About TUI Airways
TUI Airways is the UK-registered airline arm of the German TUI Group, Europe's largest tour operator. It was rebranded from Thomson Airways in 2017 — but the roots go deeper. Thomson Tour Operations founded Britannia Airways in 1962, which became Thomsonfly, then Thomson Airways following the 2008 merger with First Choice Airways, and finally TUI Airways in 2017. The "2008 founded" date reflects the Thomson Airways unification; the underlying operation has flown UK holidaymakers for over 60 years.
TUI Group (HQ Hanover, Germany) owns holiday brands, hotels and cruise ships across Europe. TUI Airways primarily exists to fly customers to TUI-contracted hotel properties — somewhere around 80% of TUI flight bookings originate as part of a package holiday. Flight-only seats are available but often cost more per-seat than the equivalent Jet2 or easyJet fare, because TUI's distribution network and high-season package utilisation doesn't need to compete aggressively on standalone flight price.
TUI's unique distinction in the UK low-cost/leisure sector is its long-haul Dreamliner fleet. Nobody else (other than Virgin Atlantic and BA) flies UK regional airports to the Caribbean, Florida or Mexico — TUI does, from Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick, East Midlands and Glasgow.
Routes & UK bases
TUI operates from nine UK airports — deliberately spread to give every major UK region a local package-holiday departure point. Route network splits into three tiers:
| Network tier | Destinations | Aircraft type |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul Mediterranean | Balearics, Canaries, Spanish mainland, Turkey, Greek islands, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco | Boeing 737 MAX 8 · 737-800 |
| Medium-haul sun | Cape Verde, Egypt Red Sea, Gambia, Tunisia | Boeing 737 MAX 8 · 737-800 |
| Long-haul holiday | Caribbean (Jamaica, DR, Barbados), Florida (Orlando, Tampa), Mexico (Cancún), Thailand (Phuket), Kenya (Mombasa) | Boeing 787-8/-9 Dreamliner |
UK bases: London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, Stansted (short-haul only). Some regional bases only operate in summer season.
Baggage allowance
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Cabin bag (free on all fares) | 55 × 40 × 20 cm · up to 10kg |
| Checked bag — short-haul package | Typically 15kg or 20kg bundled with holiday |
| Checked bag — long-haul package | 23kg bundled with holiday |
| Extra checked bag | From £25 one way short-haul, £40+ long-haul |
| Premium Economy (long-haul) | 23kg + extra allowance included |
Check-in
Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure and closes 3 hours before on short-haul, 4 hours before on long-haul. Most UK bases also have full-service airport check-in desks — a handy bonus for families with lots of luggage or for older travellers uncomfortable with the online process.
- Online check-in (app or tui.co.uk): 24 hours before — mobile boarding pass available.
- Airport check-in desks: Open 2.5 hours before short-haul, 3.5 hours long-haul.
- Bag drop: Closes 40 minutes before short-haul departure, 60 minutes before long-haul.
Fleet
TUI Airways operates around 60 aircraft split between Boeing 737-family short-haul and Boeing 787 Dreamliner long-haul. Short-haul: mostly 737-800 with a growing fleet of 737 MAX 8. Long-haul: 13 × Boeing 787-8 (the original smaller Dreamliner) and a handful of 787-9s on higher-capacity routes. The Dreamliner fleet has transformed TUI's long-haul economics since 2013 — these aircraft can fly 9+ hours from Manchester or Birmingham without a refuel, opening up Caribbean and Thailand direct from regional UK airports.
Cabin classes
On-time performance
TUI's OTP (arrivals within 15 minutes) typically runs at 75–80%. Long-haul Dreamliner routes tend to land closer to schedule; short-haul summer performance drops in July/August when ATC disruption hits southern Europe. Peak-season delays of 2–4 hours are not uncommon on short-haul Mediterranean returns.
Passenger reviews
Typical strengths: package holiday convenience (flight + hotel + transfer all managed by TUI), long-haul Dreamliner from regional UK airports is unmatched (Manchester → Orlando direct is a huge draw), generous cabin bag, in-flight entertainment screens on long-haul, multi-generational family-friendly feel, strong safety record.
Typical criticisms: flight-only fares often uncompetitive vs Jet2 or easyJet for identical routes; older 737 cabins feel dated; short-haul food is paid-for; customer service can feel slow post-booking (complex IT stack involving tour operator and airline systems).
Aggregate score across Trustpilot, Skytrax and AirlineRatings: 7.2 / 10.
⚖️ TUI flight delayed or cancelled?
TUI Airways is subject to UK261 for UK-departing flights. Delays of 3+ hours or cancellations within 14 days of departure can mean up to £520 per passenger. Long-haul delays (over 4 hours) carry the highest compensation.
Check my claim → Read the rules →TUI Airways FAQs
Yes — TUI Airways is the rebranded Thomson Airways, which itself was the result of the 2008 merger between Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways. The rebrand happened in 2017 when TUI Group unified its European brands. Older paperwork may still reference Thomson.
Yes — TUI flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners from Manchester to the Caribbean (Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Barbados), Florida (Orlando, Tampa), Mexico (Cancún), Thailand (Phuket seasonally) and Kenya (Mombasa). Similar long-haul operations run from Birmingham, Gatwick, East Midlands and Glasgow. No other UK airline flies long-haul from so many regional airports.
Yes, flight-only is available on tui.co.uk under the "Flights" tab, but it's not heavily promoted. Expect the seat to cost more than booking the equivalent Jet2 or easyJet route, because TUI's business model is built around package holidays. If you're only buying a flight, shop around.
Only on long-haul Dreamliner routes. Short-haul 737 services are all-economy — the best upgrade is Extra Legroom (row 1 or exit row) for a small extra fee. Premium Economy on long-haul includes wider seats, more recline, enhanced meal, amenity kit and 23kg baggage.
Yes — TUI Airways has a strong safety record and is rated 7/7 on AirlineRatings' safety assessment. All its aircraft (Boeing 737 and 787) are modern mainstream types. TUI publishes safety reports in its annual group accounts.
Yes — online check-in opens 24 hours before departure via the TUI app or tui.co.uk. Unlike many low-cost rivals, TUI also maintains full-service airport check-in desks at no charge, useful for families or anyone not confident with mobile boarding passes.