Yes sorry I forget really about Jet2 Holidays.
They are an extremely good and large package holiday player now since the TCK collapse, and whilst they were once only the ''darlings'' of the North they have now gone into STN, and this summer managed to start up eventually at BRS. Not sure if they are doing any winter 2021/2022 from there though?
Both BOH and EXT (TUI only) are very quiet this winter coming.
You mention Portugal - they had their own charter airlines - Air Atlantis, Air Columbus and SATA Azores.
SATA is still going.
Greece's charter airlines were all here today and more or less gone tomorrow.
Axon, Cronus, Galaxy, Cretan, Venus, Apollo, Alexandair, Electra/Air Scotland/Greece Airways, Fly Hellas/Viking, Hermes, Macedonian, Sky Wings
et al.
Today Aegean still picks up alot of charter flights as well its growing scheduled European and UK network. Joined now by Sky Express.
Spain's difficult years -
Yes, Transeuorpa were a busy little airline with Caravelles from 1969 and for over 10 years were seen at many of the small UK regionals such as MME, EXT, STN and SEN, as well as LGW BHX and MAN. The 6 Caravelle 10R and 2 11R were used to fly mainly Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. As tourism grew Transeuropa stopped its freight operations, most of which had been carried out on behalf of Iberia using its Caravelle 11R combi aircraft.
Transeuropa also served the Canary Islands, Morocco and Tunisia, mostly from Germany.
A fall in charter demand in 1979 due to a recession, saw the airline purchased by the Spanish government and took delivery of six Fokker 27 for short haul operations on behalf of Iberia and Aviaco. By this time, a combination of the huge increase in the price of aviation fuel and the Caravelle aircraft becoming obsolete there was a need to modernize the fleet, but owing to a lack of capital by the beginning of 1982 Transeuropa ceased operations and most of its assets were taken over by Aviaco.
Just the year before in 1981, competitor TAE went bust, who were set up in April 1967 having acquired three DC-7C to commence IT operations, followed in 1969 by a new BAC 1-11 402 with an option with BAC for a second, but in early 1970 as a result of financial losses flights were suspended. It was not until three years later that operations were restarted under new management by leasing two Douglas DC-8 30's. Operations were concentrated on inclusive tour flights, mainly from Germany.
In 1975, a Super Caravelle was acquired followed by a second.
Also in 1975, Air Spain had just ceased operations and so TAE leased one further Douglas DC-8-53 to fill in the vacuum in the charter market.
6 DC-8's and 3 Super Caravelles were then in the fleet.
1979/1980 brought an economic recession and the fortunes of TAE began to decline. Another factor that influenced the decline of TAE was increased competition from other new charter operators from Spain and abroad. That, combined with the fact that TAE was also operating old DC-8 and Caravelle aircraft, led to further financial difficulties.
TAE ceased operations in November 1981 and was dissolved in early 1982.
In 1982 just Spantax and Iberia owned Aviaco remained in the charter business - In September of that same year a Spantax DC-10 30 crashed off the runway at Malaga.
German and Scandinavian Tour Operators started to lose faith in both BX and AO.
Hispania was created in August 1982 to start flying in summer 1983 to the UK, Eire, France and Germany with ex Transeuropa Caravelles, joined in 1985 with 737-200's. The airline ordered second generation Boeing 737-300s and new 757-200s from summer 1987, but financial difficulties and a failed takeover bid by Air Europa forced the airline to cease trading in summer 1989.
A late 1980's renaissance in Spain -
Air Europa had already started operations in 1987 with the latest 737-300 and 757-200 from ILG parent Air Europe.
LTE International Airways commenced flights in late 1987 based at Palma with 3 newish 757-200's with RB211 535C engines transferred from LTU parent, LTU Sud.
Even before the closure of Spantax in 1988 had opened up opportunities for more new charter airlines, such as Air Sur/CTA Canafrica Transportes Aereos, LAC Líneas Aéreas Canarias, Andalusair/Oasis, Viva Air and Nortjet.
Spanair was to commence in 1989 with MD80 aircraft.
Both the UK and Spain had many perilous years in the charter market.
There were very few 'Golden Years' - if there was, then they were very soon followed by a Fuel crisis, a weak £/$, and/or a Recession.