For Summer 2023, I am guessing 767's will still be MAN based, and there will be some short haul activity on 787's out of LGW/MAN/BHX as per this year?

Yes still MAN based. Operating Cape Verde amongst other mid haul and short haul flights

What the hell is going on with TUI?! Are they still that short staffed and have endless amount of claims to process, that they can't even answer a question on Twitter or Facebook Messenger, or don't answer the phone!!
We flew out to Izmir on a delayed flight from Birmingham on 18th September (should have been Manchester) and were delayed 3hrs 20mins, but still since 19th Sep we cannot get hold of TUI!
When completing the online form, the automatic e mail response comes back saying "unfortunately, we are unable to process your claim, because one of several reasons" blah blah blah! Everything on the form is correct!

Should have departed Manchester on 17th Sep @15:40, but after 5hrs of delays, flight was cancelled, sent to a hotel in Manchester and bussed down to Birmingham on 18th Sep for a departure to Izmir @15:25, however, the flight was delayed until 18:55...when putting the claim in for this delay, the above message appears!

Anyone having the same or similar experiences?

Something big called ‘Ian’ just blew its way through Florida. Perhaps their resources are prioritised to focus on that?

Yes, I'm aware of the current situation in Florida...but like I stated, the communication started on 18th Sep and not one response yet!
We have a TUI travel agents nearby, might be worth calling in there, although I doubt they can help with this situation...

How long will SE-RFZ be doing the Cancun route from Manchester? is it just summer or staying over winter as well.

SE-RFZ will stay in MAN until the tail end of October and then will transfer back to ARN for the winter season.

The only celebration that DSA staff are having is ES-SAM, a wet lease A320 that has been plaguing Tui flights with maintenance delays all summer has flown the coup and is returning home....

I know the answer is because they’re cheap and they probably recoup a significant amount back, from clauses in their contract, but I have no idea why TUI and Jet2 continue to use them. Even when you went back to the TCX days, they were dire then. There was an aircraft one year based up at NCL and it was literally tech every other week.

Titan and Wamos (admittedly not a 737/320/321) are far more reliable.

it will be interesting to see what TUI do for S23 especially with the Sunwing agreement, apparently, ending. Although that has had its issues at ABZ too.

Most of the Sunwing issues have been caused by their pilots essentially working to rule as a result of the proposed acquisition by Westjet. This includes a refusal to go into discretion and refusing to work if "rest" is disturbed, for example by a phone call delaying report to avoid going into discretion. Longer flights like ABZ-DLM become particularly vulnerable.

Unfortunately it's British customers just trying to go on holiday that end up caught up in an industrial dispute that's happening on the other side of the Atlantic.

Has anybody seen any details to back up this common assertion, or is it an urban myth? Given their small numbers any delays are more noticeable, but how does their serviceability stack up with mainline fleets?

I’m sure someone can find the figures somewhere but this is definitely not an urban myth. It’s been the case for years, as I said above.

Across the summer, it’s barely been seen with Titan and they have even smaller numbers. I can guarantee they would win many more contracts, certainly over the summer, if they added even more to their fleet. It’s TBC whether it’s always tech issues (for Smart Lynx) this summer, as it could easily be crew issues too, but historically they have been awful.

Thanks for that, hopefully it means we have a chance of not being delayed when we next fly out in November. ITUI have had delays on this route all summer (7 hours for us back in May) I am assuming it is due to only having the option of one aircraft for this route and not being able to substitute another. If I am wrong can someone tell me how it actually works. It must havew cost TUI a fortune this year (Not their fault I know, it was Swissport who cocked our flight up) one good thing is they are very prompt at paying compensation.

I agree Smartlynx and Avion Express were terrible from Newcastle for TCX (and so were TCX itself in the last year of 757’s ).

Other than making a mental note to avoid I think a trawl though the old NCL treads will corroborate this!

I think it will just reflect the same oft repeated opinions - I was just wondering if there were ever any analysis to support them. For example, based on casual observation, nobody would go anywhere near a TOM 787 out of Newcastle but there is a bit more to it than that.

Avion at NCL wernt much better either

Wamos have been here at Gatwick quite a few times over the last couple of months..not sure why ,but really enjoying seeing the heavies here
EC-NTY and EC-NOF are here for Tui now ..presume Tui are short of 787? or is it crew?

My guess is we will see more of these operators doing TUI flights in the future and less flights by TUI aircraft. Having done two such subleased flights I regard this as a retrograde step. No problem with cabin crew and impresssed with Titan but can’t say the same regarding the aircraft state on Avion Express. Delay due to a radio fault, no hot water for drinks, no washbasin water, very worn seating and filthy under seat cover. If this is the future of TUI short haul flights there is a major risk of delays increasing due serviceability issues and adverse passenger reaction to cabin states. If this is the TUI future I am sure Jet 2 will benefit hugely.

You are aware that Jet2 have been using Smartlynx too, right?

Aircraft out of position and working outside of schedule due to hurricane Ian.