TUI Group Bids Farewell to the Boeing 767 After 40 Years of Service

After over four decades of operation, TUI Group retired its final Boeing 767, marking the last 767 for the airline. The last flight of this iconic aircraft, identified as PH-OYJ and fondly named “Sunshine,” took place on November 3rd. Departing from Lanzarote Airport (ACE) on Flight OR1605, the plane made its way to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), landing at TUI Netherlands’ base at 22:49 local time. As it left Amsterdam for the last time, the crew performed a symbolic wave, a fitting tribute to the years the Boeing 767 served TUI Group faithfully.

Afscheid PH-OYJ ‘Sunshine’, de laatste Boeing 767, verlaat de vloot. De piloot die haar laatste vlucht voor TUI uitvoert geeft een spectaculaire goodbye wave 🤩👋🏻👋🏻✈️
Ps: er zijn geen passagiers aan boord 🙂
Bron: Petra Kok pic.twitter.com/LUN6N7F09P
— desiree (@deesiedees) November 5, 2024

Following its final passenger service, PH-OYJ was ferried to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), where it will be converted into a freighter, extending its aviation legacy in cargo operations.

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The Story of PH-OYJ: From Passenger Jet to Cargo Plane

The 24-year-old Boeing 767-300ER, with its impressive service record, first joined Britannia Airways in February 2000. Over its career, the aircraft saw service with Garuda Indonesia, Thomson Airways, Arke Fly, and TUI Belgium before settling into TUI Netherlands’ fleet in December 2022. With a configuration that could accommodate up to 295 passengers—31 in business class and 264 in economy—PH-OYJ amassed a remarkable 97,000 flight hours across 17,500 cycles in its 24 years.

Although TUI’s Boeing 767 era for passenger flights has concluded, the model’s conversion into a freighter exemplifies its adaptability and ongoing relevance, particularly as a strong candidate for passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions. The PH-OYJ’s journey continues, just in a new role.

TUI’s 767 Legacy in European Aviation

TUI’s connection with the Boeing 767 goes back to its early days with Britannia Airways, which became the first European airline to adopt this model. The Boeing 767, launched by United Airlines in 1982, entered Britannia’s service in February 1984. Known for its reliability, the 767 rapidly became a mainstay in TUI Group’s fleet.

One of TUI’s last remaining UK-based Boeing 767s, registered as G-OBYF, was retired just last year. This aircraft had served since its delivery in the summer of 1998 and accrued over 94,000 flight hours by its retirement. At its peak, TUI Airways in the UK operated a fleet of 18 Boeing 767-300ERs.

Transition to the Dreamliner and Fleet Modernization

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TUI Group has since embraced the next generation of long-haul aircraft, phasing out the Boeing 767 in favor of the more fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner. According to ch-aviation data, TUI currently operates 19 Dreamliners, with 13 of the 787-8 variant and six of the larger 787-9 model. These aircraft now handle much of the workload once managed by the 767 fleet, representing TUI’s commitment to efficiency and modernized travel experiences.

Additionally, TUI is progressively updating its short-haul fleet, replacing older Boeing 737-800s with the more efficient 737 MAX. TUI currently has 42 MAX 8 aircraft alongside its remaining 737-800s and a few 737-700s, reflecting a strategy focused on sustainable and modernized fleet composition.