Im not a fan of the daft names on the 787’s - not a patch on eg ‘Earl Mountbatten’ and ‘Sir Frank Whittle’ Not sure about the big Tui belly logo… apart from spotters who would pay attention and I doubt generates any revenue.

The names do have significance. 'Alfie' was a baby delivered in flight by a TUI crew some years ago. Mr & Mrs Patmore were competition winners - an initiative which drew positive PR towards the airline at the time. Other aircraft sport aspirational holiday-themed names, and the recent MAX8's are named after leisure destinations served by the company. The names are a talking point which engage the customers. Good PR.

By the way, anybody know who 'Neil' and 'Edie' are???

Neil was a bloke from Birmingham IIRC. Another competition winner?

I think the current TUI 787 names are quite subjective and have been around now for a while...
Time for a change might be a good thing, but only if done most sensitively as not to upset the current incumbents.
That would have all to be treated with kid gloves.

We will not see ever again the heady Britannia Airways 'Patriotic, and Days of Empire' of naming their fleet after such notables as Captain James Cook, Robert Clive of India, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Francis Drake, Lord Horatio Nelson or Lord Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
The Wokerati and the ''pulling down statues'' brigade would have apoplectic kittens if that was ever to happen, and of course ''Don't mention the War'' to the German owners of TUI LOL.

Britannia did name many aircraft of notable Pioneers of British Aviation and also Antarctic Explorers, and it would be perhaps nice to see that again?
Leisure International named their 767's Atlantic Star and Caribbean Star.

Resurect the British Eagle names. Swift, Sure, Superb, Enterprise, New Frontier, Concord....just a few that readily come to mind.

So some of you are objecting to aircraft being named after everyday people? This forum is rapidly becoming the Daily Mail of the Civil Aviation world!

That's pretty rude and bigoted in itself...If you cannot contribute, nor add objective opinions then frankly why bother firing up your lapdog and simply venting ?

No one has 'objections' perse, but some have mentioned/commented on what are the TUI Dreamliner names all about, what do they represent, and are they really still current as such.
So, the floor is open to you if you wish.....LOL

Perhaps they should have named the aircraft after Downton Abbey characters, then Mrs Patmore would have her own name on the side 😉

Who on earth uses a laptop these days?! 😂

LOL, love it ---

Yes Me! as it happens - I can make the Pprune pages very big (or small) :)

Living the dream! 💯

I think you will find I have a right to free speech and an opinion sir.

Deffo and absolutely I agree, but 'tis always nice to do try and have an opinion to add to the conversation; can often make it very interesting as many of your Posts are, rather than a wee conflict or a Hoohah as they say -

Anyway it's only names on some old planes LOL

Edie is another competition winner. Named after a little girl who died from some epilepsy complication.

Neil, no idea, maybe they’re big fans of the inbetweeners.

Marella have unsurprisingly cancelled next winters Asian/Middle East cruise packages due to the ongoing tensions in the Red Sea. Wonder where the cruise ship might be redeployed too?

Marella Cruises MARELLA DISCOVERY II was scheduled to operate in the Mediterranean after her winter season based in Singapore.

The MARELLA DISCOVERY II is still scheduled to start her Mediterranean itineraries based in Palma, Mallorca on the 07 May 2024 with a 14 night cruise.

With the MARELLA DISCOVERY II now having to transit via the Cape it's not been confirmed if the 07 May sailing from Palma will go ahead as planned.

I'm sure that Marella Cruises are looking at alternative options for redeployment of the MARELLA DISCOVERY II for the 2024/25 winter season. My bets are on her being sent to the Caribbean instead of returning to Singapore for the winter season.

January 27, 2015 press release:- :)

Neil is the name of Thomson Airways’ latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner following an online photo competition.

The sixth 787 in the airline’s fleet is to carry the name after Instagram user Neil Langstone from Birmingham.

His photo of a 787 was one of a shortlist of five entries from more than 680 selected by well-known Instagram photographer Jess MacDonald along with Thomson Airways managing director John Murphy.

Neil’s image was then voted the favourite in the #787pics competition by Thomson and sister company First Choice’s Facebook community.

He wins a holiday in Mauritius as well as having the aircraft named after him

Murphy said: “Neil’s photo was selected by our Facebook community from a shortlist of stunning imagery and this particular image stood out because Neil managed to capture the whole aircraft in his shot from the tarmac displaying the sleek and modern design of the Dreamliner at his home airport of Birmingham.”

Langstone said: “I will be taking my fiancée with me on holiday to Mauritius, as she had to endure all of my previous statuses, shared posts and patience while I take photos for my Instagram account.”

Aircraft painted at FTW (Fort Worth Meacham International Airport) not DFW.

Already Cruise ships that were due to cruise in the Gulf/ME areas, and Red Sea/Suez Transit next Winter are being diverted away from the Region.
Holland America and Princess, have both just changed their World Cruise itinerary next winter, and Cunard's Queen Anne World Cruise home leg will also likely be rerouted back via the Cape.

The only issue I can see there in TUI repositioning Marella ships over to the Caribbean next Winter (OK, this is IMO, just a 'maybe') is will TUI Airways have enough long haul aircraft available for a more intense Caribbean flying schedule?
They are already flying their own holiday flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, plus flying those contracted flights for P&O Cruises for BGI and ANU (who have to also go elsewhere for extra uplift; P&O have ditched the Maleth Aero contracts).

I agree with you regarding TUI Airways not having enough long haul aircraft available and I'm aware of the fact that P&O Cruises have ditched the Maleth Aero contracts.

But I can't see where TUI will redploy the MARELLA DISCOVERY II for winter 2024/25. They could send her via the Cape and continue cruises based out of Singapore but she would still have to make the journey back to the Mediterranean at the end of the season. Marella Cruises could of course offer these longer repositioning voyages as full cruises.

