Thomas Cook

[michael]

If Jet2 did get TCX's passengers could it perhaps tempt Jet2 into looking at a 767 again........ or has that idea been ditched totally?

 

[Bigman]

This could of course result in the return of such airlines as Air Europa, Spanair, Nouvelair, Pegasus and Sun Express. it would be nice to see some variety again.

 

[lbaspotter]

This could of course result in the return of such airlines as Air Europa, Spanair, Nouvelair, Pegasus and Sun Express. it would be nice to see some variety again.

Sorry to say Bigman but this is not going to happen. As all the flights that are on sale will be operated by the based Astraeus unit, So infact this is just a direct replacement for the based TCX unit by looks off things. Have now also heard over the weekend that the Astraeus aircarft to be based at LBA could actully be flying in TCX colours and using the exsisiting TCX Flight numbers and Callsigns..

Also dont forget that TCX will also continue to take an large allocayion on Jet2 services again next summer 2011.

 

[Bigman]

By replacing a 180 seat A320 with a 148 seat B737 results in an immediate reduction in capactiy of 17%. This will have a nig impact on the 2011 figures.

 

[eastcoaster]

Do we know if it is a 737?. I would hope it is a 757. This is what their website says is available.
B737-500/124Y available from mid-NOV10
B737-300/148Y available from mid-DEC10
B757-200 available from 01JAN11
A320-200/180Y available from 01NOV-31DEC10 inclusive

 

[lbaspotter]

By replacing a 180 seat A320 with a 148 seat B737 results in an immediate reduction in capactiy of 17%. This will have a nig impact on the 2011 figures.

But bigman who said owt about a Boeing 737 turning up. All the 300's and 700's work on lease for Iceland Express nowa days. So The new LBA base could end up withe either a B737-500, B757-200 or an Airbus A320 as they now own one.

Check this site page out. http://www.flyastraeus.com/fleet/technical-specs.php

G-STRP = A320-211 (Travel Service - Lease ends as of 01/01/11)
G-STRI = B737-33A (Trawefly colors)
G-STRJ = B737-33A (Sterling Airlines)
G-STRF = B737-76N (Iceland Express)
G-STRN = B737-7L9 (Iceland Express)
G-PJPJ = B737-5H6 (Stored Astraeus after end of lease by Palmair summer 2011)
G-OJIB = B757-23A (Saudi Arabian Airlines - for Hajj 2010)
G-STRZ = B757-258ER (Saudi Arabian Airlines - for Hajj 2010)
G-STRX = B757-28AER (Iceland Express)
G-STRY = B757-28AER (bmi british midland)
G-STRW = B757-28AER (Blue Astraeus colours)

 

[White Heather]

I would be surprised to see a reduction in capacity, so with some luck we will get a 757 which represents an increase, or their A320, which would avoid messing around moving passengers on overbooked flights, and overall, that would be good news for the airport.

Like Bigman, I would love some variety, but its movements and passengers that really count. We should bear in mind too that the likes of Air Europa, Spanair, Pegasus etc would all be W rotations, not based at LBA, and whoever operates the aircraft, we do need it to be based here. This sounds very like the situation we had a few years back when BMi used an A320 for the summer operating charters, and didn't Astreaus do so also using a 737-500 (the year they did Banjul from LBA via Bournemouth) so it is not as though this hasn't happened before is it? Also, for years, the Airtours flights were actually operated by a Skyservice A320, with Canadian crews and on a Canadian registered aircraft, so it just seems to be Thomas Cooks way of working when the market shrinks a little.

 

[Aviador]

Just to point out there is no evidence that Astraeus is to operate the TCX flights, it's just speculation at the moment so the same could be said for a capacity cut, we just don't know.

A further point worth clarifying is that only TCX the airline is said to be looking at leaving LBA not TCX the tour operator, so basically flights will remain bookable and holidays will still take place but your flight could possibly be with another airline.

 

[Seasider]

Aviador has said it is only speculation, but if a 737 is used for TCX flights, the 17% reduction in pax will not have that great an effect on the overall passenger figures

 

[White Heather]

That is true Seasider, but given how few IT charter flights we have from LBA in comparison with many other similar sized airports, any reduction is a step in the wrong direction, because we need many more really. LBA will not even come close to fulfilling its IT potential until TOM come back (and one day I think they will do) and until we have both TOM and TCX operating from here with a based aircraft, and even then there is room for a lot of expansion on the busier routes. LBA are really keen to encourage more charter operations, so the last thing they will want is a downsizing in aircraft.

 

[WYIA]

Its no secret that Jet2.com have worked very closely with Thomas Cook over the past few years and Coop Travel. Now the two have come together and TC Airlines is not making much money it would make sense to turn over the smaller 1 ac bases to a 3rd party. I do think jet2 will be the ones that pick up the flights but it would have been lovely to see MON in.

 

[White Heather]

I agree about MON - an airline we have seen far too little of them at LBA over the years. For at least one summer in the 1980's (probably around 1985) they operated Saturday charter flights in here with a 737-200 for one of the regular tour operators - either Intasun or Thomson probably - since then they have been conspicuous by their absence, apart from the odd charter. Pity.

 

[ls27]

Didn't MON operate with a based A320 the year after the all night curfew was lifted?
I seem to remember that the airline objected to the height of the no parking signs at the side of the cemetery,which had to be shortened!

 

[Seasider]

Yes, they operated on behalf of Thomson Holidays.

 

[White Heather]

That is worrying - memory failure. I don't remember that at all, even though at the time I lived overlooking the airport. The only A320 I remember operating for Thomson was around 1997 when TOM used an Irish registered wet leased A320, but in full Britannia Colours, for one summer season. I can't remember the actual airline, but I remember flying down to Palma on a 757 at the end of April, and flying back early in May on this Irish A320, which was my first flight on that aircraft type.

Does anyone have any photos of this Monarch A320 to jog my memory banks into life???

 

[lbaspotter]

Yep 1995 for definate.

Monarch Airlines were used by Thomson Holidays for the first summer off 24 hour operations up at LBA back in 1995. I remember as I flew on the LBA based A320 to Tenerife South on my summer holidays with me parents that year.

It was also the first full summer season that Airtours Holidays based an aircaft at the airport all season. They used a B737-400 of spanish based airline Air Europa, on there based programme of flights if I remember correctly.

A year later in 1996 Monarch were also used again by Thomson Holidays. A B757-200 visited on a Saturday evening operating a Rhodes charter flight as a w-leg.

 

[wawkrk]

I remember flying on the Monarch A320 from Leeds. I do have a photo somewhere.
As mentioned many times by me, the 1st 757 to use LBA was Monarch off the 5400ft runway!
The intended aircraft went tech so the 757 was used.
There was a nice photo of this in one of the airports glossy year end financial reports.

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

This pic should refresh your memories of the Monarch Airlines, Airbus A320, G-MONZ in its old colours it appeared in when it was based at LBA back in Summer 1995 season

 

[WYIA]

Monarch also ran flights in the last few years here at LBA. iam sure it was an A320 PMI service once a week back in 2004/2005 and not forgetting the 767 tcx lease in full Monarch scheme and the A330 troop flight too!

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

I think we will have to be very careful not to go to far off topic here.

So to carry on chatting about past and present opeartors and summers please post all new posts into the Nostalgia thread here. topic504-15.html

Thanks..