Leeds Bradford: TUI Airways Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[mdobuk21]

Would have been nice if they used albastar or another carrier for us photographers!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Does this mean the cruise market is stabilising? As TUI feed their own cruises as well as TUI holidays from regional airports that are not bases.

 

[paully]

I think the issue is that even pre pandemic, TUi failed to turn up far too often . It's been like that since the days of Britannia.

Thank you Heather..I think that provides the correct reposte

 

[Len Fish]

Whether they turn up is a Toss Up Indeed.

 

[lbaspotter]

You know what! I'll just leave this thread for others to update from now on..

 

[White Heather]

You know what! I'll just leave this thread for others to update from now on..

I am certain that everyone on here really appreciates what you do. I know I do. But you know as well as the rest of us that TUis track record for cancelling flights at LBA is poor. So people commenting about that and having some doubts as to whether the flights actually happen or not is understandable. That doesn't diminish our gratitude for the effort you put in though. I am not sure why the uncertainties surrounding TUi and people's doubts about them leads you to make this comment.

 

[A400]

I second Heathers comments. Lbaspotter I’m sure the vast majority of members appreciate your effort and time when doing the schedules but with TUIs record it’s understandable that people will have their doubts.

Saying that I think this will be the best Summer since the Pandemic began and see no reason into why TUI would need to cancel the LBA flights this year.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

You know what! I'll just leave this thread for others to update from now on..

I agree with the others, your contributions are invaluable. No aspertions cast in your direction, just frustration with Tui!

 

[LBA4EVER]

It is totally mind boggling why we dont have a 1 or even 2 aircraft base by tui here at LBA esp when you look at the massive jet2 programme here, it can be a success, jet2 have proved that! Im guessing we dont see them here for a number of reasons, it perhaps might be too costly esp if say their aircraft was to go tech, the cost of having to fly a spare aircraft in to cover whereas jet2 always have spare standby aircraft, and of course if weather conditions were bad the cost of diverts and having to reposition crew. Thoughts?

 

[Jerry]

massive jet2 programme here,

That's why you don't. With bases at Manchester and Doncaster, does TUI really need a base at LBA especially one that faces such stiff competition from Jet2.

 

[White Heather]

It is totally mind boggling why we dont have a 1 or even 2 aircraft base by tui here at LBA esp when you look at the massive jet2 programme here, it can be a success, jet2 have proved that! Im guessing we dont see them here for a number of reasons, it perhaps might be too costly esp if say their aircraft was to go tech, the cost of having to fly a spare aircraft in to cover whereas jet2 always have spare standby aircraft, and of course if weather conditions were bad the cost of diverts and having to reposition crew. Thoughts?

TUi did have a base until about 5 years ago, but using Sunwing. They closed it because it was their worst performing base. The reasons? Might I suggest:

a). Unable to compete with Jet2 which has established a strong customer loyalty.
b). The very fact that they didn't use TUi aircraft
c). The fact that customers have learned that there is always a risk their flights will be switched elsewhere due to consolidation or for what TUi usually call 'operational reasons'. People remember!
d). Previous extensive delays to flights due to the Sunwing aircraft going tech, with TUi taking an age to find a free TUi alternative aircraft. These delays attracted publicity of the wrong kind.

Frankly, I don't think TUi themselves believe that they can take on Jet2 in their own back yard and win whilst maintaining a base at DSA.

 

[LBA4EVER]

TUi did have a base until about 5 years ago, but using Sunwing. They closed it because it was their worst performing base. The reasons? Might I suggest:

a). Unable to compete with Jet2 which has established a strong customer loyalty.
b). The very fact that they didn't use TUi aircraft
c). The fact that customers have learned that there is always a risk their flights will be switched elsewhere due to consolidation or for what TUi usually call 'operational reasons'. People remember!
d). Previous extensive delays to flights due to the Sunwing aircraft going tech, with TUi taking an age to find a free TUi alternative aircraft. These delays attracted publicity of the wrong kind.

Frankly, I don't think TUi themselves believe that they can take on Jet2 in their own back yard and win whilst maintaining a base at DSA.

So basically tui have dug their own hole. Regards point A though, tui are a huge company so im very sure they can compete with jet2 here at leeds, they dont have issues at other airports. But like you mention they have pretty much cocked it up themselves!

 

[White Heather]

So basically tui have dug their own hole. Regards point A though, tui are a huge company so im very sure they can compete with jet2 here at leeds, they dont have issues at other airports. But like you mention they have pretty much cocked it up themselves!

I am sure they could compete if they had the will to do so. The problem seems to be that they don't. They seem content to base at MAN and DSA and just throw LBA a few scraps each summer, mainly flights linked to their cruise market, and little else.

There an old saying, 'Where theres a will, there's a way'. TUi in recent times don't have that will.

 

[airforced]

From my experience TUI don't know what they are doing - full stop. Their left hand doesn't speak to the right hand. The staff in resort either don't tell their customers what they should be telling them or they didn't get the info from TUI to pass on in the first place. Altered departure times (4 last time I used them) meaning night flights rather than nice daytime convenient arrivals and departures. Nightmare company. Never again. LBA and their customers are better off without them.

