Empty aircraft returning UK

NoodleDoodleMan

Something that I have wanted to get a knowledgeable answer on for some time.

Some years ago we were on a Thomas Cook package to Santa Eulalia, Ibiza - all went fine.

However on the day of the return flight the incoming plane out of Glasgow was about 4 hours (and counting) late.

We were resigned to a long delay at IBZ - until TC announced a re-arranged flight back......right out of the blue.

It transpired that an aircraft was due to return somewhere in the UK with no passengers and tasked at short notice to divert for GLA.

A least one of the cabin crew was none too happy - but that's another story !!!

What type of circumstances would result in this empty plane scenario ?

I assumed that there was an end of season change of flight cycles - but would it not have been flying out from the UK empty to return punters who had come out the previous week/fortnight ?

Maybe I missed something obvious - won't be the first or last time !!!

 

la531983

Could have been hired to fly to IBZ as a one way charter that day from the UK.

NoodleDoodleMan

la531983 said:

Could have been hired to fly to IBZ as a one way charter that day from the UK.

Never thought of that - but an expensive gig for whoever was footing the bill !!!

It was a Thomas Cook aircraft - I assumed that it had been on a scheduled flight to Ibiza with passengers - but

 unsure why it would return empty - the cabin crew appeared to be having been looking forward to a relaxed flight back.

One made an "unfortunate" remark to 3 passengers sitting together who were slow ordering drinks - that lead to the chief stewardess offering them free alcohol to placate these restless punters !!!

bagand96

Could have been that it had been stuck in Ibiza after a technical issue. Aircraft had been repaired and was due to position back to the UK empty when they saw the opportunity to help a scheduling issue.

Or maybe it had been stuck there overnight due to a delay the previous day meaning the crew were out of hours.  Original passengers had been re-acommodated on a different flight so the aircraftand crew were going to position back empty.  Or similar scenario with crew sickness.

Maybe it had operated an outbound cruise charter so no passengers to bring home. 

Sure there's many more possibilities. 

Hoenir

bagand96 said:

Sure there's many more possibilities. 

Whatever the case. When there was a use for the aircraft's capacity it was soon called into action.  

NoodleDoodleMan

Indeed, various scenarios as suggested.

I doubt the cruise suggestion though - can't think any lines use Ibiza as a joining port.