Thomsonfly
Airline Code: BY
About Thomsonfly:
Thomsonfly traces its roots to its parent airline, Britannia Airways, founded by
Ted Langton. The airline began as Euravia in 1962. The name was changed to Britannia
Airways and remained until December 2004. Britannia grew rapidly when it acquired
Boeing 737-200 aircraft, and was the European launch customer for the Boeing 767
and then moved to an all-Boeing 767 and 757 fleet in the mid-1990s, with a total
fleet of 45 aircraft by 2004.
Thomson Holidays subsequently embraced a web-oriented rebranding and used the Thomsonfly
name to include all of the UK flying operations, with the larger Britannia Airways
rebranded as Thomsonfly in 2005.
Scheduled operations began on 31 March 2004 with four Boeing 737-500 aircraft, from
a new passenger terminal at Coventry Airport. The airline became involved in controversy
when it took over ownership of the airport lease. A number of local residents and
Warwick District Council mounted a campaign against regular passenger flights from
the airport, which had previously been used for both passenger and freight aircraft.
The planning case was contentious and lengthy, and Thomsonfly continued to operate
from Coventry awaiting the outcome of the case. Planning permission was granted
for a larger passenger terminal and the ownership of the lease has passed to CAFCO,
an airport and property development company with no links to TUI.
Thomsonfly Major Hubs:
Manchester Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Alliance: TUI Airlines
Aircraft Type:
Boeing 737-300, 767-200ER, 767-300ER
Fleet Size: 47
No. of Destinations: 87
Airline was founded in: 1962