TUi Airways

[Jerry]

Doesn't look like anything new for summer 2022. Haven't been through the frequency yet but I expect it's a carbon copy of 2022.

 

[Seasider]

Any schedules published today are stupid, they don't know what they are operating next week, let alone 18 months in advance. (this applies to all airlines)

 

[Em0866]

I really don't think that getting excited or giving a reaction on schedules for 2022 is of any worth at this early stage. A lot can happen in that time. An example of this time last year we had no idea of the impact of this pandemic would have. Yes we can give an opinion but to be honest with you things will change between now and then and so can schedules.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Any schedules published today are stupid, they don't know what they are operating next week, let alone 18 months in advance. (this applies to all airlines)

I really don't think that getting excited or giving a reaction on schedules for 2022 is of any worth at this early stage. A lot can happen in that time. An example of this time last year we had no idea of the impact of this pandemic would have. Yes we can give an opinion but to be honest with you things will change between now and then and so can schedules.

I agree. Even in normal times TUI's advance summer timetable published 18 months before the first flights are due to operate has been subject to alterations.

I suppose to some extent they have to discount the possible virus effects in 2022 from this distance in time because no-one can know what they will be.

I seem to remember a time when the big holiday companies would 'traditionally' announce their offerings for the summer to come on Boxing Day, with advertisements on the telly and in newspapers. Nowadays instead of a five-month lead-in period it's 18 months.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think the First Minister also said that it would not be right for CWL to offer international flights whilst the England lockdown is in force, so no international flights until December, that was in answer to a member of the media, at todays press conference.

A post on another forum suggests that TUI will operate flights to Tenerife from three Scottish airports during England's lockdown. If that is so it seems that Scotland's FM does not have the same scruples as Wales's FM when it comes to this particular issue.

 

[superking]

A guy was telling me this morning that TUI are to store aircraft from CWL,EXE and BOH plus a 787 for the lockdown at BRS. I am not sure this will happen but time will tell.

 

[Jerry]

A guy was telling me this morning that TUI are to store aircraft from CWL,EXE and BOH plus a 787 for the lockdown at BRS. I am not sure this will happen but time will tell.

Happened ladt time. Must be cheap parking!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Happened ladt time. Must be cheap parking!

Given the parlous state of aviation at the moment it might be thought that all airports would be bidding to get aircraft parked there in order to make a few quid. BRS is a funny choice as it's not got a huge amount of room and in 2013 the airport fell out in a big way with Ryanair partly because the airport refused to lower its overnight parking charges.

 

[Jerry]

Given the parlous state of aviation at the moment it might be thought that all airports would be bidding to get aircraft parked there in order to make a few quid. BRS is a funny choice as it's not got a huge amount of room and in 2013 the airport fell out in a big way with Ryanair partly because the airport refused to lower its overnight parking charges.

I expect that they have an excellent relationship with BRS. We are probably talking 5 to 6 aircraft?
I do find it disappointing that the Welsh government has told them to stop flights from Cardiff especially as they'll be operating from Scotland.

 

[Jerry]

Updated 12/11/20
TUI have been reported elsewhere as making cuts i decided to check on Cardiff. Obviously this could change. I've sampled a week in August 2021
Monday
06.00 Corfu
06.00 Dalaman
06.20 Menorca
10.50 Palma de Mallorca (non based carrier)
13.45 Antalya
15.00 Bourgas
????????????? Gaps previously filled by a third weekly Tenerife and Hurghada supposed to change to Sharm el Sheikh.
?????????????
Tuesday
06.00 Alicante
06.00 Palma de Mallorca
06.00 Reus
13.05 Keffalonia
13.25 Tenerife
14.30 Zante
22.40 Palma de Mallorca
Wednesday
06.00 Malaga
06.00 Kos
07.05 Ibiza
14.00 Rhodes
14.55 Paphos
16.30 Dalaman
Thursday
06.00 Lanzarote
06.05 Faro (w pattern return 2015)
06.20 Dubrovnik
14.45 Antalya
16.00 Dalaman
Friday
05.30 Menorca
06.00 Enfidha
07.45 Palma de Mallorca
12.10 Zante
14.10 Tenerife
14.30 Corfu
21.45 Ibiza
Saturday
06.00 Ibiza
06.15 Palma de Mallorca
07.00 Alicante
13.25 Kos
13.45 Gran Canaria
15.10 Rhodes
Sunday
06.00 Malaga
06.00 Lanzarote
07.05 Palma de Mallorca
14.25 Paphos
15.35 Heraklion
15.55 Larnaca

