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

[752]

I am not sure how many TUI are located in Yorkshire / West Yorkshire alone but I reckon there is one in every city/large town, so a substantial amount. Your telling me collectively they would not be able to sell and fill TUI planes from LBA? I am more then certain they could.

Every time I walk past a TUI shop it just advertises MAN. I have seen many local travel agents try promote holidays from BHX from example when they are based in West Yorkshire, suffice to say it doesn't gain much interaction. Now when I see LBA holidays advertised at good prices, they get a lot more interaction.. these kinda things just make sense to me.. not flogging a holiday from BHX.

 

[YorkshireLad]

Not that there is anything even happening right now but are all the stands currently being used including the two new stands?

Last night there were 21 aircraft parked at LBA (excluding long-term maintainence) out of 23 stands

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

TUI also don't have the fleet to expand into new bases. That would require moving aircraft around (shuffling the deck) or getting in ACMI operators to operate on their behalf.

Either way it would result in reduction elsewhere, where TUI are comfortable and have a good operation (both in customer & Yield / profitability etc) OR increasing a presence at LBA which would equally mean a bad customer experience if using a rubbish ACMI operator.

Those MAX10's cannot come soon enough.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Why not

Negotiations can take a long time, but the airport wont start building stands until a contract is signed, which can be only a few months before they want to start ops.

Thankyou all. It essentially seems that TUI missed their opportunity several years ago and now the company isn't willing to give Leeds Bradford another try, even if there was a solid chance of success. It's hard to imagine Jet2 having that sort of attitude; if so, would they be based at Bristol, Birmingham and Gatwick, for example?

There's less chance of DSA getting anywhere than there is of TUI upping their game round here!

Speaking of stands, I've noticed a significant increase in 'push and parks' this summer over last, and 2024. I've been off the airfield for some time so I don't know the reasons.

I think the reason was mentioned in WH's last JCC report. Basically the airlines think its better for the pax if they can access the aircraft by walking from the terminal so they tow them across. Also cuts down on bus movements.

 

[White Heather]

Not that there is anything even happening right now but are all the stands currently being used including the two new stands?

Not overnight, no. We have around 15 based Jet2, 3 based Ryanair and a KLM. That leaves stands empty. That said, there are occasions where the unexpected happens and more stands are needed.

 

[Severn]

To give you a sense of LBA’s position relative to the “big four” UK bases (EZY, RYR, EXS and TOM) during peak summer 2026, I’ve created the below table. It lists all major UK airports and their respective airline bases, excluding night-stoppers like LGW-based aircraft that stop at BHD/ABZ. The table is as accurate as possible, based on the latest schedules. I've counted only based TOM aircraft that operate SH-only but include LH aircraft dedicated to SH flights, such as three 787s at MAN that exclusively operate SH routes. I also included one at BHX and one at LGW (though I didn’t count the other 787s at LGW, MAN, BHX, NCL, GLA that operate a mix of LH and SH).

You’ll notice that in terms of based aircraft, LBA’s total is comparable to its nearest competitors (EMA, NCL, LPL), but it only has two airlines based vs the three at EMA and LPL and four at NCL. Something that I'm sure the management at LBA are not only aware of but looking to change.

 

[Statto]

Negotiations can take a long time, but the airport wont start building stands until a contract is signed, which can be only a few months before they want to start ops.

Very unlikely to be a few months. To commit to a base, they will need to recruit local crew, put in place service contracts with ground handling etc as well as giving enough lead time to sell the seats. TUI put summer 2027 on sale in March 2026, so more than a year before flying starts so they will planning now for summer 2028

Different for existing based airlines. Jet2 and Ryanair could more easily flex and add extra aircraft with less notice, but even then there is likely to be detailed behind the scenes negotiations with the airport for anything major.

 

[Aviador]

Those MAX10's cannot come soon enough.

If TUI is getting those, they won't be coming to Leeds.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

For fleet growth. Unless of course TUI central decide that they’ll go with 0 growth and just do capacity adjustments.

