Britannia Airways becomes Thomsonfly.com
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Britannia Airways becomes Thomsonfly.com
Britannia Airways becomes Thomsonfly.com
09.05.2005
An exciting new chapter in the history of the airline has arrived as we re-brand what was previously known as Britannia Airways to become Thomsonfly.com.
This is not the first change of name for the airline which has a long history of safe, punctual flying with a reputation for great service and innovation. We began life back in 1962 as Euravia, this year we will carry over 9 million passengers.
The Britannia name has served us well but we are making huge changes to our business to reflect the way people travel today.
Part of these changes means offering a much wider range of flights, holidays and short breaks from airports which are easy to get to and from.
Thomsonfly has been created in recognition of the changing needs of travellers and holidaymakers in the UK and throughout Europe. Our objective is to provide more choice, more flexibility and more opportunity by offering inspiring destinations, attractive schedules and, very importantly, low fares.
We are committed to service excellence – to punctuality, to hospitality, to choice and flexibility. After you’ve flown with us we want you to tell your friends to try out our low fares and friendly service.
We want your experience of flying with us to be the best it possibly can be – every time.
You can book our flights directly on this website and through Thomson Holidays and other tour operators as part of an inclusive tour.
Welcome to Thomsonfly.com !
09.05.2005
An exciting new chapter in the history of the airline has arrived as we re-brand what was previously known as Britannia Airways to become Thomsonfly.com.
This is not the first change of name for the airline which has a long history of safe, punctual flying with a reputation for great service and innovation. We began life back in 1962 as Euravia, this year we will carry over 9 million passengers.
The Britannia name has served us well but we are making huge changes to our business to reflect the way people travel today.
Part of these changes means offering a much wider range of flights, holidays and short breaks from airports which are easy to get to and from.
Thomsonfly has been created in recognition of the changing needs of travellers and holidaymakers in the UK and throughout Europe. Our objective is to provide more choice, more flexibility and more opportunity by offering inspiring destinations, attractive schedules and, very importantly, low fares.
We are committed to service excellence – to punctuality, to hospitality, to choice and flexibility. After you’ve flown with us we want you to tell your friends to try out our low fares and friendly service.
We want your experience of flying with us to be the best it possibly can be – every time.
You can book our flights directly on this website and through Thomson Holidays and other tour operators as part of an inclusive tour.
Welcome to Thomsonfly.com !
Last edited by Hawk; 11th May 2005 at 18:57.
What a sad day in aviation, to see the Britannia name vanish from the skies. Britannia didn't need rebranding. Every citizen in the UK new and identified with the name Britannia. The idiots at the helm need rebranding!!! 
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This is not the first change of name for the airline which has a long history of safe, punctual flying
For me they will always be Britannia
Nice bit of advertising blurb/PR Pangloss Autospeak there !
Thomson is a name associated with a cheapo/mid-range IT company, a dying market. Britannia was a well-regarded name associated with an airline, an expanding market, and they were one of the most-recognised names. And the new image is about projecting an airline rather than an IT company.
Thomson as a name had no connection with the low fares market at all. I accept that if Britannia was not available as a dot.comm name (and someone else seems to have got it) that would be an issue, though not insurmountable.
The new livery with the name "Thomsonfly.co.uk" written down the fuselage and interrupted by cabin windows, is far too easily confused with "Thomas Cook", written in similar style on a rival's aircraft. Any half-competent livery designer would have seen that in a moment.
The German owners appear to have got onto the change-for-changes sake bandwagon. This difficulty with German proprietors has happened before in the market. The owners engineer the takeover because they see the lower unit costs (significantly) of UK operators and want that benefit across their business, but they then get let down by their German managers who proceed to operate the UK subsidiary in their traditional over-centralised and bureaucratic manner, the cause of all the excess costs in the first place.
Thomson is a name associated with a cheapo/mid-range IT company, a dying market. Britannia was a well-regarded name associated with an airline, an expanding market, and they were one of the most-recognised names. And the new image is about projecting an airline rather than an IT company.
Thomson as a name had no connection with the low fares market at all. I accept that if Britannia was not available as a dot.comm name (and someone else seems to have got it) that would be an issue, though not insurmountable.
The new livery with the name "Thomsonfly.co.uk" written down the fuselage and interrupted by cabin windows, is far too easily confused with "Thomas Cook", written in similar style on a rival's aircraft. Any half-competent livery designer would have seen that in a moment.
The German owners appear to have got onto the change-for-changes sake bandwagon. This difficulty with German proprietors has happened before in the market. The owners engineer the takeover because they see the lower unit costs (significantly) of UK operators and want that benefit across their business, but they then get let down by their German managers who proceed to operate the UK subsidiary in their traditional over-centralised and bureaucratic manner, the cause of all the excess costs in the first place.
They are being re-branded 'Hapagfly' 
Look at what happened with Condor. They were rebranded as THOMAS COOK (with small "powered by Condor" titles). It soon became apparent that the German consumer identified much more closely with the well established CONDOR name then that of THOMAS COOK. The result is that the large CONDOR tiltles are now re-apprearing on the aircraft, albeit whilst retaining the Thomas Cook colours and logo on the tail.
