Boeing, TUI travel PLC complete order for two 787-8s

By BA Staff

Boeing and TUI Travel, one of the world's leading leisure travel companies, have completed an order for two 787-8 Dreamliners. The deal, worth $424 million at current list prices, extends TUI Travel's 787 commitment to 15 airplanes. The purchase was originally attributed on the Boeing orders and deliveries website to an unidentified customer.

 TUI took delivery of its first 787-8 Dreamliner in May and now has four airplanes in service.

TUI Travel originally ordered the 787 in February 2005. Currently, the Group's subsidiary Thomson Airways is using the airplane on such routes as Thailand, Caribbean and the Maldives.

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Jetairfly to Launch Miami-Brussels

by BA Staff

Image Credit: Mopje18

Belgian charter operator Jetairfly has announced the launch of twice weekly flights between its home base at Brussels and Miami, commencing 4th April, 2014 using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Miami becomes the airline's 107th destination around the globe, its 9th in the Americas, but its first in the United States.

Jetairfly is a subsidiary of parent company TUI Travel, a UK based charter airline group which includes Jetairfly, Corsair International, Thomson Airways, TUIFly, TUIFly Nordic, and Arkefly. Currently, Jetairfly operates a fleet of 22 passenger aircraft (4x Boeing 737-700, 14x Boeing 737-800, 2x Embraer E190, and 2x Boeing 767-300ER). Jetairfly also has 1 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on order and an undisclosed amount of 737 MAX as part of the larger TUI Travel order.

Jetairfly's long haul 767s are configured to seat 257 passengers with 2 classes of service (though no difference in seat). Economy Class offers full economy service with catering, while Comfort Class offers more legroom, amenity kits, iPad IFE, premium meals, free champagne and alcohol, newspapers, and at Brussels airport access to the VIP-lounge, separate check-in and security fast lane.

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Boeing delivers first Dreamliners to China and UK

US airframer Boeing made deliveries of the first Dreamliners to China and the United Kingdom when it delivered 787-8 aircraft to China Southern Airlines and UK's Thomson Airways on May 31.

China Southern has 10 Dreamliners on order. The airline will follow the patterns of other 787 operators and first operate the aircraft on shorter domestic flights before introducing the Dreamliner on its long-haul international passenger service. China Southern is the tenth customer worldwide to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner.

Thomson, part of the TUI Travel group, is the UK's third largest airline operating 58 aircraft. It has eight Dreamliners on order which are configured in a two class layout, with 244 economy and 47 premium club seats.

On July 8, Thomson's first long-haul Dreamliner flights will operate from Manchester to Florida and from Glasgow to Cancun. Thomson will also operate services from London Gatwick and East Midlands airports. Later this year, the airline will introduce direct flights to Phuket, Thailand from the UK.

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