 

[Finger66]

So AENA (supposedly) put a stop (pause) to new stand construction. Is there more to this than meets the eye? Now I know we don't have much night movement quota slack but:
Was there perhaps a backtracking from easyJet?
Was there perhaps a backtracking from Logan air?
And keeping it thread related, dare I even suggest was there a backtracking from TUI?
Now I am sure this is all wide of the mark but it does perhaps make you wonder!

 

[White Heather]

So AENA (supposedly) put a stop (pause) to new stand construction. Is there more to this than meets the eye? Now I know we don't have much night movement quota slack but:
Was there perhaps a backtracking from easyJet?
Was there perhaps a backtracking from Logan air?
And keeping it thread related, dare I even suggest was there a backtracking from TUI?
Now I am sure this is all wide of the mark but it does perhaps make you wonder!

My suspicion is they paused it, because it was realised that they weren't needed without more based aircraft, and that's really not feasible until the night movement limit is scrapped and replaced with an average noise exposure system.

Until AENA came on the scene, there had been no suggestion of LBA submitting a planning application. Now, its happening. Meanwhile, the construction of more new stands is paused, because clearly, we would be struggling to fill them without further based aircraft..

Seems to me like a fresh set of eyes has brought about a fresh perspective

 

[gcoabc1]

My suspicion is they paused it, because it was realised that they weren't needed without more based aircraft, and that's really not feasible until the night movement limit is scrapped and replaced with an average noise exposure system.

Until AENA came on the scene, there had been no suggestion of LBA submitting a planning application. Now, its happening. Meanwhile, the construction of more new stands is paused, because clearly, we would be struggling to fill them without further based aircraft..

Seems to me like a fresh set of eyes has brought about a fresh perspective

I agree with you WH wholeheartedly. If you are going to invest big money into a project due diligence is necessary both before making
the leap and subsequently.
Their backers need reassurance that the planned developments are founded on a strong basis of stability, then projected and realistic growth. I certainly would not be investing in such possibilities especially in the current world economic and political climate.
How long does it take to lay the necessary stands ? I surmise that when, and if, that need arises funding and contractors will quickly made available.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Well pre take-over the airport said they had a defiinite need for more stands and scheduled more to be built each year for the next few years.

The take-over happened and then the airport said they didnt need more stands as the increasing size of aircraft meant they wouldnt be needed!

Which brings me back to my point that theres little prospect of anything other than Max's and 800's. So where does that leave the journey to 7m pax?

 

[LBA4EVER]

Just out of interest does anyone have an idea of the cost to lay 2 new stands?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Just out of interest does anyone have an idea of the cost to lay 2 new stands?

Ive no idea but I think the intention was to keep the batching plant until all the stands were finished, thereby spreading the cost.

 

[White Heather]

Just out of interest does anyone have an idea of the cost to lay 2 new stands?

LBA have to my knowledge, never given a cost per stand. However, at the outset of LBA Regen they stated the budget was £200m, broken down as £100m on the terminal, £50m on the runway, and £50m on 'others', which included 10 new stands. So from that the maximum cost per stand at 2024 prices was £5m each, possibly less, depending on what else might have been included in the 'others' category. Of course, inflation will mean the cost has increased, whilst issues with the terminal scheme has created delays and increased costs, and I have little doubt that those extra costs, coupled with the aforementioned night movement restrictions, are the reason that extra stands 3 to 10 have been 'parked' for the time being, enabling LBA Regen to stay within budget.

 

[oldendays]

This November shall mark the fiftieth anniversary of Britannia Airways launching operations from Leeds Bradford. What do we suppose are the chances of this occasion going unnoticed by TUI and LBA?

 

[Finger66]

Think we have TUI hopes - Bob Hope and No Hope

 

[Seasider]

I didn't see the first flight to Palma but saw the second to Alicante. A couple of weeks later we had an Aviaco DC9 from Tenerife, I believe.

 

[Pudseylad]

I didn't see the first flight to Palma but saw the second to Alicante. A couple of weeks later we had an Aviaco DC9 from Tenerife, I believe.

The Aviaco DC9 was an inbound diversion from BHX, of all places!
I am led to believe, the departure was "interesting! "