Dash8Pilot From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 85 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 4514 times:
Hello all..
Air Transat latest fleet included 12 A310, 3 A330-200 and 1 A330-300.. Thats a mix of some rather old planes and some rather new planes.. Traditionally Air Transat flew older planes, like the L1011 they got from Air Canada after AC retired them. AT also flew A320s, B737, B727, B757s.. Anyone know if AT is planning to phase out the A310 and bring in new equipment??? I must admit the A310s might be old but look sweet in the AT livery..
Indeed. In fact, IIRC to date the only aircraft they got brand new are the three A332s.
Quoting Dash8Pilot (Thread starter): Anyone know if AT is planning to phase out the A310 and bring in new equipment???
Although some of these are to be 20 years old next year as they were delivered to WD, what aircraft could replace them both on the matter of number of passengers carried and range ? Not to forget that over the last 15 months, TS has added two more of these to its fleet.
The A320s and B737s were seasonal leases, while the three B727s (former AC too) stayed for about three years between 1991 and 1994. And for the B757s, the first four entered TS fleet back in 1993 when NX went belly up
Dash8Pilot From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 4207 times:
Well Air Transat seems to be the dumping grounds for Air Canada (L1011 and B727).. With Air Canada retiring the B767 and A340 for the new B777 and B787.. that rumor doesnt seem to be too far feched.. Lets wait and see..
Pacifica From Canada, joined May 2006, 149 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4151 times:
Quoting Drgmobile (Reply 3): The A310s have just had new interiors done, so I don't think they plan to retire them anytime soon.
Exactly! They already have the new interiors and seating, so on the inside most passengers wouldn't be able to tell the difference and actually know how old the plane is. On top that, the only real true replacement for the A310 would be a 767 model (not sure exactly which model is right sized), but in essence TS would not be getting much newer aircraft...but they would face increased costs during the change over, plus added costs due to having both Boeing and Airbus widebody models (767s + A330s) in the long run...
OceansWorld From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 4046 times:
Quoting Dash8Pilot (Reply 4): With Air Canada retiring the B767 and A340 for the new B777 and B787.. that rumor doesnt seem to be too far feched.. Lets wait and see..
Although I won't say that it won't happen, I'd be rather surprised if it did. As I said in an earlier thread this year, what are the real need for TS to get the A340s ? Do they need these aircraft's long legs ? If so, how many of them do TS need ?
At the momet Air Canada has 10 A340s in its fleet and six of them are already intended for other operators, including the two -541 that will leave for JJ in October.
Quoting Dash8Pilot (Reply 4): Well Air Transat seems to be the dumping grounds for Air Canada (L1011 and B727)..
TS started operations with a former AC L-1011, and indeed more former AC Tristars came in later, but in all they were probably only one third of the L-1011s used over the years by TS. For the B727s, when Air Transat acquired them they were probably cheap aircraft to get for some thinner needs at a time when the airline was flying with wide-body trijets only...
WestJetYQQ From Canada, joined Jan 2007, 2986 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3984 times:
Quoting Dash8Pilot (Thread starter): I must admit the A310s might be old but look sweet in the AT livery..
Amen!
Quoting Drgmobile (Reply 3): The A310s have just had new interiors done, so I don't think they plan to retire them anytime soon.
Precisely. The fleet that Air Transat has right now really seems to be working wonders. I don't think we'll be seeing any new types introduced, and any expansion will likely simply enlarge its fleet of A330s
Cheers
Carson
Will You Try to Change Things? Use the Power that you have, the Power of a Million new Ideas.
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1576 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3968 times:
I've had the misfortune of flying on TS A310s across the pond, it was a horrible experience both ways. I will never fly on their A310s on long routes again. Unfortunately I highly doubt that TS will replace the A310 anytime soon, the vast majority of TS's A310 were manufactured in the early to mid 90s and still have a lot of life left in them.
