Bye Bye BY
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Coventry
Having had family dispersed across Europe when I was growing up, there are numerous photos of me standing in front of either Britannia or British Airways as a youngster, and this constant travelling on both airlines was definitely the reason that I became hooked on the airline industry & latterly wanted to work in it.
The company has always been respected for being at the top of the charter airline game, with a stunning livery, smart uniforms & generally fantastic service for a charter.
It is incredibly sad to see a brand which is so well-respected in the industry being replaced by this new "dot-com-era" name, however it would be wrong to think it's completely a bad idea. Britannia is essentially known as a charter airline, which puts off a lot of the new consumers who are arranging their own holidays, who would rather book with a "whizz-bang-dot-com" company. There are in reality few people who will choose a holiday because it's operated by "Britannia" and these people who do insist on flying with the company will be told by their travel agents that the airline has changed its name, like "Lunn Poly" has become "Thomson travel shop." This alignement of brands is the future, and hopefully the BY boys & girls will uphold the strong tradition of the Britannia brand under our new name, which whilst the "fly.com" is a bit yuck, we still have the proud name "Thomson" which is respected in the travel industry.
The company has always been respected for being at the top of the charter airline game, with a stunning livery, smart uniforms & generally fantastic service for a charter.
It is incredibly sad to see a brand which is so well-respected in the industry being replaced by this new "dot-com-era" name, however it would be wrong to think it's completely a bad idea. Britannia is essentially known as a charter airline, which puts off a lot of the new consumers who are arranging their own holidays, who would rather book with a "whizz-bang-dot-com" company. There are in reality few people who will choose a holiday because it's operated by "Britannia" and these people who do insist on flying with the company will be told by their travel agents that the airline has changed its name, like "Lunn Poly" has become "Thomson travel shop." This alignement of brands is the future, and hopefully the BY boys & girls will uphold the strong tradition of the Britannia brand under our new name, which whilst the "fly.com" is a bit yuck, we still have the proud name "Thomson" which is respected in the travel industry.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: West Yorkshire
Speaking of uniform, i still have the britannia cabin crew scarf i bought before the TUI uniform, pretty glad i bought it now! at least i can hold on to a few memories, posters from Britannia they sent me and bits and bobs from the airline
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Australi
RIP the Lady in the Wheelchair
Very sad day for aviation in general..
I spent 10 happy years in engineering at LTN from 1980.. From boy to man you could say. My wife is also an ex BAL girl and still happily married with 3 kids living in OZ..
If it was not for Bernard Pinchin (ex Bristol Britannia Flight Eng) and the other training guys I would not be where I am today.. All the staff from the cleaners and up to the mgmt levels of all depts were many of the best in their field.. I have many many fond memories of my time there.
Some really great people went into making BAL the best charter airline in the world...
Thomson Holidays for allowing the demise of this once great icon and TUI for not recognising the value and heritage of the brand.....
RIP the old lady..... Gone but never forgotten
Shaun Grady.....
I spent 10 happy years in engineering at LTN from 1980.. From boy to man you could say. My wife is also an ex BAL girl and still happily married with 3 kids living in OZ..
If it was not for Bernard Pinchin (ex Bristol Britannia Flight Eng) and the other training guys I would not be where I am today.. All the staff from the cleaners and up to the mgmt levels of all depts were many of the best in their field.. I have many many fond memories of my time there.
Some really great people went into making BAL the best charter airline in the world...
Thomson Holidays for allowing the demise of this once great icon and TUI for not recognising the value and heritage of the brand.....RIP the old lady..... Gone but never forgotten
Shaun Grady.....
I'm Just A Lawnmower
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Over the hills and faraway
Originally Posted by thomsonfly.com
It is incredibly sad to see a brand which is so well-respected in the industry being replaced by this new "dot-com-era" name, however it would be wrong to think it's completely a bad idea. blah, blah, blah...
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: England
Thanks to Buster the Bear for the splendid picture of the Euravia Constellations [and the wooden sheds!].
Thanks also to 22/04 for the information about the gliders. [It seems that what appeared to be a somewhat unlikely recollection may in fact be right!].
Thanks also to 22/04 for the information about the gliders. [It seems that what appeared to be a somewhat unlikely recollection may in fact be right!].
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Milton Keynes
Originally Posted by ServisairLBA
probably thomson or thomsonfly at a guess
When BY was in its colour scheme before the horrid blue colour, IMO, it was the best looking UK airline in the skies, the livery was superb! sadly times change, but it will always be Britannia to me.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
When BY was in its colour scheme before the horrid blue colour, IMO, it was the best looking UK airline in the skies, the livery was superb! sadly times change, but it will always be Britannia to me.
A fond farewell and a sight surely missed.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: West Yorks
Much as I'm no major fan of TUI/Thomson, I happen to find the new colour scheme very appealing. It is modern, clean cut and exactly what appeals to todays corporate customer.
Yes - sad to see BY go all the same.
Yes - sad to see BY go all the same.
