TUI’s newest Boeing 737-8 MAX entered service on Wednesday (October 19th) with service between Manchester and Ibiza. The flight, BY2322, departed Manchester at 06:00 and arrived in Ibiza at 09:40, where it was officially named ‘Ibiza’ by two local celebrities.
On Wednesday (October 19, 2022), TUI announced the entry in to service of their latest Boeing 737-8 MAX airplane. The aircraft’s inaugural flight, BY2322, departed Manchester in the UK at 06:00 and arrived in the Balearic Island of Ibiza at 09:40. After landing, the aircraft was named ‘Ibiza’ in a ceremony with two local celebrities, visual artist Marta Torres and fashion designer Charo Ruiz. The event was also attended by around 50 guests, including the Island Council’s President, Vicente Marí and Director of Tourism, Juan Miguel Costa.
Speaking at Wednesday’s naming ceremony, TUI Group’s CEO – Markets & Airlines, David Burling, said,
“Today, we continue on our journey of becoming Europe’s most fuel-efficient airline as we welcome another Boeing 737-8 airplane into the TUI Airline fleet. Our Ibiza is now an ambassador for the island and the TUI Group – right across Europe. In 2022, the tourism market recovered considerably for the hotels, the family businesses and the many local partners who work with us on Ibiza to make guests' holidays successful. People want to travel again and this summer they have been flocking to warmer and sunnier climes – this year we brought close to 300,000 passengers to Ibiza.
“TUI is the strategic partner for holiday destinations in southern Europe and we have been at home on Ibiza now for 50 years. Here we have been able to build successful partnerships with RIU and Grupotel as well as invest in our own brands such as TUI Blue or TUI Magic Life. TUI has always set high standards when it comes to the development and sustainability of holiday destinations, hotel quality and overall service, and will continue to do so in the future. This also applies to our new aircraft: Ibiza is one of the most modern and efficient airplanes in our fleet. Investment in modern jets has been an essential part of TUI's sustainability agenda for many years.”
From Left: The patrons Marta Torres, artist, Charo Ruiz, fashion designer, Vicente Mari Torres, President Consell Insular d`Eivissa, TUI fly crew with David Burling, TUI CEO Markets & Airlines (6th from left) and Marta Torres Puyales, Director of Ibiza Airport (2nd from right) - Courtesy TUI Group
Also speaking at the special event, Aeropuerto Ibiza’s Director, Marta Torres Puyales, said,
“It is clearly an honour that a long-standing partner such as TUI has chosen to name one of its airplanes after the island of Ibiza. Yet more importantly this marks not only the close relationship between TUI and Ibiza, but also the confidence put on us as an important holiday destination.”
Hannover, Germany-based TUI Group is a leading global tourism company, which serves the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The company’s hotel portfolio includes over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson. The Group also operates 16 cruise ships from the MS Europa and the MS Europa 2 in the luxury class, to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI cruises and Marella Cruses in Great Britain. The Group also includes leading tour operator brands and operating platforms across Europe, five airlines with over 100 modern medium and long-haul aircraft and over 1,000 travel agencies.
Source: TUI Group AG