Southampton - Faro, First Choice holidays
 

Hi I saw that First Choice holidays are starting a new route from Southampton - Faro. On the First Choice booking website it said it was with air2000. Is this true? And if it is, which aircraft type will be used?

If it isn't air2000 does anyone know the airline that will serve this route?

Cheers

Hi,

Probably will be a A320 if the flight is operated by AMM.

BAe 146-100

Yes I thought the A320 as well. But then again the 757 is operated by Britannia to Palma!! I suppose I will have to wait and find out if no one else knows lol :p

Isn't the runway a bit short for a fully-loaded 757 or 320 on a hot summer day?

I flew from Southampton on a 734 a few weeks back and it was about 75% pay load. So maybe yes it is too short for a fully loaded jet like an A320. But then, think about the extra thrust from the 757 engines. Maybe a 757 would be fine fully loaded, and Britannia never seem to have any troubles!

Hi,

The runway length of SOU is 1723m x 37m, that is probably too short for a fully loaded A320.

BAe 146-100 :)

skytravel,
Yes, I agree with you on the 757. I quite often take a Sunday evening flight from Heathrow to Paris, often operated with a lightly loaded 757. The acceleration and take off are quite something.

I thought the t/o range for an A3xx was c1650-2500m, which puts SOU at a distinct disadvantage, since isn't the effective t/o length only 1650 metres?

Actually, skytravel First Choice tell me that they are no longer operating a SOU-FAO route. The plot thickens! :confused:

newswatcher, well that is so surprising as they are still selling the holidays on the SOU-FAO route! How weird! This would be the first route from SOU for First Choice as well, commencing in May 2004...

Well at SOU we do have an Iberworld A320 operating to PMI and a Spanair A320 operating to Tenerife via Nantes. Although I have never flown on the A320 from SOU so i have no idea of pax levels. But on the B734 it was about 75% load factor.

Hi,

Why does the JKK Tenerife flight operate via Nantes?

BAe 146-100

To pick up more fuel

Hi,

Do they pick up passengers at Nantes?

BAe 146-100

Not that I'm aware of. The het is just a chartered service for Thomson and Airtours holidays I believe...

skytavel

One of the Air Malta Tuesday flights from BRS to Malta has been coming via SOU this summer, presumably to drop off and pick up pax there. It then takes on a full load of fuel at BRS for the return to Malta. A bit ironic really when one considers that BRS's runway is only about 6,600 feet long.

I presume the equipment is a 737-300.

In ISA conditions and calm wind a 757-200 can takeoff from 02 at about 98 tonnes and 20 at approx 96 tonnes - with typical ZFM of 81 tonnes full this leaves more than enough fuel for Faro, Palma etc.

MerchantVenturer

Well I didn't know that about the Air Malta services! Yes the equipment is a B733

kwimper

Thats very interesting info. The 757 seems the best option then if AMM do take up this route...

Skytravel, well you know the "modern" corporation - left-hand/right-hand etc........

They have a "chat-room" facility on their site. I was asking them about something else, and "threw" your question in. "Estelle" told me that "we no longer fly this route". Perhaps they use a carrier other than Air2k.

I guess that must be the case then lol

Oh well!

Britannia are operating SOU-TFS this Winter with a 757-200 every Friday (positions in from LGW about 9-10am then positions back to Gatport in the evening).

If they can do TFS non-stop then AMM can do FAO with a 752 no sweat.

Are you sure that it is a non-stop service? Great if it is lol

According to BAA's website that service is still operated by Spanair... and is the BY service on behalf of Thomson AND Airtours? If not maybe Airtours are chartering in the Spanair A320... Thanks for that Localiser Green, I didn't know!