leeds for the time they are here. If they flew to MAN, they had to get back here along with the passengers. TUi's own aircraft are a different matter, particularly if they are MAN based crews. As they didn't operate the flights throughout summer, they didn't get the chance to divert for no obvious reason (except the final TFS flight which, lo and behold, did fly into LBA). As I recall, there were just a few weather related diverts from the Sunwing aircraft and I have to say that nothing has been said by LBA management to indicate that TUi were struggling with loads, other than the Winter TFS flight which had already been axed. As it turns out that was clearly a sign of things to come!
 
If another airline does base aircraft at Leeds it's only chance of good loads would be with two aircraft. Or else once again Jet2 will triumph over them with there highly frequent flights to destinations such as Alicante or Palma. From a customers perspective I would much rather fly with Jet2 and have a much more flexible holiday such as going for 11night or 9nights rather than the standard 1 or 2 weeks. The UK holiday market is changing simply because holiday prices are drastically rising so holiday makers have to reduce there stays to be able too afford the holiday. Therefore TUI's weekly flights compared to Jet2's daily/multiple flights became much less popular for customers. I have also noticed the people off Yorkshire love Jet2! Maybe this is down to high customer satisfaction or simply driving past the airport and seeing multiple Jet2 aircraft. Maybe I should stop now this has become quiet the rant...
 
My 'local' is Edinburgh and TUI have had a similar presence as to that in Leeds over many years and despite the huge increase in passenger numbers at Edinburgh TUI plod on with a fairly token presence. In fact a quick look at 2019 from Edinburgh is pretty basic, and using BA for some flights, also Balkan. I agree with louis_waltom most people want a flexible flight programme and booking your own hotel or whatever, hence EasyJet, Ryanair continue to increase at Edinburgh, but also Jet2 who seem to be acquiring an excellent reputation. I have many friends who would use Jet2 (Holidays) as first choice. Maybe Scots "love Jet2" too.
I also got the impression that Liverpool was a non TUI airport now, and other airports around the country were not expanding.
 
Spoke to members of the TUI LBA based crew back end of last month and they all confirmed they had been given contracts to operate and base from LBA for next summer (2019).

Looks like they may of screwed their own staff over too...
 
It should be no surprise that TUI have reduced the LBA programme. They are using an extra based a/c at DSA next year because they believe they can make more money from there. Long haul has been moved from EMA. There is no competition at DSA except for a Balkan Holidays flight and IF LBA holidays did not sell very well, they are going to retrench to DSA, as they did when it opened.

I keep saying this and make no apologies for boring you, but Airlines are in business to make money and they will go to those airports that they feel will do that.
 
I see that they have dropped all Liverpool’s flights too so the few flights we have retained may be at risk.
I also note not a word from either the airport or Tui has been forthcoming on the subject which may be understandable but dissappointing.
 
My 'local' is Edinburgh and TUI have had a similar presence as to that in Leeds over many years and despite the huge increase in passenger numbers at Edinburgh TUI plod on with a fairly token presence. In fact a quick look at 2019 from Edinburgh is pretty basic, and using BA for some flights, also Balkan. I agree with louis_waltom most people want a flexible flight programme and booking your own hotel or whatever, hence EasyJet, Ryanair continue to increase at Edinburgh, but also Jet2 who seem to be acquiring an excellent reputation. I have many friends who would use Jet2 (Holidays) as first choice. Maybe Scots "love Jet2" too.
I also got the impression that Liverpool was a non TUI airport now, and other airports around the country were not expanding.

TUI Have cut everything from Liverpool for 2018/19, despite the fact this year they operated full flights. Next year they are just taking seats on Easyjet's aircraft only.
 
Was the TUI deal at DSA somehow linked to the LPL deal due to Peel ownership? If they are pulling out of LPL, what would this do for Donny's long term prospects?
 
In recent history, LPL hasn't had much of a TUI presence so therefore I wouldn't expect it to have any affect on DSAs future.

Looking back at a week in August over the last 4 years from LPL:
2015: No flights
2016: 1x flight per week - 1x weekly TUI flight to PMI
2017: 3x flights per week - 2x weekly TUI flights to PMI and 1x weekly TUI flight to IBZ
2018: 2x flights per week - 1x weekly AlbaStar flight to PMI and 1x weekly TUI flight to IBZ
2019: No flights
All TUI flights were operated as a W-pattern from other TUI bases.

In comparison, looking at the same weeks in August over the last 4 years from DSA:
2015: 30x flights - 2x based B738, 1x flight operated by Aer Europa
2016: 34x flights per week - 2x based B738, 3x flights operated by Aer Europa, SwartWings and Pegasus
2017: 34x flights per week - 2x based B738, 3x flights operated by Aer Europa, Norwegian and FreeBird
2018: 37x flights per week - 2x based B738, 7x flights operated by Aer Europa, AlbaStar, Norwegian and FreeBird
2019: 44x flights per week - 3x based B738, 1x 787 flight per week to Orlando Sanford
 

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9 trips in 9 days done 70 miles walked and over 23-00 photos taken with a large number taken at 20mph or above. Heavy rain on 1 day only
5 trips done and 45 miles walked,. Also the RAF has had 4 F35B Lightning follow me yesterday and today....
My plans got altered slightly as one of the minibus companies had to cancel 3 trips and refunded me but will be getting nice discount when I rebook them.
wondering why on my "holidays" I choose to get up 2 hours earlier than when going to work. 6 trips in 6 days soon coming up with 3 more days to sort out

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