- Two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners take off from the Rhine/Ruhr region
- TUI fly becomes the first operator of the Boeing 787 in Germany
Good news for holidaymakers on the Rhine/Ruhr region: In winter, TUI fly will base its two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners at Düsseldorf Airport and fly to distant sunny destinations from there. From November, travellers will be able to reach the Dominican Republic and Mexico directly and conveniently. Cruise ship guests will be able to travel to the Caribbean non-stop. The exact flight plan is currently being worked out and will be bookable in the next few weeks.
“The first launch of our Boeing 787 Dreamliner is getting closer, and of course there are important milestones on the way there – the announcement of our long-haul base is one of them. With the decision to base the Dreamliners in Düsseldorf, we are relying on the Rhein-Ruhr location and the good cooperation with the airport. Our guests can look forward to great holiday destinations, an easily accessible airport, a pleasant plane and highly-motivated crews,” says Oliver Lackmann, Managing Director of TUIfly GmbH.
“We were very pleased with the decision by TUI fly to set up its long-distance operation at its largest location. In Düsseldorf, TUI fly benefits not only from an efficient infrastructure, optimal ground transport links and a densely populated catchment area, but above all from a growing demand for mobility among the population. The best conditions for the strategic further development of the flight offer. I am very sure that our partner TUI fly’s project will be a success story,” says Thomas Schnalke, CEO of Düsseldorf Airport.
In November 2019, after a corresponding agreement with the tariff partners, TUI fly announced the entry into the long-haul tourist route. Strategically, long-haul brings several advantages for the TUI Group: the feeder flights for cruises of the “Mein Schiff” fleet from TUI Cruises are operated under its own flag. In addition, the TUI Group is strong on long-haul destinations and has an extensive hotel portfolio in the Caribbean.
“We have had a lot of positive feedback since we announced that we would be launching our own long-haul product. Of course, we have set ourselves the goal of continuing to expand in the winter after next. If capacities are reduced in the coming months due to further market changes, we can also implement our planned fleet expansion more quickly. Incidentally, we will be the first airline in Germany to use the modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ”added Lackmann.
TUI has been using modern, very economical and eco-efficient long-haul aircraft in Germany from the start. The Boeing 787-8 is excellent in terms of kerosene consumption, CO2 emissions and noise levels. The aircraft uses 20 percent less fuel than aeroplanes of comparable size. This exceptional result is made possible by a number of new technologies – around 50 percent of the primary structure of the 787, including the fuselage and wings, is made of composite materials. The 787 also offers a noticeably improved passenger experience.
Düsseldorf, January 9, 2020.
