TUI have decided to base a 787 all week at BRS in Summer 2020, up from 5x days a week in summer 2019. Some have questioned why they are basing one there, especially when it is planned to operate so many short-haul flights.
I wasn't sure as to how TUI utilise their 787 fleet, and how many short-haul flights TUI operate on their 787s in comparison to long-haul. It turns out over a ¼ of the 787 fleet operate short-haul flights each week in the summer months.
Below is a summary of how TUI uses their 787s across it's network in August 2019 (before the MAX crisis hit)...
TUI has a fleet of 12x 787s (8x 787-8s and 4x 787-9s) in 2019.
11x aircraft are needed for the weekly schedule in August 2019, with 1x spare.
5x are required at LGW
3x are required at MAN
1x is required at BHX
2x are required between:
BRS (5x days a week)
GLA (2/4x days a week - alternates each week with NCL)
NCL (2/4x days a week - alternates each week with GLA)
EMA (2x days a week)
DSA (1x day a week)
The only airports that the 787 operate shorthaul flights are LGW, MAN and BRS.
Out of the 5x aircraft required at LGW, most days require 3x to operate the long-haul schedule and 2x to operate the short-haul schedule. However a Tuesday sees 1x aircraft operate long-haul and 4x operate short-haul.
Out of the 3x aircraft required at MAN, most days require 2x to operate the long-haul schedule and 1x to operate the short-haul schedule. However a Monday sees 1x aircraft operate long-haul and 2x operate short-haul.
The BHX aircraft only operates long-haul flights, operating every day.
The BRS aircraft operates 2x days long-haul and 3x days short-haul.
TUI clearly is happy to use their 787s on short-haul flights more than people might think, with a ¼ or more of their 787 fleet operating short-haul flights each week from LGW, MAN and BRS throughout summer 2019.
When it comes to numbers; TUI can operate 2x short-haul flights each day instead of 1x long-haul flight. I don't know the exact figures, but I'm sure a 787 full of long-haul punters doesn't make double the income for TUI than a 787 full of short-haul punters, which it can operate twice a day?
Clearly the bean counters see a good reason to use the 787s on so many short-haul flights!
Last edited by Severn; 16th Apr 2019 at 22:07.