787 for the UK

Thomson Airways, whose £5m promotion campaign for the Boeing 787 had to be embarrassingly withdrawn early in the New Year, is finally expected to receive its first Dreamliner at Manchester on Friday 31 May.  The 291-seat 787-8 will fly in direct from Everett, Seattle, with Managing Director Chris Browne on board. 

The first UK-registered 787 will be followed within days by two more, the 291-seat aircraft planned to go into service with some regional flights soon afterwards, before the big launch on 8 July with Gatwick, Glasgow and East Midlands joining in as send off airports.

Thomson Airways is quite unique as a British carrier as it does not sell direct to the public.  Its one and only customer (except for special winter charters) is owner holiday giant TUI.  This does not mean that aviation minded passengers are not aware of the 787 arrival, the reception “exceptional” according to Ms Browne.  With not all long haul routes this summer totally 787, many clients are looking for the aircraft on the timetable within the holiday brochures and happy to pay a £10 per sector supplement.  As was pointed out “business travellers go on holiday too”. ((See Thomas Cook Airlines)). www.thomson.co.uk

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum