holiday prices warning

Tony_H wrote:

freezywater wrote:

Tony_H wrote:Weird. Wikipedia states 15 aircraft, and then names 17 in the fleet list. Interestingly, neither of these websites makes reference to the 2 Boeing 757s that XL operated (maybe on lease?) which I saw in July at Rhodes Airport.

XL UK were 'borrowing' some of XL France's planes to bolster their own fleet during peak season, I know they were using at least one of these from Manchester on the trans atlantic route. This was mid-air when the company went into administration and was refused landing at Manchester and also why it was diverted to Paris before the customers were flown back to Manchester via another carrier.

I believe the French one they were "borrowing" was a larger Airbus. The 757's had a G- prefix.

After a bit of research, Mr H is correct )

:shock:


Did you know, the 757 is a pilots favourite plane to fly?

I`ve spoken to a friend today and she tells me that their flight to Portugal in March has been cancelled this is part of Easyjets cut backs.
They have however booked onto an alterntive flight.


Tony no i didnt know its a pilots fav, But if i`m going to catch my OH out i need to know why ? :lol:




AJ Adele

AJ wrote:


Tony no i didnt know its a pilots fav, But if i`m going to catch my OH out i need to know why ? :lol:




AJ Adele

I dont fly, as much as I would love to be able to, but from what I know, they say that because its such an easy plane to fly, its very powerful for its size, and it handles well at the more remote and difficult airports - what it was built for in the first place.
Its basically a longer 737, so it isnt wide bodied or particularly heavy, so its easy to manouvre, but the pilots all swear by it. Its also regarded as a "good looking bird" as it was the first Boeing to have a newly designed front end for many years.
I have travelled on several in the past couple of years, operated by Monarch, First Choice and Thomas Cook. They are getting a bit old now, and many are being phased out, but I have to say that I have enjoyed the flights on the 757 more than 737s or Airbus. Thats because their cabins are better laid out with more leg room, and in addition, when they thrust to take off, you really feel the extra power in the engines get you off the ground.

Apologies for sounding like a plane nerd.

AJ wrote:I`ve spoken to a friend today and she tells me that their flight to Portugal in March has been cancelled this is part of Easyjets cut backs.
They have however booked onto an alterntive flight.


Tony no i didnt know its a pilots fav, But if i`m going to catch my OH out i need to know why ? :lol:




AJ Adele

They better not cancel mine, I need to go there in feb

Tony-H wrote:

Apologies for sounding like a plane nerd.

Tony, I think you'll find the spelling is "plain" nerd. :lol:

Dave Mac wrote:Tony-H wrote:

Apologies for sounding like a plane nerd.

Tony, I think you'll find the spelling is "plain" nerd. :lol:

Boom boom!!!

i am sure there was a thread somewhere for operators cutting back on capacity, but could i find it ?

Anyway, turns out TUI have reduced winter capacity by 28% and put prices up... Following is courtesy of Travelmole.



"TUI Travel has revealed further “significant” UK capacity cuts for the coming winter.

A nine per cent extra reduction in charter flying means that total winter capacity has been reduced by 28% against last winter.

Summer 2009 capacity has been reduced by 16% as the company predicted a “weaker earlier booking environment”.

For winter, average charter holiday selling prices are up by 10% due to stronger pricing the past two months. The winter charter programme is half sold with nine per cent fewer holidays to sell.

But the company is seeing weaker demand for ski holidays, while adventure and expedition cruising are seeing positive like-for-like sales growth.

Volumes for next summer are 17% down on the same period last year but average selling prices are up 11%.

The total programme load factor is flat at 18% but there is 14% less to sell due to capacity reductions.

In a trading statement, TUI Travel said summer 2008 to the end of October had ended “in line” with its last update, with UK average charter selling prices up by 11%, sales up by seven per cent, passengers down four per cent and capacity down by six per cent.

“Despite a more challenging trading environment, we are satisfied with our current position across all our source markets and businesses,” a statement said.

“Within our mainstream source markets, through a combination of reducing fixed capacity. third party flying (which is 30% of all tour operator capacity) and uncommitted bed stock (which accounts for 80% of bed stock), we believe we can manage the current market conditions and continue to improve the profitability of the business.”

*See linked TUI AG Q3 results story.

by Phil Davis