MAN-RHO-MAN ON Thomsonfly B767

Just back from a week’s holiday in Rhodes and thought I’d post a short report:

Flight 1

MAN-RHO B767-300 G-OBYE DEP 1545 ARR 2200

First flight with Britannia/Thomsonfly for @10 years. I checked in using the automatic machine which seemed very advanced by charter standards. Terminal 2 was fairly quiet. Flight departed 1h45min late; almost full. Seating always seems very narrow on BY 767s; probably due to 2-4-2 rather than 2-3-2 on scheduled carriers. I paid £5 extra for meal which seemed marginally better than meals I’d had for free in the past. Flight arrived at Rhodes in darkness; only a/c on ground was a parked up Russian IL62.(didn’t recognise company)

Flight 2

RHO-MAN B767-300 G-OBYC DEP 2125 ARR 2340

Rhodes airport usual Greek standard; more than 3 flights and it would bursting at the seams. They appear to be extending the terminal which should help matters. No airbridges here(afaik Athens is the only Greek airport with them); Spanish airports like PMI/TFS/ACE etc seem to have improved significantly over the years but the Greek ones seem stuck in a timewarp. However boarding a large a/c by steps always seems more enjoyable. Other a/c present were Jetair 738, Aegean 734, Olympic 734, Arkia 757, THO 757 and MYT A320. Flight was just about full; slept most of the trip back. Arrived back at Manchester in the rain; ramp at T2 nearly full with EXL/FCA/THO a/c.