TUI Airways

[LBA787]

This if true is great news for LBA and Thomson! I'm sure they'll make a pretty penny from the LBA catchment area and will hopefully make them realise just what they've been missing...

Looking at the S13 operation, Monday only has a DLM rotation through the day. Wouldn't a morning LPA followed by the DLM in the afternoon be better use of the a/c?

 

[lbaspotter]

The Monday Leeds-Bradford to Turkey-Dalaman flight times for next summer 2013 operated by the based Thomson Airways aircraft cannot be changed as the flights are currently planned to connect with cruise ship passengers..

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

However the flight could operate earlier say a 0645 departure? No one could argue with that, as the ship docks in Marmais or wherever at 0500 and won't leave till 1900. So if it leaves at 0645 it'll be back at 1630 meaning it can leave at 1730 to lets say LPA?

 

[752]

Thomson opening a new store in White Rose shopping centre Leeds, good news

 

[Bigman]

I wonder where this base aircraft (if true) would be pulled from. Should Donny be worried I wonder?

 

[lbaspotter]

No base has to lose aircraft for LBA to gain, As I think you'll find and already know that they have more new short haul Boeing 737-800WL aircraft due for delivery this winter season along with the new long haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner's.

 

[Bigman]

Now a 787 would be nice on the Sharm route wouldn't it!!

 

[dmrodgers]

Now a 787 would be nice on the Sharm route wouldn't it!!

Would be even better if we could get it on a new route to Florida!!!!

 

[LBA787]

It's very early stages with their 787's! I would expect possible long haul from LBA in a few years but at the moment they will just concentrate on the usual places. On a bright note they have 13 787's on order, even if they replace all there 767's one for one that leaves 3 for expansion!! We can hope for LBA-SFB summer 2015!!!!

 

[Jordan-34092]

We can hope for LBA-SFB summer 2015!!!!

It will be before then!!!

 

[Aviador]

You hope!!!

 

[tleeds]

You never know..

Thomson could be testing the water at LBA in order for future expansion with the B787...?!

Long shot but never say never..

 

[Jordan-34092]

More than likely if we do get Florida back it will be the 767's operating out of LBA.

 

[White Heather]

Why use a 767 which regularly cannot make it all the way without a fuel stop, when the 787 can operate from LBA non stop? LBA management are relying on the 787 to be THE aircraft that will allow LBA to introduce more long haul routes, and Florida is certainly high on their list of things to do.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Why use a 767 which regularly cannot make it all the way without a fuel stop, when the 787 can operate from LBA non stop?

TOM uses the former First Choice B 767s (fewer seats than the original TOM machines) from Bristol to Sanford,Florida each week in summer which operate the route non stop. There could be the occasional weather condition that makes an outbound fuel stop at MAN necessary (this used to be a regular occurrence) but so far as I'm aware the route is operated non-stop all the time now.

The BRS runway is shorter than LBA's and almost as high though I don't know if anything reduces the TODA at Yeadon.

 

[Aviador]

Thomson Airways under the former name of Britannia Airways operated direct flights fortnightly to Orlando from LBA back in the 90's on behalf of Sunset Travel. ATC used to clear the aircraft to Orlando but the aircraft might have done a splash and dash on the odd occasion.

 

[White Heather]

When Thomson operated the cruise flights from LBA to Bridgetown, a good proportion of the flights had to go over to MAN for fuel or in the past have also stopped off at Shannon. I recall that when they did operate direct to Florida as Aviador rightly mentions, they did not quite have a full load and they did, fairly often, stop off for a splash and dash. As long as there is a need for that, or even the risk of it, then Thomson are unlikely to be very interested as it only increases their operating costs, as well as the travel time for passengers. The flight is long enough without having to sit on the deck somewhere while more fuel is loaded.

Lets hope that Thomson fully re-establish their base at LBA and in the future re-commence this route, whatever equipment they use, but as things stand, the lack of suitable equipment off the LBA runway is one of the key reasons why we have never had this service in a regular basis in the past. Even the previous operation mentioned by Aviador was cancelled mid way through the season. I don't think Thomson will be planning 787's for LBA in the near future, but further down the line, I know that LBA management are certainly hoping to see them at LBA on a regular basis.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I recall that when they did operate direct to Florida as Aviador rightly mentions, they did not quite have a full load and they did, fairly often, stop off for a splash and dash. As long as there is a need for that, or even the risk of it, then Thomson are unlikely to be very interested as it only increases their operating costs, as well as the travel time for passengers.

The other weekly long haul TOM charter from BRS in summer is to Cancun, Mexico, again using former First Choice B 767s, and this one does drop in at MAN for fuel (no passengers uplifted) on every outbound journey, being about 600 miles further than Sanford, Florida. This has been going on for several years.

 

[Jordan-34092]

I ain't being funny i can't see them using the 787 at LBA it will be the 767, as the 787's will be needed for the long haul routes to Australia and New Zealand that is in the pipeline.

 

[LBA787]

There are more 787's on order than current 767's in the fleet so even if they replace them all there should be expansion from thomson... I belive when first choice ordered them there were plans for routes from LGW & MAN to Vietnam, Hawaii, South Africa etc.

Having said that in the current climate i dont think we will see these routes or LBA-SFB for some time. I hope im wrong but it just isnt going to happpen for a few years. In an earlier post i stated summer 2015 even thats very optimistic....