NEWCASTLE - 8

[chaps1954]

I wonder who knows that Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM etc are using Airbuses and Boeing that are almost the same age

[ash666]

Can I get through security wearing water wings?

[LiamNCL]

Originally Posted by skyman771

I really wonder just how many pax would actually be comfortable flying in a 30+ year old aircraft if they were aware of this.
To me it's all too easy to simply say " we have excellent inspection & maintenance programs". These guys are pushing the boundaries, when most of the 73's that came off the production line at around this time are long gone.

I really hate mentioning aircraft age because problems can appear on any aircraft but they do themselves no favours you could pay around the same and end up on a 30YO Jet2 aircraft or book TOM or TCX and be on a modern model in some cases less than 5 year old. The days where aircraft age wasnt freely available to the public are now over and I think it's really poor from Jet2 to still think it's acceptable to fly people around on such old planes, that fleet renewal can't come off the production line soon enough.

[chaps1954]

But you can book a flight with Jet2 and get an aircraft less than 6 months old

[SWBKCB]

I wonder who knows that Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM etc are using Airbuses and Boeing that are almost the same age

But you can book a flight with Jet2 and get an aircraft less than 6 months old

Not out of Newcastle!

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Not out of Newcastle!

We operate 800's from NCL so there's no reason why you couldn't be on a brand new one.

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

or book TOM or TCX and be on a modern model in some cases less than 5 year old.

Or alternatively you could be on one of their very old aeroplanes too, old aeroplanes that they run 24/7 rather than Jet2 ones that run about 16/7. I am personally very happy flying round in a 30year old Jet2 aeroplane. It's not about the age, it's about how many times it's been up and down.

[SWBKCB]

There have been none based this summer (might have been the odd stand in), the new a/c seem to be allocated to certain bases so the odds are slim (certainly compared to getting a less new 733). Been reported elsewhere this is due to the new a/c having different spares packs?

[SWBKCB]

Or alternatively you could be on one of their very old aeroplanes too, old aeroplanes that they run 24/7 rather than Jet2 ones that run about 16/7. I am personally very happy flying round in a 30year old Jet2 aeroplane. It's not about the age, it's about how many times it's been up and down.

What very old a/c are TOM or TCX basing out of NCL?

In the real world, if you book a bucket and spade flight out of NCL you are far more likely to get an older a/c if you book Jet2 than you are than with any of the competition.

Personally, I couldn't give a toss, but lets not twist facts.

[skyman771]

Originally Posted by chaps1954

I wonder who knows that Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM etc are using Airbuses and Boeing that are almost the same age

I think you are "trawling" a bit on this one & that almost is not the same as actual.
Quick look & the oldest LH "frame" I could find was an 89 A320, unsure as to what BA a/c you are referring & KL have the odd 89 747 that are due to be retired.
There is actually a bit of irony in this in any event as LH were the airline that actually supplied Jet2's 73's.
In addition it can not be underestimated the benefit of having a frame in fleet from initial delivery as with the the legacy airlines referred to above.
A further point to note is that agreed that the power plants are unlikely to be of the same age, they are potentially open to the greater availability (from source) of replacement parts from the growing market in second hand spare parts.
Anyhow what seems to be lost in all of this is that the post was not intended to be specifically against Jet2, but all operators of very old frames i.e.30+ years. It just so happens that Jet2 are well up there as regards this operation, particularly in the the North of England.
A more pertinent and perhaps relevant point is to look forward and not back & and ask oneself just how much longer are these aircraft intended to be in service? & if this is ascertainable, then just how many B733 frames have already reached this milestone.

It's not about the age, it's about how many times it's been up and down.

Agreed but who is to say that the 73's that Jet2 have in service have not in aggregate done as many cycles as any other?

[LiamNCL]

Some good points made and my post wasn't a dig at Jet2 i look at all NCL based operators in the same way just TUI and TCX at NCL right now base far newer aircraft that's a fact.

I have heard the new aircraft can't rotate bases due to spares being different from regular 738s, There was 2 new aircraft based here last winter I would expect new ones to be here this winter too.

[Chesty Morgan]

Originally Posted by skyman771

I really wonder just how many pax would actually be comfortable flying in a 30+ year old aircraft if they were aware of this.
To me it's all too easy to simply say " we have excellent inspection & maintenance programs". These guys are pushing the boundaries, when most of the 73's that came off the production line at around this time are long gone.

