Thomson Airways

Thomson Airways Thomson Airways is the airline for TUI Travel UK whose main holiday brands are Thomson Holidays, Crystal Holidays and First Choice Holidays.

Born out of the merger in 2007 of TUI and First Choice Holidays, Thomson Airways are now the UK's 3rd largest airline, operating to over 80 destinations from over 20 UK airports.

Hello we have traveled several times with Thomson and each time the holiday has been good in both presentation and delivery of the products as promised.

We always start our journey from East Midlands Airport and usually go to the main destinations that Thomson Holiday's feature in the summer sun brochure.

This year we went to Pioneer Beach hotel in Cyprus and a our holiday started as we boarded the Thomsonfly Boeing 767. We have been so frequent flying with Thomsonfly that we actually recognize the pilot as John Fizackerley. It is a little scary when you start to know the name of the pilot!

Thomsonfly operate three distinct services. When Thomsonfly was launched, they were initially only a low cost carrier competing with the likes of easyjet and Ryanair. Flights were from Coventry, Bournemouth and Doncaster. Once the brand ohad been established it was decided to Re-brand Britannia Airways also as Thomsonfly. This gave Thomsonfly a powerful, universal brand which then offered low cost flights, charter flights and Thomson Holiday flight.

The low cost flights work on the business model which has been successfully adapted by easyjet, Ryanair and bmi baby. This essentially involves a sliding scale of charges which is more cost effective to passengers that book well into the future.

The second type of flight that Thomsonfly operate is the charter flight, this flight is distinct from the other Thomson Holidays operation in that it carries passengers from companies other than Thomson, Portland Holidays Direct or Simply Travel. This service is a true charter in the traditional sense. You can tell if you're on one of these flights as everyone will get a meal and there will be no in-flight entertainment and no Thomson questioner on the return flight.

The final type of flight that Thomsonfly operate is their in-house quality flights. These flights are very similar to the charter flights but they only carry passengers who have booked their holiday on a Thomson Holiday, Simply Travel or a Portland Holidays Direct package holiday. They will not be carrying passengers from companies like Inghams's. Another distinct service on these flights is that you will get in flight entertainment. You will only receive an in flight meal if you have pre booked one before departure.