Discussion · VoyageForum

Original post

Lylline

Veteran853 posts

2026-05-08

Hello,

I’m really surprised because in TUI’s new tour packages, the airlines they’re using are of low quality. Before, they used to prioritize major airlines, but now it’s small airlines from small countries—companies with terrible ratings and borderline safety concerns. I even just noticed this note for a Tanzania trip: "We inform you that the domestic flight segment in Tanzania included in your trip is operated by an airline listed on the European Union’s list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the European Union. This ban only applies to European Union airspace, meaning this airline is not permitted to take off, land, or fly over European airspace. However, this airline is authorized to operate in Tanzania."

This means they’re using airlines on the blacklist!! It’s pretty worrying for safety. What do you all think?

Puma2A

Veteran544 posts

2026-05-08

Hi there,

For more info, read (in full) the detailed thread here:

https://voyageforum.com/forum/toutes-compagnies-aeriennes-tanzaniennes-interdites-d10758360/

...

Lylline

Veteran853 posts

2026-05-08

Thanks for that super interesting link!

That said, I still think a travel agency shouldn’t offer services that aren’t safe. For Tanzania, I get it now, but I have a feeling that for other destinations (not on the blacklist), they’re choosing cheaper, less safe airlines for future trips.

Puma2A

Veteran544 posts

2026-05-08

I believe that a travel agency shouldn't offer services that compromise safety. ... I get the impression that for other destinations, they use cheaper and less safe airlines.

It's really tough for regular passengers like you or me to get a clear idea of the "safety" offered by one airline versus another.

Let's not forget that even "major" airlines aren't immune to serious incidents or accidents, which often result from a combination of small oversights that individually wouldn't have had any effect.

We also shouldn't forget that we're at even greater risk of an accident on the road to the airport...!!

It's a vast topic—the circumstances and causes of air accidents... (just look at the most recent ones in the US...!)

Safe flights, and enjoy your stay in Tanzania if that's your choice.

Best regards,

Puma2A

Lylline

Veteran853 posts

2026-05-08

Re: TUI / Nouvelles Frontières Airlines

Thanks for the details, but I won’t be going to Tanzania this year. At least not with Nouvelles Frontières and the airlines they’ve chosen, because I get the impression the tour operator is skimping on quality (low-cost airlines with a bad reputation and very tight connections) just to offer the best prices possible. (I’m not talking about the domestic flight since they don’t have a choice.)

And I’ve noticed the same drop in quality across several destinations.

NT

NTO

Regular420 posts

2026-05-12

Hi there, Your statements are quite vague and general. You mention "low-quality airlines" without naming any... You also talk about "major airlines" versus "small airlines from small countries"... In short, I’m having a bit of trouble following you. If you’re thinking of Ethiopian Airlines, which I believe is the largest African airline with one of the most modern fleets... Same goes for Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways, which are major airlines. According to their brochure, they also work with Air France, and it’s true that France isn’t a huge country—:)

Lylline

Veteran853 posts

2026-05-20

I’m talking about airlines that often have accidents with poorly maintained fleets and limited resources. Not the airlines you mentioned, which I consider major carriers.

Tatra

Globetrotter52,433 posts

2026-05-20

Good evening,

There comes a time when you have to ask yourself how much risk you're willing to take. The fact that an airline has a bad reputation has never really scared me.

Michel

Lylline

Veteran853 posts

2026-05-22

It all depends: if it's poorly rated because the meal isn't good or the seat isn't comfortable, that's okay, but if baggage damage, lost luggage, or delayed baggage issues keep multiplying (I'm not talking about the occasional hiccups that always happen, but a very high percentage of problems with certain airlines), then I won't take the risk. Some airlines, for example, don't load all the baggage systematically on every flight. They're known for this because they use smaller aircraft.

TUI/New Frontiers Airlines

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