UK leisure carrier Thomson Airways is basing a third aircraft at Bristol Airport to support the largest ever South West schedule for tour operator TUI UK and Ireland. The additional aircraft entered service on May 28, 2015 and is flying package holiday customers on behalf of Thomson Holidays and First Choice.

The arrival of the third aircraft has enabled new links to Santorini and Thessaloniki in Greece, plus Pula and Dubrovnik in Croatia, to be introduced from Bristol, while the additional capacity will enable capacity growth in the existing markets of Zante, Crete and Ibiza.

The move to introduce these routes is part of TUI’s strategy to ensure customers across the UK can fly from their local airport and stay at the best hotels in some of the most exciting destinations. “Adding more capacity in basing three aircraft demonstrates our commitment to Bristol Airport and the local area. Expanding access to our portfolio of destinations and hotels is a key part of our overall strategy and we hope that this move will enhance the holiday experience for our customers,” said Karen Switzer, director of aviation planning, Thomson and First Choice.

As well as this year’s additional destinations, this commitment by Thomson and First Choice will also result in three new summer routes in 2016 - Catania in Italy, Hurghada in Egypt, and Sal in Cape Verde.

“We are delighted to welcome the third based aircraft to Bristol Airport - and the additional jobs that will be created. The growth of Thomson and First Choice’s destinations offers passengers across the South West and wider region even more exciting destinations to choose to fly from their local airport,” said Shaun Browne, aviation director, Bristol Airport.

TUI UK and Ireland is the UK’s largest tour operator with key brands including Thomson, First Choice, and Thomson Cruises. Sub brands include Thomson Sensatori, Thomson Couples, Thomson Family Resorts, First Choice Holiday Villages and SplashWorld Resorts.

As part of its commitment to supporting direct links from the UK regions, Thomson Airways has announced an expansion of its long-haul offering. Two years on from the delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the UK’s largest holiday airline has revealed it will take delivery of up to four new, larger Boeing 787-9s from next year to expand its long-haul programme

The airline has converted two existing orders for 787-8 (for delivery in summer 2016) to the new larger capacity 787-9 aircraft. The airline has also placed an order for a third 787-9 with an option to purchase a fourth, growing its Dreamliner fleet to 13 aircraft by June 2016.

These new aircraft will be used on Thomson Airways’ most popular long-haul routes, including Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Sanford in Florida and Jamaica, due to customer demand for holidays in these destinations. The new, longer 787-9 aircraft will allow Thomson Airways to take more holidaymakers to these destinations with a capacity of 345, including 63 Premium Club seats (16 more Premium seats than in the 787-8).

“We are delighted to continue to expand our Dreamliner fleet with the addition of these larger 787-9 aircraft, allowing more of our customers to enjoy the revolutionary flying experience as they travel to their holiday destination. Over the last couple of years the Dreamliner has been a big hit and we’ve received excellent feedback from our customers,” said John Murphy, managing director, Thomson Airways.

Thomson Airways was the first UK airline to operate the Dreamliner and has been flying it on long haul routes since July 2013. Since then the fleet, currently comprising of eight aircraft, has made over 6,000 flights carrying over 1.6 million customers operating from London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, East Midlands, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Birmingham airports to all of Thomson and First Choice’s long haul destinations including Thailand, Mexico’s Pacific Coast and the stunning Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

New for this November, the Dreamliner will take customers from London Gatwick to Costa Rica on the UK’s only direct and non-stop flight, and in summer 2016 long haul flights to Sanford, Florida and Cancun will operate on the Dreamliner from London Stansted airport for the first time.