Leeds Bradford: TUI Airways Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[lbaspotter]

So even less variety of aircraft then ! pretty boring this summer but at least busier !
However we have lost quite a bit though 3 Cork flights,5 Belfast Harbour flights plus 7 Amsterdam flights per week too.

Sometime I wish I would kept my mouth shut an not saw owt, as the same thing happens when I mention anything about Thomson's

By way we've only lost 5x Amsterdam KLM flights and 3x Flybe Belfast City rotations along with the 3x Aer Lingus Cork flights. it's not all doom and gloom as just remember and take a look at the increases we've got from Jet2 and Ryanair plus extra Guernsey flights.

 

[lbaspotter]

morning 300boy
has LBA ever been on thomsons priority list???
hope you are keep well
sm1

Why would LBA ever be a priority for Thomson's when there always had the massive operation over the hill at Manchester and for past 10 years or so that one down A1 at Doncaster-Sheffield.

At least they still have a token presence at LBA. Even though we know it's well supported by regulars and could do better.

 

[White Heather]

I suspect that Thomson might now struggle to make much impact at LBA as there are so many contented Jet2 Holidays passengers. I wouldn't mind betting that in the Leeds City Region, Jet2 Holidays are now the top selling tour operator by quite some distance.

 

[a300boy]

I suspect the marketing team might be disappointed as they did say they were hoping Thomsons would expand.

 

[rmac]

Thomson's offering from Edinburgh is similar to Leeds, however my impression is that Jet2Holidays are becoming well known and acquiring a good name in the central Scottish belt. Often I ask friends, etc who they are flying with and very often it is Jet2.

 

[White Heather]

That is what I find with colleagues at work who are based in Scotland - and everywhere else just about. They all seem to be using Jet2 on a regular basis. Nobody seems to have any complaints about them either apart from the occasional quibble over prices etc.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

My OH family come from the west midlands and I was quiet surprised how many have already booked flights/holidays from Birmingham with Jet2 this summer, and the awareness of the Jet2 name in the midlands.
When you look at the huge catchment area of Stansted, these could be exciting times for the Jet2 brand and whilst they are only half the size of Thomsons in Holiday sales, they could make a huge intend in to this gap in the next 5 years.

 

[lbaspotter]

Well from what I hear even though Jet2 are testing with larger aircraft this summer (Air Tanker A330) they have no plans currently for expansion into Long Haul matket so Thomas Cook or Thomson Holidays dont need to worry about that..

 

[lbaspotter]

Thomson Holidays should be releasing there summer 2018 programme today. Will be interesting to see if the made anymore changes to the LBA based aircraft schedule.

 

[White Heather]

Thomson Holidays should be releasing there summer 2018 programme today. Will be interesting to see if the made anymore changes to the LBA based aircraft schedule.

Let's just hope we even have a schedule! I am never surprised by anything TUi do where LBA is concerned.

 

[White Heather]

Well I have just checked the Thomson website and there is good news (they are still with us) and bad news (their schedule is disappointing to say the least). One interesting thing is that they have introduced a weekly flight to Bourgas, Bulgaria each Thursday, and it will be interesting to see if that survives the infamous TUi chop between now and then. If it does survive, what impact on our regular Balkan Holidays flight? We don't want to lose that regular flight as there is no doubt that Thomson are likely to be here today and gone tomorrow on the route. The rough list is as follows:

Bourgas 1 weekly (Thurs)
Corfu 1 weekly (Fri)
Ibiza 1 weekly (Mon)
Mahon 1 weekly (Fri)
Paphos 1 weekly (Wed)
Rhodes 1 weekly (Sat)
Tenerife 1 weekly (Sun)
Palma 5 weekly (Tue, Wed, Thur, Sat, Sun

Total 12 flights per week with Faro dropped (again).
It looks as though they are not really interested in competing with Jet2 Holidays and Thomas Cook on many of the routes into Spain. Timings suggest we still have a based aircraft with departures as early as 0600. The one saving grace would be if they upped their game and gave us a 757. Dream on Heather!

