Uncertainty for Scots over Thomson Dreamliner plan

THE first Scottish passengers on the troubled Boeing Dreamliner in May face more uncertainty after Thomson Airways today announced contingency plans to use other aircraft from Glasgow airport if its aircraft are not delivered by the end of March.

Thomson - the first UK airline to receive the Dreamliner - has said its Florida and Mexico routes from Glasgow had been the most heavily booked among the aircraft’s planned routes from UK airports, but stressed it wanted to ensure no one missed their holidays.

The airline was due to start taking delivery of the aircraft at the end of the month, but said today it had yet to be given a date.

All 50 Dreamliners in service with eight airlines were grounded three weeks ago over safety fears following fires linked to their lithium ion batteries, one of which led to an emergency landing in Japan.

Boeing was last night permitted to start test flights by the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration “to gather additional data” about the batteries and electrical system in its quest to find the cause of the fault.

A Thomson spokeswoman said: “Our priority is to ensure our customers go on their holidays and we are, therefore, putting contingency plans in place including using alternative aircraft for our long-haul flights to Mexico and Florida if delivery is delayed beyond the end of March.”