Seeing this wide space surrounding the airport, the buildings and the sea, i think that spotting won't be so difficult there. Almost all European charter airlines fly to SSH and i think that Thursday and Sunday are busy days there.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2533 times:
Rob,
I'm not too sure about configuration, but since they offer Premium Class on their SSH flights I'm assuming it'll be the 315 seater.
As for spotting, at the airport there are no dedicated viewing areas as such but when you get bussed to/from the terminal to plane you get excellent opportunities for photography. And even though there's an obvious military presence they allow photography. When I was there a few years ago I remember there was an LTU A333 and AZ MD-11 on the apron and I asked this security guy if I can take a photo and he actually escorted me closer to the planes to get good photos.
As for photography from the resort itself, when aircraft are landing on runway 4L you get very good views from Na'ama Bay (the resort centre).
Here are a few pics from when I was there:
View from apron
Arrivals Area
View of the terminal. On the right is the departure area. The building on the left is the new 'Air Mall' which hasn't opened yet (by the summer)
If you have time to spare when you're at the airport, you can exit the terminal, turn left and walk till the end of the building and then turn left and you usually get decent views of landing/departing aircraft as well as aircraft on the apron but you do have that fence in the way. This is a picture of one of Mr H. Mubarak's (Egyptian President's) Gulfstreams. He's a frequent visitor.
Departure Area
View from terminal
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: When getting your seats allocated make sure you sit on the RIGHT side of the aircraft as you get great view of the resort and coastline as you approach SSH.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2524 times:
Quoting B742 (Reply 6): Thanks Horus you've been a great help, I can't wait to go there now!
No problem!
Quoting B742 (Reply 6): SSH is slight improvement on Taba!
I guess that means you've been to TCP? Well TCP was originally a military airport and was only 'transformed' to a civilian airport very recently so it does lack some facilites taken for granted at more developed airports. CAI, SSH, HRG and LXR are all being rennovated to bring them upto to scratch but as far as I know there are no plans for TCP.
SSH is getting a second terminal. You'll notice the work being done on the $90million terminal when you're there.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 9, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2502 times:
Quoting B742 (Reply 8): Does SSH have any Gates or do you board via the stairs on the apron?
You get bussed to/from the terminal and then board the aircraft via stairs:
View from window after arriving at SSH from Cairo on an Egyptair A320
View from the bus of our aircraft
But like I said getting bussed around does provide excellent opportunities for photograhpy, which is pretty rare at Egyptian airports. Anyway things will change next year when the new terminal opens which will have 12 jetways.
Crosswind From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 2572 posts, RR: 59 Reply 11, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2483 times:
G-BOYG is currently in the all-economy 328 seat configuration - or at least it was a couple of weeks ago last time I had anything to do with it! It's just back of Hajj lease with Garuda Indonesia - they only send their all-economy aircraft for that contract.
Crosswind From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 2572 posts, RR: 59 Reply 14, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2420 times:
B742,
It's G-OBYG - My typing mistake - sorry!
Will be impossible to say what will operate your flights - the aircraft planned for a particular flight is usually only decided a few days beforehand, and only confirmed the day before. Even then it may change on the day.
With a significant about of rebranding/refurbishment going on at Britannia at the moment I don't think you can say with any certainty what aircraft will operate a specific flight next month!
According to their website the following B767s are in the 328 seat layout, so it could easily be any of them on your flight;
G-OBYB
G-OBYC
G-OBYE
G-OBYF
G-OBYG
G-OBYH
SignalOne From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2371 times:
Hello,
Just a word about the cabins:
If you are traveling on a Thomsonfly/Britannia Boeing 767-300, you will not receive the new Britannia leather seat cabin , which is currently being fitted to their Boeing 767-200 and 757s.
But, even if you travel on the 757 or 767-200, you may still get the stripy one shown above, because the aircraft may not have been fitted with the new enhanced interior yet.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 17, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2364 times:
Quoting B742 (Reply 10): Cheers Horus again you have really helped me out!
Always happy to help
As for BY using the 328-seater to SSH, their website (and brochures) state that they offer the Premium cabin on their SSH flights which is why I initially assumed they used the 315 seater. Does this mean they offer that premium cabin on their other 752 and 767 (-200 and -300) flights to SSH (they are the largest UK operator to SSH)?
SignalOne From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2347 times:
Hello,
Quoting Horus (Reply 17): Does this mean they offer that premium cabin on their other 752 and 767 (-200 and -300) flights to SSH (they are the largest UK operator to SSH)?
Britannia only offer there Premium service on their 767-300 aircraft.
There 757s and 767-200 are all economy!
The chances of getting a 767-300 Short-Haul are very slim, as these Aircraft are used on Long-Haul routes. With Egypt being a around 5 hour flight, you may get a 767-300 .
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 19, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2310 times:
In that case since BY use their B763 on BY077 and since they offer premium class on flights to SSH, is it safe to assume using G-OBYG is rare and was used due to low demand for the premium class or high demand in Y class over the last few weeks?
SignalOne From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2291 times:
Quoting Horus (Reply 19): In that case since BY use their B763 on BY077 and since they offer premium class on flights to SSH, is it safe to assume using G-OBYG is rare and was used due to low demand for the premium class or high demand in Y class over the last few weeks?
Hello, because SSH is a 5 hour ride from England (around that anyway) this is probably why premium service is needed and the 767-300 used. I would say using any 767-300 is not rare and it has been used due to high demand for Premium seats, and because Britannia know that the Premium seats on that flight will be all taken.
I will bring this topic up again tomorrow and then I will be able to give a definite answer of how rare a 767-300 is at Egypt for Britannia.