 

[imagineif]

Here are the OB timings:

Bourgas - Thursday 1435
Corfu - Friday 0825
Mahon - Friday 1750
Ibiza - Monday 0600
Palma - Tuesday 0805 / Wednesday 0600 / Thursday 0630 / Saturday 0750 / Sunday 1840
Paphos - Wednesday 1355
Rhodes - Saturday 1530
Tenerife - Sunday 0700

- not dug too deep so not sure if all those Palma flights will be on TUI/Sunwing metal

 

[imagineif]

Also - from April 27th (1 week today) the airline is officially TUI Fly UK, should start using the call-sign "TUI-AIR"

Thomson Airways no more...

 

[White Heather]

Here are the OB timings:

Bourgas - Thursday 1435
Corfu - Friday 0825
Mahon - Friday 1750
Ibiza - Monday 0600
Palma - Tuesday 0805 / Wednesday 0600 / Thursday 0630 / Saturday 0750 / Sunday 1840
Paphos - Wednesday 1355
Rhodes - Saturday 1530
Tenerife - Sunday 0700

- not dug too deep so not sure if all those Palma flights will be on TUI/Sunwing metal

All the Palma flights appear to be on the based a/c.

 

[Britannia94]

At least we still have Thomson next year, always a nice change to see their aircraft on the ground at LBA compared to usual, Jet2, Monarch and Ryanair.

Even with the name change think it will be hard for some of us to no longer call them Thomson.

Now all we need is a weekly 787 to Orlando with them but I'm guessing that's wishful thinking eh?

 

[lbaspotter]

TUI Fly UK summer 2018 flights based programme from LBA.

Mondays
TOM3172 = LBA 06:00 - IBZ 09:40 / TOM3173 = IBZ 18:15 - LBA 19:55 (W-legs LPL)
Tuesdays
TOM3250 = LBA 08:05 - PMI 11:45 / TOM3251 = PMI 20:25 - LBA 22:10 (W-legs LPL)
Wednesdays
TOM3316 = LBA 06:00 - PMI 09:40 / TOM3317 = PMI 10:40 - LBA 12:25
TOM3338 = LBA 13:55 - PFO 20:35 / TOM3339 = PMI 21:50 - LBA 00:50*
Thursdays
TOM3432 = LBA 06:30 - PMI 10:10 / TOM3433 = PMI 11:20 - LBA 13:05
TOM3404 = LBA 14:35 - BOJ 20:05 / TOM3405 = BOJ 21:05 - LBA 22:35
Fridays
TOM3550 = LBA 08:25 - CFU 13:50 / TOM3551 = CFU 15:00 - LBA 16:30
TOM3506 = LBA 17:50 - MAH 21:20 / TOM3507 = MAH 22:20 - LBA 23:50
Saturdays
TOM3618 = LBA 07:50 - PMI 11:30 / TOM3619 = PMI 12:30 - LBA 14:15
TOM3646 = LBA 15:30 - RHO 21:40 / TOM3647 = RHO 22:40 - LBA 01:10*
Sundays
TOM3748 = LBA 07:00 - TFS 11:40 / TOM3749 = TFS 12:40 - LBA 17:10
TOM3710 = LBA 18:40 - PMI 22:20 / TOM3711 = PMI 23:20 - LBA 01:05*

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Wonder how well BOJ will sell from LBA with TUI.

 

[Jerry]

Wonder how well BOJ will sell from LBA with TUI.

Can't see why it won't do well. Bulgaria holidays are usually pretty cheap so it might attract the more price conscious traveller and people looking for somewhere different.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

I suppose however this is the first time that TOM have released somewhere from LBA thats not within their 'norm' e.g. somewhere that's not their 'safe' airports.

I hope it works for them.

 

[White Heather]

I suppose however this is the first time that TOM have released somewhere from LBA thats not within their 'norm' e.g. somewhere that's not their 'safe' airports.

I hope it works for them.

So do I, but not if it results in a negative impact on the Balkan Holidays operation from LBA. Balkan have been loyal to LBA now for many years and will probably continue to operate from here into the future if the demand is there. The worst case scenario is that TUi pinch their customers, we lose BH and then TUi do their usual thing and pull off the route, leaving us with nothing. Lets hope this route is because there is demand from LBA that isn't being met.