In summary 43 weekly departures 2 destinations lost Sharm el Sheikh and Naples 3 based aircraft. For Summer 2020 i believe there was 47 weekly departures
Palma de Mallorca 6 weekly
Ibiza 3 weekly
Dalaman 3 weekly
Antalya 2 weekly
Lanzarote 2 weekly
Tenerife 2 weekly -1 weekly flight
Malaga 2 weekly
Alicante 2 weekly
Rhodes 2 weekly
Kos 2 weekly
Corfu 2 weekly
Menorca 2 weekly
Paphos 2 weekly
Zante 2 weekly
Bourgas 1 weekly
Larnaca 1 weekly
Heraklion 1 weekly
Keffalonia 1 weekly
Gran Canaria 1 weekly -1 weekly flight
Enfidha 1 weekly
Reus 1 weekly
Dubrovnik 1 weekly
Faro 1 weekly

 

[Jerry]

Looks like Naples has been dropped but Dalaman is now 3 weekly Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and Antalya is now 2 weekly Monday and Thursday. Still a gap on Monday to be filled, i'd expect with Tenerife so at the moment TUI will operate 43 weekly flights at peak.

 

[Severn]

A guy was telling me this morning that TUI are to store aircraft from CWL,EXE and BOH plus a 787 for the lockdown at BRS. I am not sure this will happen but time will tell.

This week has seen the following TUI aircraft based in the South West/Wales:

BOH
1x B738 (G-TAWM)

BRS
2x B738 (G-FDZD/TAWL) - G-TAWL last operated 4-Nov-20
1x B788 (G-TUIE) (arrived from LGW today)

CWL
Nothing based
Previously based:
G-TAWA - last flight was inbound from LCA on 04-Nov-20. It then departed on the 10-Nov-20 to TFS before heading to NCL where it has stayed since.
G-TAWD - last flight was inbound from RHO on 31-Oct-20. It then departed on the 06-Nov-20 to TFS before heading to NCL where it has stayed since.

EXT
1x B738 (G-FDZU)

 

[Jerry]

Curious as to why no aircraft left at CWL?

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

several factors keep the aircraft in few places meaning they would only need to keep engineers on in those locations
and can furlough the others.

alternatively it could be down to price being charged by those airport.

 

[Jerry]

Updated 17/11/20
TUI have been reported elsewhere as making cuts i decided to check on Cardiff. Obviously this could change. I've sampled a week in August 2021
Monday
06.00 Corfu
06.00 Dalaman
06.20 Menorca
13.45 Antalya
15.00 Bourgas
17.20 Palma de Mallorca
Tuesday
06.00 Alicante
06.00 Palma de Mallorca
06.00 Reus
13.05 Keffalonia
13.25 Tenerife
14.30 Zante
22.40 Palma de Mallorca
Wednesday
06.00 Malaga
06.00 Kos
07.05 Ibiza
14.00 Rhodes
14.55 Paphos
16.30 Dalaman
Thursday
06.00 Lanzarote
06.05 Faro (w pattern return 2015)
06.20 Dubrovnik
14.45 Antalya
16.00 Dalaman
Friday
05.30 Menorca
06.00 Enfidha
07.45 Palma de Mallorca
12.10 Zante
14.10 Tenerife
14.30 Corfu
21.45 Ibiza
Saturday
06.00 Ibiza
06.15 Palma de Mallorca
07.00 Alicante
13.25 Kos
13.45 Gran Canaria
15.10 Rhodes
Sunday
06.00 Malaga
06.00 Lanzarote
07.05 Palma de Mallorca
14.25 Paphos
15.35 Heraklion
15.55 Larnaca

 

[Jerry]

Sadly for the planespotters there will be no non based airline operating for TUI for S21. The Monday PMI that was down as for a non based other airline has been shifted into the last evening slot on Mondays. I had hoped they'd go 3 weekly with TFS.
In summary 43 weekly departures 2 destinations lost Sharm el Sheikh and Naples, 3 based aircraft. For Summer 2020 i believe there was supposed to be 47 weekly departures.
Palma de Mallorca 6 weekly
Ibiza 3 weekly
Dalaman 3 weekly
Antalya 2 weekly
Lanzarote 2 weekly
Tenerife 2 weekly -1 weekly flight
Malaga 2 weekly
Alicante 2 weekly
Rhodes 2 weekly
Kos 2 weekly
Corfu 2 weekly
Menorca 2 weekly
Paphos 2 weekly
Zante 2 weekly
Bourgas 1 weekly
Larnaca 1 weekly
Heraklion 1 weekly
Keffalonia 1 weekly
Gran Canaria 1 weekly -1 weekly flight
Enfidha 1 weekly
Reus 1 weekly
Dubrovnik 1 weekly
Faro 1 weekly

 

[Jerry]

With TUI now the most dominant airline at CWL and with Jet2s arrival at BRS making it less likely that we could see them at CWL in the future TUI are now CWLs only option to expand their package holiday operation and based aircraft at the airport.
Thinking more long term ie in the next 5 years and of course it'll all depend on how the travel industry recovers and how Jet2 effects the incumbent airlines in the area, is a 4th based aircraft a realistic goal for CWL to try and obtain from TUI within the next 5 years?
I had a look at some of the frequencies that TUI operate on some routes at other airports and other routes that TUI have at airports with 4 based aircraft like DSA and NCL to get some possible idea where they might add.

Firstly extra frequency on current routes.
Dalaman, Antalya, Tenerife, Corfu, Rhodes and Lanzarote could be the obvious candidates for extra 1 weekly frequency each adding 6 weekly flights with DLM going to 4 weekly and the others to 3 weekly. Larnaca, Bourgas, Gran Canaria and Dubrovnik could be other contenders to all go from 1 weekly to 2 weekly adding an extra 4 weekly flights.

Returning routes Naples and Sharm el Sheikh would be the best candidates for returning routes (Sharm is supposed to be operating in 2022 i believe) between them adding 2 weekly flights.
That leaves new routes, routes like Girona, Bodrum and Pula (could be instead of an extra weekly Dubrovnik) could be possible but looking at others would routes like Skiathos, Santorini and Sal be viable at an airport like Cardiff? If they were and the others were as well that would help Cardiff get to the extra 12 to 15 weekly flights needed for the 4th based aircraft to be viable and to help Cardiff regain passenger numbers in the future.
With an extra based aircraft that would bring TUI up to potentially around 57 weekly departures in the summer.

 

[geoff]

I think that Fuerteventura would be a good addition it was operated by Thomas Cook for many years.

 

[Jerry]

TUI tried it a few years ago if i remember correctly in the winter but it only lasted 2 winters but i don't think it was for the full winter.
While i was researching i also noticed that at Doncaster Lanzarote in the winter is 3 weekly so maybe a target for CWL to get increased to the same frequency. It's 2 weekly at Cardiff.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

With summer 2021 and 2022 already released i can't see much being added in the future. I can see TUI protecting BRS more than anything as they were already growing even when TCX were around. Looking ahead to 2023 there's a possibility that a few W pattern or non based flights could be added, beyond that is anyones guess

The main issue for CWL is that if TUI do try and protect BRS, that means more capacity and lower prices, which would in turn make BRS a more attractive option for the Welsh once again, even if the routes are available from CWL.
The other side of it is TUI could well use CWL to protect the Southwest market against Jet2, knowing many of their passengers are from Wales. Lowering their prices at CWL would do that but also at the same time could hurt their own operation at BRS.
I think it really could go either way. Hopefully CWL will give them the right deal for the latter to become reality.
Unfortunately I can't really see that happening though.

You will always have those willing to pay a bit more that will travel from CWL, and those that simply like flying from CWL. With no competition though, business is business. If TUI make good money out of CWL without needing to offer excess capacity, it may mean a stagnant few years.