Both Norwich and Leeds/Bradford have TUI operated flights year-round. BFS is the only TUI base to have summer-only flights.

TUI as a travel agency are interested in the NI market, as they sell package holidays and cruises with various different companies through their stores. TUI aren't as interested however in using their own hardware to transport these holidaymakers to their destinations. They much prefer to sell tickets on other airlines, including even Thomas Cook.

Leasing in an aircraft does not say 'long term commitment', it's another way of saying that NI holidaymakers aren't worth as much to TUI as other travellers, and won't mind travelling on an aircraft that isn't up to TUI's high standard. On the other hand, capital investment in their BFS base would tell NI holidaymakers that TUI are here to stay, and that the NI market matters to them.


TUI have leased an aircraft for BFS summer operations for several years in a row, so the lack of an aircraft isn't a short-term issue.

During the winter season, TUI lease several aircraft out to Sunwing and other airlines, but despite that they still have a surplus. TUI prefer to keep spare aircraft grounded than to send one to BFS to operate flights to the Canaries etc. That doesn't seem like a long term commitment to the NI market. Compare that to Thomas Cook, who operate between 2-4 weekly flights to ACE/TFS during the winter season.

Furthermore, only 0.9% of seats offered across the TUI UK network are from BFS, and TUI only offer 1.6% of all of BFS' total seats in 2018 (108,864). That is a clear indication that TUI are not interested in the NI market. In addition, TUI haven't expanded their BFS operations of years; they've simply moved schedules about and replaced existing services with new ones.

Five years ago TUI operated 12 routes from BFS. TUI will operate 12 routes in 2018 as well, having axed three destinations since 2013 in favour of three different ones.

Other airlines have expanded their operations from BFS and have eaten into core TUI territory. This year, only one TUI route from BFS will be operated without facing direct competition.

Is the Thomas Cook aircraft still going to be a leased aircraft for S18? If so any idea when it will be based from?

Sorry, that's just nonsense. The seasonal cross-Atlantic exchange leasing between TUI and Sunwing is a sensible approach to managing the two airlines' respective peaks ( winter snowbirds to Florida, summer sunseekers to Med beaches ). Transat and ASL France do the same.

The 'value' of the NI holidaymakers is such that TUI see value in sustaining that leasing, rather than just focusing on the subset of services possible using the core 'blue' fleet.

Noteable that they also hire in a sunwing for Dublin, yet they announced long haul from Dublin a few years ago. I assume they've no interest in the DUB market also?

Morning

The Thomas Cook aircraft will continue to be an in-house A321 operated by BFS crew.

Me

Perhaps the appearance of the large TUI 737 model outside the BFS terminal is a sign of an increased commitment to the NI market?

Or perhaps it’s just ironic given that Tui only ever use a Sunwing subcharter to cover their BFS work ��

Sounds like somebody hasn't got over the name change yet - personally I haven't forgiven them changing to the light blue scheme.

How long have Britannia/Thomson/TUI been operating out of BFS?

Thomas Cook - Tunisia
 

Now starting 13th March 2019 instead of 1st May 2019. :)

Anyone know why EI037 diverted to BFS tonight landing at 9.30pm?

Too windy for it at bhd

Wee bit of wind
 

It’s these Dublin pilots, They don’t fancy BHD with a wee bit of wind coming off the Holywood hills. Imagine! And with 1800 ft of runway. What’s not to like! Meat and drink to the old Belfast based boys!
Interestingly EI37 landed on the cross runway 17/35 last night. Great for BFS as they can handle wind from any direction.

Thomas Cook - Summer 2019
 

Antalya (22nd April) and Dalaman (11th April) starting a few weeks earlier next year.

Wonder will we see Bodrum added again soon? Maybe Freebird, Onur Air etc may start flying for TCX again from BFS to Turkey

I have a feeling there is something big in the air (pun very much intended) but I'll be goshdarned if I can get it out of anyone I know who works there. Anyone got any ideas??

Qatar.

Have you seen the size of the airports they are now flying from?

Nope. Well, that would be interesting at least.

It’s these Dublin pilots, They don’t fancy BHD with a wee bit of wind coming off the Holywood hills. Imagine! And with 1800 ft of runway. What’s not to like! Meat and drink to the old Belfast based boys!
Interestingly EI37 landed on the cross runway 17/35 last night. Great for BFS as they can handle wind from any direction.

Did it take 60 mins to open runway 17

Could it be FR operating LGW-BHD-LGW from W18?

The great circle distance between BVC & BFS is 2435nm whilst BFS & SWF is 2726nm so a 738Max should be able to do that, a crew on an E1 duty (1 hour planned extension) can do 14 hours on a 2 sector day, 1 hour report 45 minute turnaround leaves 12:15 flying time, tight but doable I would have thought.

Re Cape Verde
More to the point why would people want to go there?
Think flies - billions of them. Not a great place for a holiday to be honest.
It's a place where people will go once and be begging for the comforts of Spain thereafter.
Just because a place 'sounds' good doesn't mean it is.