First Choice Airways
| |||||||
Founded | 11 April 1987 (as Air 2000) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | 2004 | ||||||
Ceased operations | 1 November 2008 (merged with Managing Director | ||||||
Website | firstchoice |
First Choice Airways Limited was a British
Its hubs were
The company held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[2]
History
Air 2000
The airline started operations on 11 April 1987, launched by the Owners Abroad Group under the name Air 2000, with two
Long haul services to
Expansion saw new bases in the UK established, with
First Choice
The airline carried 6.5 million passengers during 2002. The 2005 total was 6.0 million - fifth highest passenger figures of any UK airline. In 2004 it announced plans to refurbish another six Boeing 767-300 aircraft to expand its long haul operations. The airline was the first in the UK to use the Boeing 777-style interior on their 767 fleet. The company had six aircraft flying long haul in 2007, in a two class layout, 63 Premium, 195 Economy. All seats featured Panasonic seat back entertainment and mood lighting in Star Class Premier.
On 23 April 2007, First Choice confirmed it is to close its bases at
Merger with Thomsonfly
In March 2008, the tourism division of the airline's parent group
Thomsonfly Limited changed its name to Thomson Airways Limited in November 2008 and the Thomsonfly operating certificate was changed to Thomson Airways with effect from 1 November 2008. On that date,
As of 2 October 2017, Thomson Airways began operating under TUI Airways, leaving any vestige of UK travel heritage behind.
Corporate affairs
The head office was located in the First Choice House in
Fleet
Final fleet
The First Choice fleet included the following aircraft (at May 2008):[6][7]
Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Airbus A320-200
|
7 | — | 180 | Few wet lease to Skyservice Airlines for winter season |
Airbus A321-200
|
6 | — | 218 | |
Boeing 757-200
|
20 | — | 233 | Few wet lease to Skyservice Airlines for winter season |
Boeing 767-300ER
|
8 | — | 258 | 2x ex Leisure International Airways |
Boeing 787-8
|
— | 12 | TBA | |
Total | 41 | 12 |
Aircraft orders
The airline would have been the UK launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, having placed a firm order for six aircraft in February 2005, with an option for a further six. In December 2006, the airline announced the purchase of a further two 787 Dreamliners, taking its order to eight aircraft. In March 2007 First Choice Airways announced it was converting all four remaining options to orders, bringing the total to 12 aircraft.
Although planned to enter service in summer 2009, delays to the Boeing 787 programme mean that First Choice Airways would not have been able to introduce the aircraft to the fleet until 2011.
The 2008 merger with Thomsonfly meant the newly formed airline, Thomson Airways, inherited the orders and was the UK launch customer. Following the delays in Boeing's development programme, the airline began flights with its first 787 in June 2013[10]
In-flight services
First Choice Airways could include a three course meal pre-ordered for the flight; on First Choice-operated flights it was free of charge if the flight was a long haul flight, if the passengers booked a Premier Holiday. In addition the airline offered drinks, snacks, and sandwiches for purchase as part of a buy on board programme.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 3 April 2007. p. 82.
- ^ "Page not found - UK Civil Aviation Authority". Caa.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Home." First Choice Airways. 4 March 2007. Retrieved on 4 January 2011. "First Choice Holidays PLC. First Choice House, London Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9GX"
- ^ Kenya Gazette. Government of Kenya. 12 May 2006. Vol. 108, No. 33. p. 990. Retrieved from Google Books on 4 January 2011. "First Choice Airways Limited, First Choice House, London Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9GK, England"
- ^ Dennis, Juliet. "Management structure of Thomson and First Choice shops merged Archived 22 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine." Travel Weekly. 6 January 2009. Retrieved on 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Aircraft registration - UK Civil Aviation Authority". Caa.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "First Choice Airways Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Boeing 787 Dreamliner: a timeline of problems". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ "TUI Group – Der weltweit führende Touristikkonzern". Firstchoiceholidaysplc.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ "Boeing 787 Dreamliner launch: 300 passengers enjoy surprise flight as". Independent.co.uk. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^ "All Inclusive Holidays with First Choice". Firstchoice.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Statistics of passengers carried by UK. Airlines 2002 and 2005 (Tables 1.6.0)
External links
Media related to First Choice Airways at Wikimedia Commons
- Air 2000 at the Wayback Machine (archive index) [Dead Link]
- Official website (Archive)
- Simple Flying - What happened to Air 2000