Pacifica From Canada, joined May 2006, 149 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3950 times:
Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 8): I've had the misfortune of flying on TS A310s across the pond, it was a horrible experience both ways. I will never fly on their A310s on long routes again. Unfortunately I highly doubt that TS will replace the A310 anytime soon, the vast majority of TS's A310 were manufactured in the early to mid 90s and still have a lot of life left in them.
I've flown them a few times to Europe as well, and it's true that the service is minimal, your knees get jammed into the seat in front, your bum gets squished, and overall it's a 'LONG' flight...but I'll tell you one thing. You sure as heck cannot beat the prices that TS offers! (although now with Zoom Airlines it is debatable on some routes)
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1576 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3918 times:
Quoting Pacifica (Reply 9): I've flown them a few times to Europe as well, and it's true that the service is minimal, your knees get jammed into the seat in front, your bum gets squished, and overall it's a 'LONG' flight...but I'll tell you one thing. You sure as heck cannot beat the prices that TS offers! (although now with Zoom Airlines it is debatable on some routes)
True, you get what you pay for. I paid $850 for YYZ-AMS-YYZ about a week before departure, KL would have been just over $1000 which would have well worth the money. The ride back to YYZ was unbearable, the air conditioning didn't kick in until 2 hours into the flights, the cabin was very hot which made several passenger very ill. I flew YYZ- Cayo Coco on a TS A332, that was a totally different experience.
Gooner From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 3867 times:
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Quoting Pacifica (Reply 9): I've flown them a few times to Europe as well, and it's true that the service is minimal, your knees get jammed into the seat in front, your bum gets squished, and overall it's a 'LONG' flight...but I'll tell you one thing. You sure as heck cannot beat the prices that TS offers! (although now with Zoom Airlines it is debatable on some routes)
Now that Transat have bought Canadian Affair your best bet if you are flying from the UK to Canada is to make sure you get a TCX flight Their 35 inch seat pitch is superb
LHRBlueSkies From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 493 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 3802 times:
Quoting Gooner (Reply 11): your best bet if you are flying from the UK to Canada is to make sure you get a TCX flight Their 35 inch seat pitch is superb
Interesting. Some relatives flew the TS A310 over in July, and are returning on the TCX 757 this weekend - will be interesting to hear their verdict!
flying is the safest form of transport - until humans get involved!
STARalliance24 From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 378 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 3781 times:
I flew their A333 and A332 on Montreal - Puerto Plata...on our way there we had no food which wasnt that bad because we ate breakfast at the airport before...And on our way back they apologized and gave some subway which i thought was nice!
Gooner From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3641 times:
Quoting LHRBlueSkies (Reply 12): Interesting. Some relatives flew the TS A310 over in July, and are returning on the TCX 757 this weekend - will be interesting to hear their verdict!
I've flown with both and believe me there is no comparison.TCX are miles better than TS
LHRBlueSkies From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 493 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 3622 times:
Vasu From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 3772 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (5 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 3579 times:
Quoting Gooner (Reply 14): I've flown with both and believe me there is no comparison.TCX are miles better than TS
I'm thinking that the leather seats and overhead IFE is similar, and that it would come down to the wider seats and more legroom on TCX... is that the case?
What kinda service / IFE can my folks expect? I know the legroom is quite good apparently...any other insights..?
Quoting Vasu (Reply 16): I'm thinking that the leather seats and overhead IFE is similar, and that it would come down to the wider seats and more legroom on TCX... is that the case?
Possibly the IFE on TS is better and also they give you free tea cofee and soft drinks whilst on TCX you have to pay
The flight crew on TCX are friendlier than TS .From personal experience I have found the TS crew surly to say the least also the food is much better on TCX.These are my own opinions other posters may beg to differ with me
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From Canada, joined Mar 2005, 85 posts, 
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(although now with Zoom Airlines it is debatable on some routes)
From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 137 posts, 
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