Thomas Cook

[backtrack]

Monarch do a lot of over night flights out of Manchester, maybe TCX are following the trend here at LBA. Is AYT going to be operated on the LBA based A320?

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

This new Thursday flight to Antalya by Thomas Cook for next summer 2010 is a direct replacement for the Lanzarote flight as it will be operated by the based Airbus A320.

As a direct result Thomas Cook will be taking an allocation of seats on the Jet2.com scheduled service to Lanzarote next summer.

 

[White Heather]

A sign of the times - everyone trying to avoid the Euro by going to Turkey. Even so, it is a surprise that a new route, never previously operated from LBA (scheduled for last summer but cancelled before it ever happened), has been doubled up already. That must be around 5 Turkish flights weekly by Thomas Cook now - 2 Dalaman, 2 Antalya and 1 Bodrum? At least it helps make up for the loss of the Air Malta flight.

 

[White Heather]

It is rarely a mistake so lets hope for some good news. Perhaps Jet2 getting in on FUE before Ryanair who I would have thought the most likely to operate there from LBA.

It is disappointing that we will see less of TCX next winter, but in the present climate, and with Jet2 aircraft available to do split loads it probably makes sense. It can't be very cost efficient ferrying aircraft up from Cardiff etc to fly from here.

 

[backtrack]

That would be great news, after all i thought MOL would of chosen to offer FUE and TFS for example in their batch of routes. I wonder how FR will take this, would they operate FUE alongside Jet2?

 

[White Heather]

The airport and Thomas Cook have formally announced their twice weekly flights to Antalya today. I have to say that for a new route to come on and immediately be increased to twice weekly is encouraging. They also announced their summer service to Sharm el Sheikh. (Is that on a TCX or shared on a Jet2?)

 

[backtrack]

It definitely is encouraging Heather. I can see this one based unit being quite busy after all. Its just a shame we cant sustain some visits from B752's or B763s like our neighbours at HUY.

 

[Runway 32]

I thought the current based A320 was already busy and didn't have any spare time for extra rotations. Is the extra Antalya flight using a none based aircraft? All these extra flights could well mean an extra aircraft from Thomas Cook in Summer 2011!

 

[Aviador]

Isn't it more probable that a Turkish airline such as Pegasus Airlines or Onur Air will operate the twice weekly route to Antalya?

 

[Runway 32]

Both the Tuesday and Thursday Antalya flights are being operated by the based TCX aircraft. Does this mean that another route will be handed over to Jet 2? Does anyone know how many flights are being operated by Jet 2 next summer for TCX (seat allocation).

 

[eastcoaster]

The Tuesday TCX Crete Heraklion flight has been put on the Jet2 flight, creating the slot to do an Antalya flight.

 

[Runway 32]

All these seat allocations for Jet 2 must be good for Jet 2. Those 767's sound as though they are much needed now up at LBA if they are selling seat only, TCX holidays and Jet 2 holidays.

 

[ex_crew]

There must be something happening with the 767'S. A friend of mine went for an interview for Jet2 crew yesterday and they mentioned long-haul from LBA to her.

 

[lbaspotter]

Thomas Cook are taking allocations on the following Jet2 services this summer. Malaga (2), Faro (2), Arrecife-Lanzarote, Tenerife, Heraklion-Crete & Egypt-Sharm el Sheikh.

Meanwhile the based A320 works to Alicante, Palma (2), Ibiza, Mahon, Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, Dalaman (2), Antalya (2), Bodrum, Rhodes, Zakynthos-Zante, Tunisia-Monastir & Cyprus-Larnaca

 

[White Heather]

Yes, and with all these TCX passengers on the Jet2 flights to places like Heraklion (which operates only 1 per week) that would, in my view, be a serious contender for a 767 (if/when it arrives) as it could easily operate the route off the LBA runway. Similarly it could operate Rhodes, Tenerife, Arrecife, Cyprus (Paphos and/or Larnaca) and any other route where there are not too many flights but demand is good at peak times especially.

I suspect that at this stage, with no real long haul routes on the agenda, that is exactly what Jet2 would use any 767's for and they would be used wherever the demand is greatest.

 

[lbaspotter]

Thomas Cook restart there weekly services from Leeds/Bradford to Arrecife-Lanzarote on Thursdays and Furteventura on Saturdays operated by the part based Airbus A320 aircarft which will position in on a Wednesday evening again from Cardiff.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I am but am still too restless to stay out there until the spring. :angel:

Inclusive tour companies have often flown the first three weeks in November, then Christmas/New Year then mid-February until the end of the winter season from many regional airports to many destinations for many years.

Humberside rightly points out the commercial realities.

For many years my wife and I flew to the Canaries in the weeks leading up to Christmas - it was invariably the cheapest time of the year but even then the flights weren't often anywhere near full.

 

[Runway 32]

Thomas Cook have just had winglets installed on one of their 767's G-TCCA and will see more 767's within the fleet having them installed. Could this lead to long haul flights out of airports such as LBA with TCX with the increased performance?

http://redirectingat.com/?id=42X487496& ... blog_last3

 

[User0001]

Unfortunatley I think not. As much as I'd love to see it, it is unrealistic. Why would any operator use LBA for long-haul, most likely with restrictions, when there is MAN down the road, with better facilities, better access, better runways, fewer weather issues. The truth is people are prepared to travel to use MAN, esp when it is for leisure. I think we have entered a bit of a dream world in terms of long-haul at LBA. I think the best we can hope for is a few weekly to ISB and maybe New York in the future and focus on the business/bulk routes to Europe.

 

[backtrack]

I cant see the winglet enhancement on its own will make much difference in allowing long haul from regional airports such as LBA. Weight of the aircraft and runway length are the two main restrictions, and as "Guest" said with MAN just down the road, with a 3000m long runway, it would be too much of a risk to move to the likes of LBA. Those winglets you have mentioned, are more economical during the cruise at altitude, they help to reduce drag, and dont have much effect for Takeoff or Landing.

Another point to consider is, what happens if there is an engine failure on TO, but its too late to stop the aircraft, the Captain will have to get the plane airbourne. If this happens, its usually a case of one circuit of the aerodrome and land again. A fully laden 763 could not stop in time at LBA if it was full of fuel, pax and bags etc, whereas MAN would be no problem.