Was the component that failed 30+ years old?

[EK77WNCL]

I've driven a 13 year old VW polo since mid-December, I bought it with 56,500 miles and as of tonight I'm on 64,720 miles. Monday-Thursday it got 3 of us to Hull and back. The week before that it made it's second trip to Bristol (both of which from Newcastle)

She's sweet as a nut! Smooth as silk, like a gazelle when there's only me in it.

All I have to do is look after it, I try and fill up before the fuel light goes on, I keep the oil topped up as regularly as possible, and a few minor bits have been replaced because of wear and tear. I still get 40-45 mpg and I've never had any major problems.

My point is, yes it's an old car, but it really doesn't have very many miles on it and it is well looked after. Just like Jet2's aircraft. All airlines have to abide by the same laws and meet the same standards. Hence, I would have no problems getting on an aircraft 20, 30, 40 or more years of age.

That might just be me though, I have a sweet spot for older, more unique aircraft. I'd probably pick an LS 733/752 (or one of the first off the line, non wingletted 738's) over a TCX A321 or TOM 738 if I could.

Just an added note... Yes you might get a 30 year old 733 or 15 year old 738 if you fly LS from Newcastle. But if you fly TCX you could well get a 16 year old, Lithuanian A320... Just off lease to Cambodia. OR if you choose to fly TOM, you could well be landed with a 20 year old Slovak 737 400...

It's not just Jet2, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all

I mean... People pay hundreds of pounds for domestic flights with Eastern and could end up with a 20-25 year old jetstream!

[GrahamK]

June provisional stats:

Brussels +28%
Paris CDG +6%
Berlin 3244
Dusseldorf +26%
Dublin +30%
Amsterdam +6%
Madrid 3021
Gdansk 2966
Krakow +14%
Warsaw 2946
Wroclaw 2992
Dubai +3%

Heathrow: +2%
Belfast Int +10%
Bristol +13%
Exeter +7%
Southampton +24%

581k pax in June, +11%. 12 month rolling 5.09m +10%

[SWBKCB]

Just an added note... Yes you might get a 30 year old 733 or 15 year old 738 if you fly LS from Newcastle. But if you fly TCX you could well get a 16 year old, Lithuanian A320... Just off lease to Cambodia. OR if you choose to fly TOM, you could well be landed with a 20 year old Slovak 737 400...

Looking at yesterdays based units, the newest Jet2 a/c was built in 2003 (the oldest 1986).

With the exception of the leased in TCX 320 (2001 - still newer than 5 of the 7 Jet2 a/c), the oldest a/c op by TCX, TOM, EZY was built in 2007

[Chesty Morgan]

Does it really matter?

[LiamNCL]

Thomas Cook are upfront and clearly state before you pay if the flight you are booking is operated by Smartlynx/Avion Express.

[SWBKCB]

Thomas Cook aren't being upfront on their own accord, they are legally required to tell you.

Does it matter, not to me but lets at least be aware of the facts.

It's at least as relevant as stating that TCX use a

Lithuanian A320... Just off lease to Cambodia

or

if you choose to fly TOM, you could well be landed with a 20 year old Slovak 737 400...

How is that relevant? After all...

All airlines have to abide by the same laws and meet the same standards.

[Rich3]

I've not got the time to confirm, however TCX is operating B767-300 that are at least 25 years old. Also, they have a number of early A330 that are more than 20 years old. TCX major maintenance is contracted out to a third party in the middle east. Jet2 care for all their own aircraft here in the UK.

Personally I have no issue, when it comes to the age of an aircraft, all are maintained to the same highest standard.

[SWBKCB]

I've not got the time to confirm, however TCX is operating B767-300 that are at least 25 years old. Also, they have a number of early A330 that are more than 20 years old. TCX major maintenance is contracted out to a third party in the middle east. Jet2 care for all their own aircraft here in the UK.

Not into NCL they don't (and this is the NCL thread).

Jet2 used to get maintenance on the 733's done in Romania - isn't this now the case?

Also, if "All airlines have to abide by the same laws and meet the same standards" why all the comments about maintenance being done in the Middle East, Lithuanian and Slovakian operators, etc - just plain old snobbery or an implication of lower standards?