TUI has 13 firm orders and 13 options, NOT Thomson. The aircraft will be operated by Thomson (UK), JetairFly (Belgium), TuiFly Nordic and ArkeFly (Netherlands).

Cheers for the update. Hopefully TUI will eventually exercise the options and spread them around to the different groups. Anyone know how many likely to be operated by Thomson out of the firm order?

From a mate at Arkefly, so don't take it as fact. :=

Thomson = 7
JetairFly = 2
Nordic = 1
ArkeFly = 3

But as usual anything can change.

Thomson are taking 8, first two to be delivered in Feb (G-TUIA/TUIB) and then two in Apr (G-TUIC/TUID), 5th sometime in Dec (G-TUIE). Again as the above has posted anything can change though.

Mate of mine flies the good-ole 757 for another carrier and has several thousand hours on it.

What is the likelihood, if Thomson continues to hire, that a spot on the 757 fleet become available (any UK base)? Or are all newhires at Thomson basically starting on the 737NG these days?

Cheers

Dream on for the 757. Too good a plane and too many people not wanting to leave it. Expect all 737 positions for the eternity. Then a say 6yr plus wait for a sniff at the 787. Before you get too exited that will probably require a base change as well.

With 100+ conversions from Airbus and 75/76 fleets onto the 737 this winter alone the chances of recruitment onto the 756 fleet are zero. The growing 737 fleet will progressively take on more and more of the short/mid haul programme, and the 787 is replacing the 767. Some 757s will be retained to fly routes better suited to them than the 737, but there will be no recruitment needed for that. As for the 787, that represents a lifestyle choice (100% longhaul) that significant numbers are choosing to forego. As a result the list of pilots moving to the 787 stretches significantly down the seniority list.

Good point matey but the the 787 went more senior on the last bid!

Does anyone have a theory on how a delay to the 787 would affect the current plans? do you think they may have to dip into the hold pool for some additional recruitment?

How successful was the fixed term recruitment? if anyone knows!

As far as the 787 situation is concerned all we have are internal communications of a very generic nature expressing faith etc etc.

The following are being touted as being for TOM, but I don't know if that is the case. I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to produce them as clickable links.

Non type rated 737NG Low hour first officers with C & M Recruitment Ltd | 465079

First Officer 737 Type Rated with C & M Recruitment Ltd | 465166

Oh...it did it for me!!

Thanks Matey, It was my understanding that TOM pilots would highly oppose the use of contract agencies?

The posts are advertised as permanent positions. Maybe TOM couldn't get anyone on the original temporary terms for Leeds, but this is speculation as I stress this may not even be for TOM. The UK/ Canada description fits, but why they wouldn't advertise under the TOM name doesn't though. Then there is the question of the hold pool people, none of which I have any answers for I'm afraid.

Just curious - Why are some Thomson call signs "Castrol" (what the heck does this word mean - is it the oil company?) whereas other Thomson flights are "Thomson?"

And we watched a Thomson call-sign 767 landing in Barbados the other day. Aircraft however was painted "First Choice." CA and I were trying to figure out what the correlation was. Code share?

it's not Castrol, it's Kestrel :8
from wikipedia:
In March 2008, the tourism division of the airline's parent group TUI AG, merged with First Choice Holidays PLC, forming the new company TUI Travel. Both Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways would be merged as Thomson Airways.
Thomsonfly Limited changed its name to Thomson Airways Limited in November 2008 and the Thomsonfly operating certificate was changed to Thomson Airways with effect from 1 November 2008. On that date, Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways both rebranded their operations to Thomson Airways, merging with a fleet of 75 aircraft. There is however an order of 12 new Boeing 787 aircraft which will make the fleet 75 once more.

Sure someone will beat me to this but... Thomson and First Choice Airways used to be two separate airlines, but merged their operations a few years back and now operate under the "Thomson" name and callsign. The aircraft still in the old First Choice livery are leaving the fleet before too long, so were not re-painted.

On the subject of "Castrol" - are you sure you're not confusing Thomson and Thomas Cook Airlines? Thomas Cook use the callsign "Kestrel".

Yes! thank you Zippy, I was confusing the two. So they are 2 different airlines then?

While on that note - where did "KESTREL" come from - owner's name maybe? And does Thomas Cook still exist or have they merged with someone else?

Thanks for the info.

kestral was the callsign for airtours which i believe became mytravel which then became thomas cook which then became thomson.

miss those days so much when the airport was much more colourful with plenty of different liveries. Now there are about 4 different ones:

easyjet
ryanair
thomson
jet 2

Pilotho
 

Thomas Cook and Thomson are two very separate company's.

(and the call sign is Kestrel)

Airtours became MyTravel.
Flying Colours became JMC became Thomas Cook.
These two merged (with a few others I've missed) to become (still) Thomas Cook. Their callsign is Kestrel.

Britannia became Thomsonfly.
Air2000 became First Choice Airways.
These two merged to become Thomson Airways. Their callsign is Thomson.

It's been that way since about 2008 so just as that becomes clear stand by for the next re-shuffle! (No, I don't know anything, just guessing)

Ok, the history lesson on UK charter airlines has been facinating, however can we get back to the topic of Thomson recruitment. I know a number of guys who are waiting in the pool both anxious and at the same time disappointed with recent precedings, if indeed confirmed to be true.