 

[752]

TUI did actually base there own AC here as well for one year, think it was 2014, as I flew LBA-RHO on it. I think the issue is more of a 1 base AC can not offer the flexibility / durations a 2 base/3 base+ can do. Hence with Jet2, almost all their holiday destinations you can pick from 5,7,9,10,11,14 night durations.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I think LBA could incentivise them to base aircraft here. The problem may be Jet2 could take dim view of it. Politics?

 

[752]

Why? TUI and Jet2 operate from the same bases elsewhere both with bigger presences? Cant see a problem with a TUI base. i doubt Jte2 will be threatened.

 

[oldendays]

I often hear that TUI are unable to compete with Jet2 at Leeds Bradford. Yet the two airlines both have substantial operations side by side at Bristol, Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow. So why should LBA be different ? Unless someone knowledgeable can come up with a persuasive argument supporting TUI's dearth of LBA activity, I don't buy the 'can't compete' line.

 

[HX3]

Personally I am pleased we have a presence and hopefully they will expand their offering. Yes, they have dropped routes in favour of MAN or DSA but they have done similar things at other bases. The also operate against Jet2 at other bases, so I personally don’t buy into they can’t/won’t compete here. As a customer, I have also found they’ve been spot on, service levels on a par with Jet2. If and when we get a terminal that can cope with significant expansion in passenger numbers; I’m certain Tui will join the party. Positive Friday for me 🙂

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

TUi did have a base until about 5 years ago, but using Sunwing. They closed it because it was their worst performing base. The reasons? Might I suggest:

a). Unable to compete with Jet2 which has established a strong customer loyalty.
b). The very fact that they didn't use TUi aircraft
c). The fact that customers have learned that there is always a risk their flights will be switched elsewhere due to consolidation or for what TUi usually call 'operational reasons'. People remember!
d). Previous extensive delays to flights due to the Sunwing aircraft going tech, with TUi taking an age to find a free TUi alternative aircraft. These delays attracted publicity of the wrong kind.

Frankly, I don't think TUi themselves believe that they can take on Jet2 in their own back yard and win whilst maintaining a base at DSA.

TUI can make this base work there is no reason they cannot. The trouble with TUI when they do come to this base is that they just seem to want to serve everywhere with 1 aircraft and that doesn’t work. So that leaves them with options

i) Serve everywhere and it doesn’t work - cut the base. Have a few years out of the base and come back to us. Repeat the cycle.
ii) Cut down to what sells, and with decent profit/revenue, and fly there. Depending on the flights chosen they could quite easily do a daily flight to Palma, followed by Turkey and Canaries (Tenerife) maybe a dash of Greece and Egypt/Tunisia thrown in.
iii) Start serving markets not served from LBA that can easily make money and do it well. Your likes of Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Cape Verde. All I suspect will sell very well, all which would/could work from LBA. Cape Verde and Egypt would keep an aircraft throughout winter at LBA throwing in Tenerife for good measure (cruising) and a ski destination (chambery?!) and your done. Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Cape Verde don't have Jet2 competition.

The trouble with TUIUK is it try’s to serve everywhere with a finite amount of resource. That doesn’t work against the likes of Jet2 and Ryanair. A weekly flight to Corfu doesn’t stand well against 4 weekly flights from Jet2. This is their bigger wider issue. Limited resource and the “want” to serve everywhere be it with one based aircraft or W pattern flights. TUI need to really sit down and figure out what they want and where they see themselves in 2/5/10 years time. What once worked no longer does. Retreating back to bigger bases doesn’t work as it will leave the market open to the likes of Jet2 and Ryanair to take.

TUI rarely expand, they add new destinations for sacrifice of one of the frequent flights to other destinations. I've yet to see TUI go into expansion mode and add an aircraft here and an aircraft there on a frequent basis. Yes they've got 25 Max 8 coming, and a further 18 Max 10, but how much of that will be replacing other 737-800's and on top of that how many of all those aircraft will be based in the UK. The 43 aircraft will be shared out amongst the whole group of TUI airlines, including TUI Germany, TUI Scandinavia, TUI Belgium/Netherlands and the UK. Does anyone know the strategy for the 43 aircraft coming along and how many will go into TUI UK? A 2 base Max 8 TUI presence at LBA will have no detrimental affect to DSA or MAN. In fact TUI could quite easily make DSA/LBA complimentary of each other especially in Winter for example.

Palma and Turkey market is that big in Summer that MAN/LBA/DSA would easily compliment each other. If it can work for Jet2 to have daily flights from LBA to DLM and 19 weekly flights from MAN I'm sure it can for TUI.

TUI need to start buying 2nd hand 737-800's to assist with expansion, and have a long term plan and strategy for the UK short haul market which clearly is profitable (as seen at Jet2) and execute it. However TUI UK is just another arm for TUI Group so would guess it's the bigger wider group picture which takes president.

They have a opportunity after TC for Short, Medium and Long Haul, it is almost there's to loose. I feel if they don't act soon they'll remain stagnant as they have done and sadly will allow Jet2 to overtake them as NO.1 tour operator before they even consider long haul.