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I see a nice blue 757 at Manchester with Thomsonfly.com plastered down the side. When I get home, I decide I shall visit this address as I wouldn't mind a flight only to somewhere sunny for a week. Yet I can't book flights from Manchester (or the vast majority of other destinations) on thomsonfly.com? Confused? they will be.
Sensing a brand identity crisis between a lo-cost airline, and a full service charter airline sharing the name?
Sensing a brand identity crisis between a lo-cost airline, and a full service charter airline sharing the name?
Sensing a brand identity crisis between a lo-cost airline, and a full service charter airline sharing the name?
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Well we have always been Thomsonfly.com at our base, but I agree and we have said this to each other, pax will become very confused!
Our aircraft have always had Thomsonfly.com on them, but when you visit the website, its our flights that you can book so no problem there!
But obviously if you flew from Man, Lgw etc on an IT flight, then the aircraft would say exactly the same and the website would have no relevence!
From what I can gather though I think the website/s will be merged soon but even then I dont think that pax will be able to book flights from/to all destinations. Maybe we should have just had Thomson.com/co.uk on everything then one website where you choose what you want eg flights, package, hotels, etc?
I suppose only time will tell in the end whether it works or not! In the meantime..........
[Confused?
Our aircraft have always had Thomsonfly.com on them, but when you visit the website, its our flights that you can book so no problem there!
But obviously if you flew from Man, Lgw etc on an IT flight, then the aircraft would say exactly the same and the website would have no relevence!
From what I can gather though I think the website/s will be merged soon but even then I dont think that pax will be able to book flights from/to all destinations. Maybe we should have just had Thomson.com/co.uk on everything then one website where you choose what you want eg flights, package, hotels, etc?
I suppose only time will tell in the end whether it works or not! In the meantime..........
[Confused?
Last edited by Hawk; 11th May 2005 at 18:48.
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Another one bites the dust but as far as I'm concerned it's still Britannia (or Brit) and shall remain so, just as First Choice is Air 2 Bob and Thomas Cook/JMC or whatever they're called is Flying Colours (or Caledonian). Confused ? Me too. Talk about buggering around for the sake of it.
BTW, dear TUI. How much do you want for the Britannia and Orion names ?
BTW, dear TUI. How much do you want for the Britannia and Orion names ?
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Before Euravia, were'nt they known as Skyways, with that wonderful fleet of pale blue Yorks, Hermes and Constellations.
Operated out of Stansted when you could spend the whole day waiting for an arrival which could be in two days time with only the MTCA Doves to disturb the slumber.
Before that I believe they were known as the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation, so I think Britannia can trace their lineage back to the days of the Berlin Airlift.
Another sad day for British Aviation and another victory for Europeanism.
Southender.
Operated out of Stansted when you could spend the whole day waiting for an arrival which could be in two days time with only the MTCA Doves to disturb the slumber.
Before that I believe they were known as the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation, so I think Britannia can trace their lineage back to the days of the Berlin Airlift.
Another sad day for British Aviation and another victory for Europeanism.
Southender.
Southender
In fact Euravia bought most of the Skyways operation, I think in 1963, for the token sum of 1 GBP. This included the Skyways' Connies and an Avro York freighter. I believe it also included the maintenance operation. Syways Coach Air operation with Avro 748s was not included in the deal.
Euravia itself was formed in 1962 by J.E.D. Williams and Ted Langton. First commercial flight was 5 May 1962. It became Britannia in 1964 when the whole concept of Europe went a bit pear shaped in the UK as Mr de Gaulle had famously said "Non!" to UK entry into the common market. Surprisingly, the name Britannia had not been taken up by any other airline and Euravia was starting to requip with ex-BOAC Britannia 100 series aircraft.
In fact Euravia bought most of the Skyways operation, I think in 1963, for the token sum of 1 GBP. This included the Skyways' Connies and an Avro York freighter. I believe it also included the maintenance operation. Syways Coach Air operation with Avro 748s was not included in the deal.
Euravia itself was formed in 1962 by J.E.D. Williams and Ted Langton. First commercial flight was 5 May 1962. It became Britannia in 1964 when the whole concept of Europe went a bit pear shaped in the UK as Mr de Gaulle had famously said "Non!" to UK entry into the common market. Surprisingly, the name Britannia had not been taken up by any other airline and Euravia was starting to requip with ex-BOAC Britannia 100 series aircraft.
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and a full service charter airline sharing the name?
Thomsonfly - all I am saying is what a cheap and tacky brand which will be regretted.
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The codes are all over the place. Thomsonfly the charter airline are using BY (but BAL when the 3-letter code appears). Thomsonfly low-cost airline are using TOM (but 6B when the 2-letter code appears). 6B actually belongs to Britannia Airways Nordic (3-letter code: BLX). Confused? - you should be!
