View Full Version : Thomson give Inverness a miss
Heathrow Harry
14th Feb 2011, 15:49
BBC News - French ski trip delayed after aircraft deemed 'too big' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-12444375)
French ski trip delayed after aircraft deemed 'too big'
More than 200 school children were left temporarily stranded after an aircraft due to fly them to France for a ski trip was reportedly too big to land.
The youngsters, scheduled to fly from Inverness Airport to Grenoble in France on board the Thomson charter flight, had been due to leave at 0650 GMT. However, the children ended up having to travel to Aberdeen Airport for a flight nine hours later.
Holiday firm SkiBound said the flight had faced "operational delays".
A parent in Angus told the BBC News Scotland website that a knock on effect of the Inverness situation had been a delay in the return of Forfar Academy pupils and staff from Grenoble. He said the group left France at 1800 GMT instead of 1000 GMT on Sunday and landed at Manchester, from where they had to travel by coach back to Forfar.
In a statement, a spokesman for Highlands and Islands Airports said: "A Thomson charter aircraft had arranged to pick up 213 passengers from Inverness Airport on 13 February.
"In making these arrangements Thomson operations department had access to all information regarding Inverness Airport facilities. The pilot, having received this information, chose not to land at Inverness Airport.
This is a matter for Thomson and Thomson customers."
The statement added: "We understand that an alternative aircraft was available at Glasgow, but that Thomson could not provide a crew."
GarageYears
14th Feb 2011, 16:06
So....?.....what?
Evanelpus
14th Feb 2011, 17:50
More than 200 school children were left temporarily stranded after an aircraft due to fly them to France for a ski trip was reportedly too big to land.
.....and Thomson never realised this from word go!
Something about this story doesn't ring true to me.
hellsbrink
14th Feb 2011, 18:34
The report does say that it wasn't Thomson who called off the flight, it was the pilot who decided "No" after he was given the info about Inverness airport.
Why? With an 1887m runway I would have thought most charter aircraft would be able to take off/land there, especially since EZY fly in and out of the place regulary, so maybe there's more to this than meets the eye
Maoraigh1
14th Feb 2011, 21:01
School trip delayed as plane unable to land - Press & Journal (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2134927)
Kids travel to airport for before 0500. Some have had an hours travelling. Then buses have to be found at short notice, on a Sunday morning, for a nearly two hour trip on a single carriagway to Aberdeen. This was not due to weather or airport conditions. Someone at the air charter firm made a big planning mistake.
TightSlot
15th Feb 2011, 06:51
The Press & Journal Link above is dead, and the BBC Link contains little information and what there is appears contradictory.
Is there anybody who has access to the facts of this incident? - they might be handy if the airline is going to get roasted.
hellsbrink
15th Feb 2011, 07:17
P&J link works fine here
A Highland school party’s ski trip was delayed for more than eight hours yesterday because their plane could not land at Inverness Airport.
It is understood it was too large for the length of the airport’s runway.
Students at several schools, including Nairn Academy, Grantown Grammar and Millburn Academy in Inverness, only found out about the problem when they arrived at the airport for their 7am flight, despite the trip being booked months previously.
The pupils had been looking forward to their week’s skiing holiday at French alpine resort Alpe d-Huez since it was first planned more than a year ago.
The 121 pupils and 12 staff had to make a dash to Aberdeen Airport, to where their plane had been diverted.
Moray firm Maynes of Buckie provided five coaches to make sure that the students made the flight.
Owner Gordon Mayne said: “Everyone rallied round and we managed to get hold of five drivers early on a Sunday morning.
“We got them all there and they were delighted.”
The group eventually took off at 3.10pm – more than eight hours later than scheduled.
The trip was booked through travel agent Skibound, with Thomsons supplying the chartered flight.
Grantown Grammar head teacher Irene Carson said: “I think it’s absolutely shocking.
“Clearly we’ve got to ask questions on their return, as the numbers for the trip were known months ago and the first they heard was at Inverness airport.
“The priority was getting the youngsters out happy and safe and they were all in good spirits despite the delay.”
She said she was confident that arrangements would be made to get the children back safely.
James Millar, duty manager of Inverness Airport, said a Thomson’s chartered plane had arranged to pick up 213 passengers from Inverness Airport that morning.
He said: “In making this arrangement, Thomson’s operations department had access to all the information regarding Inverness Airport facilities.
“The pilot, having received this information, chose not to land at Inverness.”
A spokesman for Skibound said the flight was subject to operational delays which were still being investigated.
He added: “All passengers have been provided with refreshments throughout the day and will arrive at their hotels this evening. This delay will not impact the start of their ski programme tomorrow morning.”
Appears to have been a one-off arrangement for Thomson 2706, a weekly A321 service from Manchester to Grenoble, to depart extra early and position up to Inverness for an 0650 departure. Supposed to be doing the return arrangement next week, into Inverness and then positioning back to Manchester.
http://web.ana-aviation.com/BY_schedule.nsf/Departing%20Schedule!OpenPage&Start=1&Count=1000&Expand=3.77
Would have thought an A321 off that runway and on that task would be getting up to the limits.
edinv
17th Feb 2011, 22:07
In a statement, a spokesman for Highlands and Islands Airports said: "A Thomson charter aircraft had arranged to pick up 213 passengers from Inverness Airport on 13 February.
"In making these arrangements Thomson operations department had access to all information regarding Inverness Airport facilities.
"The pilot, having received this information, chose not to land at Inverness Airport.
"This is a matter for Thomson and Thomson customers."
-From the taxpayers point of view I hope HIAL (as a nationalised company) will be charging TOM for extension charges associated with arranging to open INV early to accommodate their flight? :suspect: