Thomas Cook

[Jordan-34092]

If an A310, the B757, which is similar sized and the slightly bigger B767, can all land and take off at LBA in a breeze why cant a A321?

 

[tleeds]

Although, I do remember that we did discuss a few months ago that the A321 did have 'problems' braking on the runway....? :dunno: - I do not know anymore details on this but I am aware that this is one of the hurdles ThomasCook face with upgrading the A320 at LBA.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Although, I do remember that we did discuss a few months ago that the A321 did have 'problems' braking on the runway....? :dunno: - I do not know anymore details on this but I am aware that this is one of the hurdles ThomasCook face with upgrading the A320 at LBA.

So it is something to do with the runway surface?

[offtopic]When was the last time the LBA runway was resurfaced?[/offtopic]

 

[tleeds]

I'm not sure but it could be. Isn't LBA's runway Concrete, with nearly every other runway in England on Asphalt?

I'm not sure Concorde Lover. It has to be some 15+ years surely.

 

[wawkrk]

I seem to remember the A321 carried out at least 1 Cat3 landing at LBA a few years back with Airtours because it was actually mentioned on a flight that I was on by the Captain.
You can't really resurface concrete can you? but it does last a lot longer. I assume you would have to lay tarmac.It was re-grooved in the 1980's. If breaking action was falling below specification, would it not have been downgraded by the CAA?

 

[lbia]

The A321 is a simple stretch of the A320, with very little modification to powerplants and brakes, hence it struggles with the extra weight, especially when breaking on out little diddy runway! When Onur Air flew into LBA with their 21's, never mind cooking eggs, you could fly a bloody buffalo on those tyres!

 

[a300boy]

The Uk in general have more restrictive performance criteria for aircraft on the british register. Airlines from overseas can often use airfields and carry out flight operations to them that Uk based operators cannot. Thats the way it is and I am sure that many people will give you many reasons why. This means Pia,Onur-Air,Ryanair,Air Atlanta etc have different rules to follow and may be able to operate larger aircraft on shorter runways at heavier weights using the rules of there respective countries.

 

[jason1-11]

[offtopic][/offtopic]

The Uk in general have more restrictive performance criteria for aircraft on the british register. Airlines from overseas can often use airfields and carry out flight operations to them that Uk based operators cannot. Thats the way it is and I am sure that many people will give you many reasons why. This means Pia,Onur-Air,Ryanair,Air Atlanta etc have different rules to follow and may be able to operate larger aircraft on shorter runways at heavier weights using the rules of there respective countries.

It makes a mockery of the whole issue of procedures and limitations if the flag dictates the operational requirements of the aircraft. Example being braking action where the UK has stricter regs than Sweden, Russia and Norway.

 

[White Heather]

I would have thought that a grooved concrete runway is actually going to have a better braking action than a smooth tarmac runway! You only have to be on an aircraft at LBA and feel the vibration to know that the tires are going to grip better, and I recall being told by the ex airport director that LBA's runway surface had excellent braking properties even before it was re-grooved as a 'precaution' following the British Airtours Tristar accident in 1985.

If LBA can't cope with an A321 then neither can Bristol. Perhaps Local Yokel can tell us if they have any problem with this type down there? LBA has had plenty of A321's in the past and they are not so much bigger than the A320. Anyway, I would rather have two A320's based at LBA than one A321!! (I know, fat chance!)

 

[Jordan-34092]

Posted my response to the runway in the Leeds/Bradford General Thread as this seems more suitable for the subject than the Thomas Cook forum.

Link to LBA general Thread.: post23180.html#p23180

 

[TheLocalYokel]

If LBA can't cope with an A321 then neither can Bristol. Perhaps Local Yokel can tell us if they have any problem with this type down there?

A321s certainly operate into Bristol.

A few years ago First Choice had two A321s based there before they were replaced by B757s. Around 2003 I flew to and from Monastir from BRS in a MyTravel A321.

More recently airlines such as Onur have regularly operated A321s into BRS.

I don't know whether they represent particular difficulties for pilots at BRS.

 

[tleeds]

There is a new thread open for future discussions on this subject: named LBA - Runway's, Apron's and Taxiways.

topic2055.html

 

[752]

i dont know if this has already been covered but we was looking at holidays to kos and LBA came up as an option but is now not available to fly from so i think TCX have dropped it for summer 2012 with a new route of heraklion? which are going to book a holiday to and hoppefully from LBA!

 

[lbaspotter]

i dont know if this has already been covered but we was looking at holidays to kos and LBA came up as an option but is now not available to fly from so i think TCX have dropped it for summer 2012 with a new route of heraklion? which are going to book a holiday to and hoppefully from LBA!