Cheers Ryan + any more questions just ask. SignalOne
A321fly From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 59 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2284 times:
Quoting SignalOne (Reply 20): Hello, because SSH is a 5 hour ride from England (around that anyway) this is probably why premium service is needed and the 767-300 used. I would say using any 767-300 is not rare and it has been used due to high demand for Premium seats, and because Britannia know that the Premium seats on that flight will be all taken.
I will bring this topic up again tomorrow and then I will be able to give a definite answer of how rare a 767-300 is at Egypt for Britannia
With Larnaca LCLK and Paphos PFO being similar to SSH time in flight what aircraft are used on those routes?
I think its more a case of High Density than demand for Premium seats.
Horus From Egypt, joined Feb 2004, 5230 posts, RR: 62 Reply 22, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
SignalOne, No I think you misunderstood me, I know for a fact that BY use B767s (both -200 and -300) on a regular basis on flights to Egypt. Besides BY077, they also use B762s on BY507 to LXR. My point was considering that they offer premium class tickets for their flights to SSH, why have they been using G-OBYG which is configured in an all Y-class configuration. I'm assuming that was either due to low demand for that premium service or high demand for Y class over that period.
Anyway UK-Egypt flights usually last 4.5 - 5 hours while Egypt-UK flights last 5.5 - 6 hours but that doesn't guarantee a premium service should be available, though it is a good move considering the long haul nature of the flight.
Crosswind From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 2572 posts, RR: 59 Reply 23, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2278 times:
Horus,
They don't appear to offer premium class on that particular flight.
Flight length is not the determining factor in whether premium is offered - next winter's Brazil flights with Britannia will be all-economy, as will their flights to Mombassa.
SignalOne From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
Hello,
Larnaca LCLK,
FCA: A321
BY: 767-200, 767-300-Used from Birmingham
MYT: A330,
TCX: NOT SURE
Paphos PFO,
FCA:A321
BY:NOT SURE
MYT:NOT SURE
TCX:NOT SURE
Probably, the same aircraft used for Egypt flights are used for Cyprus flights. 767's and 330's. FCA A321's operate to PFO and LCLK though.
SignalOne
25 SignalOne: Hello, Probably low demand for Premium and Britannia know they can fill the flight in an all Y class.
26 A321fly: From regional airports, it is B757 in the summer from others.
27 Jetlagged: I'd hate to fly BY economy in one of their 767s for any length of time, especially not to Rio. I flew to Minorca in one and it was 2.5 hours of pure h
28 Horus: Alright fellas, I just realised I made a typo right at the start, I said that G-OBYG has been flying the route when in fact I meant G-OBYJ Here is a
29 BALboy: Interesting. I haven't operated SSH for a while, and that was 757. Those regs are indeed Premium configured. After looking at the planned scheds for S
30 BALboy: Just to say that the ' bucket and spade lot ' don't tend to fly to SSH. In fact the type of passenger who fly to SSH are mostly professional divers (
31 Horus: Well I just found out Monarch flight MON4265 to SSH is with an A332s. (I always thought they were reserved for US, Caribbean and Indian Ocean flights)
32 BALboy: Hello Horus. I really don't know about any plans for a scheduled service. Britannia do not operate any scheduled services like Monarch or Astreaus...b
33 Gilesdavies: The SSH service operated from LTN is that on a 757 or 767? Do they operate the dreaded 28 inch seat pitch for the 6hr flight or are they in the 30inch
34 Horus: Seems like a really long day. Is it the longest trip where the crew manage both inbound and outbound flights? Thanks for the feedback on the schedule
35 Gkirk: TCX are taking over the NCL-SSH flights this summer from BY. I believe the CWL-SSH flights start for winter 05/06 and not this summer
36 Horus: And its proving to be quite a success Correct. http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Transport&F=1&id=7500 (I realise the heading of the article is mis
37 Ts-ior: Britannia/ThomsonFly is starting a service to TUN ? and with B763 ?
38 Horus: Ts-ior, I can't find anything on their website but I don't think its that surprising considering the open sky policy adopted by the Tunisian authoriti
39 BALboy: No scheduled service. Just a charterer request. Don't know who the charterer is or how long the route is being operated. Regards
40 Horus: Cheers BALboy. Another quick question, are BY planning any new flights/routes (besides BHX-SSH) this summer? Horus
41 BALboy: Not sure Horus. Ill try and find out for you. The only one I know is Natal in Brazil and perhaps Taba.
42 Horus: Thanks it would be great if could get the latest info on flights to Egypt. As for flights to TCP, BY's website shows that they fly there from LTN. An
43 Pictues: We in YVR got a visit from Britania 2 days ago and agin this afternoon, but it was the old paint scheme
44 Schooner: Longest out & back trip TCX do. We`ve got a dispensation from the CAA to operate it both ways with the same crew as long as the company gives us a gr
45 Jetlagged: It's a term I've heard used by many pilots, referring to summer holiday flights in general. I did not mean it to be insulting, I've been part of the
46 Horus: Thanks Schooner! So how do crews react when assigned to a SSH flight? Is the time off before/after the flight a good enough 'trade off' or are SSH fl
47 Schooner: Well I don`t mind them. It depends if you get a decent crew to make the time pass faster. The nice benefit is that we do our SSHs on thursdays so you
48 Horus: Cheers Schooner! I think TCX will take over the NCL-SSH and GLA-SSH routes from BY this summer. Does this mean TCX will be going back to the CAA to ge
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, which is currently being fitted to their Boeing 767-200 and 757s. 
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