Thomas Cook Airlines
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| Founded | 30 March 2008 | |||
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| Operating bases |
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| Fleet size | 30 | |||
| Destinations | 95[1] | |||
| Company slogan | Don't just book it, Thomas Cook it | |||
| Parent company | Thomas Cook Group | |||
| Headquarters | Manchester, England | |||
| Key people | Frank Pullman (MD) Paul Hutchings (DFO) |
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| Website | www.flythomascook.com | |||
Thomas Cook Airlines is a British charter airline based in Manchester, England. It serves main holiday resorts worldwide, from its main bases at Manchester and Gatwick.
The airline also operates services from nine other bases in the United Kingdom.
The airline carried over 6.7 million passengers during 2012,[2] and operates a fleet of 35 Boeing and Airbus aircraft during the peak summer holiday season, making it the fifth largest UK airline by passengers carried.[2] The airline will standardise its narrow body fleet, replacing Boeing 757s with Airbus A320 family aircraft over five years beginning in 2012.[3]
Thomas Cook Airlines Limited holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[4]
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History [edit]
Following the merger between Thomas Cook AG & MyTravel Group PLC to form Thomas Cook Group PLC in June 2007, Thomas Cook Airlines was formed on 30 March 2008 by the merger of Thomas Cook Airlines UK Ltd and MyTravel Airways. The airline commenced operations in time for the summer 2008 season, with a fleet of Airbus A320, A321 and A330 aircraft along with Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.
Thomas Cook Airlines UK Ltd [edit]
The original Thomas Cook Airlines was established on 1 September 1999 and started operations on 27 March 2000. It was created as JMC Airlines through the merger of Flying Colours Airlines and Caledonian Airways, following the integration of the Carlson Leisure group with Thomas Cook, which brought both airlines under common ownership in October 1999. Previously, in 1998, Flying Colours was also integrated by Airworld Aviation Ltd into the airline. JMC Airlines was renamed as Thomas Cook Airlines UK on 31 March 2003.[5]
MyTravel Airways [edit]
MyTravel Airways was founded in 1990 as Airtours International Airways, which also acquired Inter European Airways in 1993 and Scandinavian charter airline Premiair in 1996 prior to re-branding as MyTravel in 2002.
Merger with other Thomas Cook Group Airlines [edit]
On 4 February 2013, Thomas Cook Group announced that Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and Condor would be merged into a single operating segment of the Thomas Cook Group.[6]
The Condor flight number is now code-sharing on selected Thomas Cook Airlines flights between selected UK airports and the US airports of Orlando Sanford Airport and Las Vegas McCarran Airport
Destinations [edit]
Operations [edit]
The airline operates worldwide charter flights to and from the United Kingdom for a number of tour operators; however, Thomas Cook Tour Operations is the main user of the airline.
Fleet [edit]
The Thomas Cook Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 2013):[7]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers[8] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 5 | 0 | 180 | |
| Airbus A321-200 | 4 | 10 | 220 | Orders to be split between the Thomas Cook Group Airlines |
| Airbus A330-200 | 3 | 1 | 323 | Ex Bmi G-WWBM Due Winter 2013/2014[9] |
| Boeing 757-200 | 13 | 0 | 235 | Oldest aircraft to be replaced with new Airbus A321 family from 2013. |
| Boeing 757-300 | 2 | 0 | 280 | |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 3 | 0 | 326 | 1 leased to Condor |
| Total | 30 | 11 |
In addition to leases to and from other group airlines like Thomas Cook Scandinavia and Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium the airline normally leases or sub-leases aircraft to other operators during the winter season in particular to Canadian inclusive-tour operators such as operators such as Westjet.
Fleet replacement [edit]
In December 2010 the Thomas Cook Group announced that they had chosen the Airbus A320 family to replace its 71-strong narrow body fleet of aircraft across the four group airlines, including Thomas Cook Airlines.[3] The five year fleet renewal will commence in 2012, with a review of the wide body fleet replacement taking place during 2011.[3]
An initial order by the Group for 12 Airbus A321 aircraft was confirmed in January 2011, with first deliveries expected to commence in late 2013.[10]
Livery [edit]
All Thomas Cook aircraft are painted in white, with the yellow and blue Thomas Cook logo on the tail of each aircraft. A light blue covers the underbody of the aircraft.Three aircraft wear a special Egypt tourism livery that covers the rear of the fuselage, this applied to two Boeing 757-200 aircraft and one Airbus A321.
On board service [edit]
Drinks and snacks can be purchased on board from the Café Cloud menu. In-flight meals, champagne and a selection of gifts can be pre-ordered at the time of booking a flight. Since May 2012, the in-flight meals available on board Thomas Cook flights are designed exclusively by Celebrity Chef James Martin. For passenger's that have not pre-ordered a meal can buy a selection of Look what we've found meals from the cabin crew.
Entertainment is available on selected services operated by B757/B767/A330 aircraft. It has been removed from the Airbus A320/321 aircraft. A copy of the Thomas Cook Airlines magazine Travel can be found in all seat pockets, alongside the Emporium brochure, which details all the tax/duty free products Thomas Cook Airlines stock on board.
Personal seat-back entertainment is available on the A330-200 aircraft, serving long-haul and selected short-haul routes.
Cabin Interior [edit]
The aircraft cabins feature blue fabric or leather seats and blue carpets. On the Airbus A320/321 and Boeing 757 there is 28/29" seat pitch.
On short and medium-haul flights the Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 757 aircraft are used.
The Boeing 767 is also used on some short and medium-haul routes, and operates in an all economy configuration with a 30" seat pitch. This aircraft can be used on longhaul routes when and if additional capacity is needed.
The Airbus A330 aircraft is used primarily on long-haul routes and features seat-back entertainment in both Premium economy and Economy class cabins. Economy offers a 33" seat pitch (30" on selected aircraft) and Premium 35" pitch with wider seats.
Statistics [edit]
Thomas Cook Airlines carried over 6.7 million passengers during 2012, a 14.9% reduction compared with 2011.[2]
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Awards [edit]
- Silver Award - Most Environmentally Responsible Airline 2008 [11]
- Runner-Up UK Charter Airline for Punctuality - Summer 2006[12]
- FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Summer 2002 & Summer 2003[12]
- FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Winter 2002/03, Winter 2003/04, Winter 2008/09 & Winter 2009/10[12]
References [edit]
- ^ Thomas Cook flight route map
- ^ a b c d "UK Airline Statistics | Data | Economic Regulation". UK CAA. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
- ^ a b c Thomas Cook Group Preliminary Results 2010
- ^ Operating Licence
- ^ Name change to Thomas Cook Airlines
- ^ http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2005024&c=setreg®ion=2
- ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - for G- registered aircraft
- ^ Thomas Cook Airlines - Aircraft Seating Configurations
- ^ http://www.jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_listings/thomas_cook_airlines_uk.htm
- ^ Thomas Cook Group signs firm order for 12 A321s with sharklets
- ^ "British Travel Awards". British Travel Awards. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11.[dead link]
- ^ a b c FlightOnTime.info
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Thomas Cook Airlines |
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