Hi AP1995

The new Heraklion service will replace the Tuesday , Fuerteventura flight which was dropped a while ago and was reported on here. Take a look back in this thread.
By the way Thomas Cook have been taking a seat allocation on the Jet2's Crete flight for the last couple of years since it dropped it's own direct service about 3 years ago. So it's not a a new route for Thomas Cook. Its just been re-instated to be operated by there own aircraft along side the competing Jet2 service from now on

The Thursday afternoon flight to Kos in Greece has not yet been replaced with anything as it was only taken of sale from the Thomas Cook's website about 2 weeks ago along with the Saturday over-night service to Turkey-Bodrum. It looks like there having a change around with the based aircraft's flying programme for next year at the moment.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

What was the 2010 programme?

I know that the LCA flight operated on a Sunday instead of wenesday, with a 1720ish departure, however Wed with a 0700 dep.

Just asking, cause the thursday flight could be brought back. Maybe were all saying that Sat evening dep has been scrapped, however whats really happening is they are in the process of swapping it over to a 1620 dep from LBA on a thursday. Maybe.

 

[lbaspotter]

The weekly Saturday overnight Turkey-Bodrum flight which has been operated by the based Thomas Cook Airlines, Airbus A320 has now officially been changed by the tour operator as they are now taking an allocation on Jet2's Thursday afternoon Bodrum service for next summer 2012 and its is now back on sale.

The LBA based aircraft still has a gaps in the schedule on a Thursday afternoon for something to replace the Kos flight and on a Saturday overnight to replace the changed Bodrum flight. I have also just noticed that the Sunday service to Turkey-Antalya has now also been dropped and replaced with a Tenerife service instead.

The Summer 2012 TCX based aircraft programme as it currently stands.

Monday = Las Palmas - Dalaman
Tuesday = Palma - Heraklion-Crete (Replaces Fuerteventura flight)
Wednesday = Cyprus-Larnaca - Antalaya
Thursday = Zakynthos-Zante - (Spare = To replace Kos flight)
Friday = Ibiza - Mahon - Dalaman
Saturday = Palma (W-legs to HUY) - (Spare = To replace Bodrum flight)
Sunday = Palma - Tenerife (Replaces Antalya flight)

Thomas Cook are taking an allocation also on Jet2 flights to Alicante, Malaga, Faro, Arrecife & Rhodes next summer.

 

[tleeds]

Thanks for that Lbaspotter.

Lets all hope for some new routes to come to show then. As you have mentioned a few of the routes that they are taking allocation on Jet2 flights, it makes a good start on the road to seeing something different from them next summer.

I think most likely we will see some routes that Jet2 aren't offering from LBA such as; Malta, Paphos, Santorini maybe even Sharm El Sheikh again and Hurghada at a push, though after today's reports of riots in Egypt, it's anyone's guess....

Bulgaria possibly anyone.... :dunno:

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Bulgaria hasn't really taken off (forgive the pun) has it? The whole Bulgaria option out of the UK seems to have been scaled down a bit.

I would have thought Tenerife and Lanzarote would sit nicely into those slots.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I wouldn't be suprised if that thursday afternoon gap, is filled with a cheeky rotation down to Palma. Afterall, it's the safest market to operate to, with holiday packages and what not taking it upto 4 weekly rotations. 1620 get's the a/c back at 2240!

 

[White Heather]

Thanks for that Lbaspotter.

Lets all hope for some new routes to come to show then. As you have mentioned a few of the routes that they are taking allocation on Jet2 flights, it makes a good start on the road to seeing something different from them next summer.

I think most likely we will see some routes that Jet2 aren't offering from LBA such as; Malta, Paphos, Santorini maybe even Sharm El Sheikh again and Hurghada at a push, though after today's reports of riots in Egypt, it's anyone's guess....

Bulgaria possibly anyone.... :dunno:

Jet2 do fly to Paphos from LBA or have I missed something and they have dropped it for next year. I would be surprised if any tour operator brought Malta back to LBA whilst Ryanair is operating the flight, twice weekly, although it would be very pleasing if they did.

It has always surprised me that TCX have never offered Corfu from LBA, leaving it entirely to Thomson. I would have thought there was demand sufficient to keep both tour operators going on that route as it is surely one of the most popular destinations in Greece?

I suspect that TCX are waiting to see how bookings are going and see what appears to be the most popular destinations for next summer. It wouldn't surprise me if we just ended up with an additional Palma flight or something like that, rather than a new destination, although I hope I am completely wrong about that.