Charter Airlines Fleet Policy

I’ve always thought that Britannia should invest in maybe 2 777s and also try out an airbus fleet, obviously they have enough planes already because we dont hear of trouble, but more planes would help a great deal.

However, can Britannia as a company make decisions like that anymore as they are part of TUI?

Their 330s are forever being used on long-haul scheduled flights!!

Well i knew it was an Airbus

Bmi do charters with A320s and A321s!!

Only 6 have ever operated for them, but 1 has left the fleet and another 2 operate for the charter side of operations now.

Doesnt BMI do a couple of charters with A330’s or so someone said on an earlier thread in May.

Did most of MYT’s A320s not go into the MyTravel Lite fleet?

A321 Vs. B757

The reason why the A321 operates alongside the B757 is merely for economical reasons.

The A321 weighs substantially less than a B757 (89 metric tonnes vs. 112 metric tonnes), so the A321 incurs cheaper handling rates, landing fees and Eurocontrol/en-route navigation costs. The airframe is lighter too, so the A321 burns a lesser amount of fuel (bearing in mind oil has recently risen from around $250/tonne to $400/tonne).
Overall, direct operating costs for the A321 are much lower than a B757 and are not much more than an A320 (which holds 40 seats less).
The cost of ownership for the A321 will be higher than the B757, as the A321s are newer aircraft, but the A321s will require little maintenance in their earlier years – where as the B757 will now require heavier checks as they grow ever older.
The A321 in charter configuration holds nearly as many seats (220 vs. 235) as a B757. The lower operating costs on an A321 make for a lower seat rate compared to the B757.
It is true that the A321 suffers from poor payloads at certain airports i.e. Gibraltar and Egypt (due to aircraft performance), where as the B757 enjoys a good range and payload (B757 can carry more fuel and has more leg boagies, so can stop in a shorter distance on a runway). The A321 will be used on routes which are unrestrictive to operate i.e. Malaga, Alicante, Faro, Palma etc. If the A321 can offer a lower seat rate compared to the B757, it will enable the charter airline to compete more effectively in an ever increasingly competitive and decreasing charter industry.

In summary, the A321 is easier to sell per seat than the B757.

Well, I’m not talking about Thomas Cook – unless they’ve radically altered their fleet overnight.

Are you talking about First Choice??

They ordered the A321s just to annoy Sandy……….. 😉

They must like their A330s then!!

Thomas Cook should be getting another A330 before next seasons operations according to other sources on this forum. This is what they seem to be sticking with on long haul even though i think the fleet is more geared toward B767 a/c been used on long haul.

Great, thanks Pablo. This begs the question then of ‘why’; unless there is a political reason like BM suggests. :confused:

I have to agree with what BM says, it’s usually for political reasons (maybe to gain regulatory approval to take over Leisure?).

One other possible reason is that they were supplied on terms which would mean it isn’t beneficial for FCA to return the ex-LEI aircraft to the financier / lessor.

Great, thanks Pablo. This begs the question then of ‘why’; unless there is a political reason like BM suggests. :confused:

Maybe they want to invest in British aviation craft skills by buying airbus ? Is that political, well call me a politician ?

And yes I know we make bits for Boeing too.

Great, thanks Pablo. This begs the question then of ‘why’; unless there is a political reason like BM suggests. :confused:

That could be true Pablo but I have a feeling some A321s were acquired after this.

Just crossed referenced Jethro’s and G-INFO. FCA have 4 x 321’s: G-OOAE and G-OOAV were newly registered to FCA; G-OOAF and G-OOAH were ex-LEI machines (G-UNID and G-UNIE respectively). AE, AF and AH were all acquired at around the same time (looks as though AE was delivered ex-works to AMM, AF and AH ex-works to LEI). AV was acquired ex-works in 2002.

I agree completely BM. 🙂

That could be true Pablo but I have a feeling some A321s were acquired after this.

I’m also wondering why MYT have let some A320s go when I thought they were focussing on Airbus and slowly replacing the 757?

I don’t understand the First Choice fleet of B757’s, A320’s and A321’s
Well, I can see the 757 and 320. That makes perfect sense. 757 on dense routes, the A320 on less busy one.

But the A321… thats the black sheep in that family. It is no good as a replacement for the 757. Not for a charter airline work anyway. It can’t perform fully loaded with pax as the 757 can and would need more runway than the 757, limiting its use on short fields where first choice currently operate the 757.
Another Political move perhaps?

The rest seem to have a well balanced fleet.

Weren’t the 321’s previously operated by Leisure Int’l prior to the take over by First Choice (ex Air 2000)? Maybe they are on restrictive leases or the similarity with the 320 is beneficial?

I don’t understand the First Choice fleet of B757’s, A320’s and A321’s
Well, I can see the 757 and 320. That makes perfect sense. 757 on dense routes, the A320 on less busy one.

But the A321… thats the black sheep in that family. It is no good as a replacement for the 757. Not for a charter airline work anyway. It can’t perform fully loaded with pax as the 757 can and would need more runway than the 757, limiting its use on short fields where first choice currently operate the 757.
Another Political move perhaps?

The rest seem to have a well balanced fleet.