Originally Posted by
TCAS FAN
Can SEN do it with a similar TORA? I believe that the answer is "yes". Look at the opportunities available with a capability to operate a 3.5 - 4.0 hour sector length.
If a A319/320 is going to be able to carry an economic load the northern extension and the improved take-off/climb environment are apparently the way forward to make this happen.
As for TFS, its already been done off the current runway and its trees off the south end, by TUI's (nee Thomson) B752s.
Hi There TCAS,
the venerable 757-200 is quite a different beast (and a beautifully versatile powerful one at that) and as you may know 752's operate unrestricted in and out of tiny Skiathos and Mykonos - even before JMK's runway was extended by 450m to 1900m.
IE: No tech stops needed on the way back to UK from JSI or JMK.
But a full or busy 737-800 and A320/321's returning back today from JSI to UK all have to tech stop at some place like Volos Lemnos SKG Kavala or Corfu if they cannot take enough fuel on out of JSI.
This makes for a 3 sector day, limiting and reducing flight crew hours, plus the extra handling costs, so unless the Tour Operator is running the extra sector as a split load, it costs more.
Sunvil does this - Pax on at LGW for both JSI and Lemnos, stops at JSI first to drop off pax, and to pick up home-bound pax, then stops at Lemnos to do the same, and fuels up there for LGW.
So, SOU-TFS-SOU was fine on the 757-200.
No tech stops
usually needed on the outward flight, unlike
today where a full A320 even to Malaga, let alone TFS would be Take Off weight limited at SOU and thus would need to pick up fuel on the way or lose seats. May even be ZFW limited.
Again another 3 sector crewing day.
The Easy Jet short SKI flight SOU to GVA has even been payload limited at times with both the A319, but less so on the better performing A320.
Volotea did PMI-SOU-PMI (and IBZ) with their A319 (up to 150 seats) There have been occasions when many bags have been left behind.
These are Thomson (TUI) summer package holiday flights. Folk will not book SOU again if that happens to them.
SOU-TFS can also be done by 737-200/300/400/500 & 700 usually without much issue as was seen in the past (Air Europa Air Malta Orion IEA Palmair and Thomson were such)
We shall miss seeing the 757's around (FYI a 757-300 could not use SOU or JSI/JMK)
SEN is not SOU - SEN has spent ££££ on grooving and other runway improvements, and they do not have the clearway & obstacle issues like SOU.
Ryanair have been flying SEN-CFU
and EZY to the Canaries with some payload restrictions. (less 10-15 saleable seats penalty)
Before Covid-19 SOU were very upbeat with the runway starter extension going ahead & this could open up new routes with the existing types as you say in your second post flying further.
Canaries and Greek Islands were not mentioned, nor was the mention of all ''leisure routes'' but I got the impression that nearer European destinations were the idea.
Recovery for SOU from post-Covid aviation (& coping with the loss of Flybe) it is critical for its core business and connectivity routes to blossom again.
I think any plans for SOU-TFS right now are definitely staying in the bottom drawer.