But I don't know as I don't work for Marella Cruises or TUI for that matter.

But Rog we have had a few interactions over the years with some interesting post's but for the first time ever on pprune I'm going to admit to something.

I have never worked in the aviation industry in my entire life, it's always been of interest to me since my schoolboy days plane spotting.

On the other hand I will be celebrating 41 years in the Cruise & Ferry industry in September having joined Cunard Line in September 1983. Regarding a previous post where I stated that I wear my Cunard White Star badge with pride.

aircraft names.
 

I have found it interesting that ALFIE (TUIB), NEIL (TUIF) and EDIE (TUIM) using some PIXIE DUST (TUIJ) are LIVING THE DREAM (TUIA) by changing the ANGEL OF THE SKY (TUID) into the DREAM MAKER (TUIC) bringing MILES OF SMILES (TUIE) to MR PATMORE (TUIH) and MRS PATMORE (TUII) whilst they enjoyed their holiday.

Well done!

Must be a slow Sunday:ok:

How will the fleet balance with enter and TUI work with Fly4

I see jethros has updated the summer leases today, originally there were 3x leased B38M to be based at MAN, now only one B738 from go2sky. Does that mean more Tui metal at MAN or a reduction in capacity? Seems a big jump

That list is not exhaustive.

Go2sky don't have any 737Max aircraft. However, Smart Lynx are expected to base 3x 737Max aircraft at MAN.

I believe this was info passed to me in good faith, which has been proved incorrect. For what reason, I've no idea.

I am confident, as of this evening that the info I've published on my website is correct with respect of long-term commitments. TUI Airways Leased Aircraft (jethroseu.co.uk)

It does not however take into consideration short term leases TUI Airways continue to take on for very short periods for a variety of reasons. One day leases I ignore, Anything above that I try my best!

One can only hope for its customers sake, that the deal with Smartlynx is no more. Be that a decision by tui or Smartylnx, the result is still the same for passengers, a positive one!

It's accepted that seasonal peaks require acmi support in the leisure teavel industry. But when you pay good money and end up on an operator like Smartlynx, even joe public notice the huge difference in quality and service delivery.

Sadly, Avion are still listed which is a sister company of Smartlynx. They had a rather interesting landing recently didn't they.. the kind that has rendered the aircraft grounded since 3rd February.

Perhaps Fly4 will slowly see a reduction in the use of some of the more questionable acmi operators.

I notice Jet2 parted ways with Smartlynx after 2022 after a shocking failure to deliver.

G-TUIB due to arrive at MAN from FTW 01.00 24/4 with paint on the airframe

I see TUIA is already at FTW for its fresh coat.

Hi,

We are booked on a TUI flight BHX-KGS, it's showing as a 787-800 on the TUI website, the app shows a 787-300 (which I don't think exists), I was wondering when TUI use a long haul aircraft for a short haul route what do they do with the IFE? Is it just switched off?

Thanks,

Sam

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c71c0ad238.jpg
Not my photo but G-TUIB This morning

looking good! My only criticism is the "Alfie" name is still a sticker, and already a wrong shade of blue.

Either that or they painted round it 🤣

TUI Summer 2024 Fleet Allocation
 

current TUI summer 2024 fleet allocation (based on August):-


Belfast 1 x A320 (Avion Express Malta)

Birmingham 1 x B789, 1 x B788, 2 x B7M8, 6 x B738, 2 x B738 (Fly4 Airlines)

Bournemouth 2 x B738

Bristol 6 x B7M8

Cardiff 2 x B738, 1 x A320 (Avion Express Malta)

Dublin 2 x A320 (Avion Express Malta)

East Midlands 2 x B7M8, 2 x B738, 2 x B738 (Fly4 Airlines)

Exeter 1 x B738

Gatwick 2 x B789, 3 x B788, 3 x B7M8, 1 x B7M8 (Ascend Airways), 4 x B738, 1 x B738 (Ascend Airways), 2 x A320 (Titan Airways)

Glasgow 1 x B788 (Wed to Mon), 4 x B7M8

Luton 1 x B738

Manchester 2 x B789, 1 x B789 (TUI Nordic), 2 x B788, 1 x B788 (Tue to Thu), 3 x B7M8, 3 x B7M8 (SmartLynx Malta), 7 x B738

Newcastle 1 x B788 (Fri to Wed), 4 x B7M8, 1 x B738

Norwich 1 x B738 (Air Explore)

Stansted 2 x B738


So 15 based UK/Ireland airports, 81 aircraft required, 8 airlines operating (TUI, TUI Nordic, Fly4 Airlines, Ascend Airlines, Air Explore, Avion Express Malta, Smart Lynx Malta, Titan Airways)

based on the currenty TUI fleet, and all the leased in aircraft, that leaves the following spare aircraft:- 1 B789, 7 B738's

seams a lot of spare aircraft, I wonder if any of the new 737 Maxs being delivered, will replace any of the older 737-800's?

of course all subject to change, and any ad hoc substitutions as required!

I thought per the posts above the 3 smartlynx B38M at MAN were no longer happening

still showing in the TUI booking engine :- "Your flight will be operated by Smartlynx Airlines Malta on behalf of TUI Airways" & google flights still show them as 737 Max flights.

As i mentioned, the list from Jethros isn't exhaustive. I'm not sure where the information they get it from or how its updated.

However, the plan is still to have the Smart Lynx 737Max8's at MAN.

Wasn't even quoting yourself.

We flew to Larnaca and Tenerife last year on the 787, one was configured for long haul, the others short haul. In all cases the IFE was functional, and the cabin crew were selling headphones for its use.