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| founded=30 March 2008
| founded=30 March 2008
| company_slogan =''Let's Go!''
| company_slogan =''Let's Go!''
| headquarters= Manchester, England
| headquarters= [[Manchester]], [[England]]
| bases=
| bases=
*[[Belfast International Airport|Belfast]]
*[[Belfast International Airport|Belfast]]

Revision as of 20:27, 7 May 2014

Thomas Cook Airlines
File:Thomas Cook Logo 2013.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
MT TCX KESTREL
Founded30 March 2008
AOC #549
Operating bases
Fleet size29
Destinations95[1]
Parent companyThomas Cook Group
HeadquartersManchester, England
Key peopleChristoph Debus (MD)
Cor Vrieswijk (Head of Operations)
Paul Hutchings (DFO)
Websitewww.flythomascook.com

Thomas Cook Airlines Limited, styled as Thomas Cook, is a British charter airline based in Manchester, England. It serves main holiday resorts worldwide, from its main bases at Manchester and London Gatwick Airport. It also operates services from eight other bases around the United Kingdom; Belfast International Airport, Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport, Cardiff International Airport, East Midlands Airport, Glasgow International Airport, London Stansted Airport and Newcastle Airport.

The airline carried over 6.7 million passengers during 2012,[2] and operates a fleet of 35 Airbus and Boeing 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]

History

Following the merger between Thomas Cook AG and 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

Thomas Cook aircraft at Manchester Airport

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 and Caledonian Airways, following the integration of the Carlson Leisure group with Thomas Cook & Son, 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

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

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

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

Boeing 757-200 at Lanzarote Airport
Airbus A330-200 at Manchester Airport

As of May 2014, the Thomas Cook Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7]

Thomas Cook Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers[8] Notes
Airbus A320-200 1 3 180
Airbus A321-200 8 23 214 To be split between the Thomas Cook Group, 9 aircraft to be leased [9][10]
Airbus A330-200 4 0 323
Boeing 757-200 11 0 235 Oldest aircraft to be replaced with new Airbus A321 family from 2014.
Boeing 757-300 2 0 280
Boeing 767-300ER 3 0 326
Total 29 27

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.

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, as part of a five year fleet renewal programme.[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.[11]

Livery

Airbus A321 in the new "Sunny Heart" livery

In 2003, all Thomas Cook aircraft received a livery of white, with the yellow and blue Thomas Cook logo on the tail of each aircraft. A light blue covered the underside of the aircraft. Three aircraft received a special Egypt tourism livery that covers the rear of the fuselage, this applied to two Boeing 757-200 aircraft and one Airbus A321.

The Thomas Cook Group introduced a new brand symbol, known as the "Sunny Heart", on 1 October 2013. The fleet are due to receive a new white, yellow and grey livery, featuring the new symbol on the tail fins.[12]

On board service

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. Passengers who have not pre-ordered a meal can buy a selection of Look what we've found meals from the cabin crew.

Entertainment is only available on selected services operated by A330 and B757 aircraft. It has been removed from the Airbus A320/321 aircraft although the new delivery A321 aircraft will feature state of the art entertainment systems with a potential for onboard wi-fi capabilities. 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

The aircraft cabins feature grey and dark leather seats with blue smile and blue carpets. On the Airbus A320/321 and Boeing 757 there is 28/29" seat pitch.

Economy class cabin of a Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200

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.

The new Thomas Cook A330 - 200 aircraft features blue seats, the same as the A321 just with adjustable headrests, with built in IFE, better than the old system. No Premium Economy is featured on these aircraft.

Statistics

Thomas Cook Airlines carried over 6.7 million passengers during 2012, a 14.9% reduction compared with 2011.[2]

Year Total passengers Total flights Load factor Passenger Change YoY
2005* 9,320,817 47,287 89.9%
2006* 8,441,276 42,182 89.0% Decrease009.4%
2007* 8,528,655 43,013 87.9% Increase001.0%
2008 8,315,327 42,410 90.0% Decrease002.5%
2009 8,202,534 38,849 92.0% Decrease001.4%
2010 8,120,815 37,571 93.1% Decrease001.0%
2011 7,969,693 36,103 93.3% Decrease001.9%
2012 6,783,661 32,109 94.1% Decrease014.9%
* Data for 2005 to 2007 includes MyTravel Airways
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority
[2]

Awards

  • Silver Award - Most Environmentally Responsible Airline 2008 [13]
  • Runner-Up UK Charter Airline for Punctuality - Summer 2006[14]
  • FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Summer 2002 & Summer 2003[14]
  • FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Winter 2002/03, Winter 2003/04, Winter 2008/09 & Winter 2009/10[14]

References

  1. ^ Thomas Cook flight route map
  2. ^ a b c d "UK Airline Statistics | Data | Economic Regulation". UK CAA. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  3. ^ a b Thomas Cook Group Preliminary Results 2010
  4. ^ Operating Licence
  5. ^ Name change to Thomas Cook Airlines
  6. ^ http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2005024&c=setreg&region=2
  7. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aircraft Register - for G- registered aircraft
  8. ^ Thomas Cook Airlines - Aircraft Seating Configurations
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ [2]
  11. ^ Thomas Cook Group signs firm order for 12 A321s with sharklets
  12. ^ The Thomas Cook Group Unites as One Team With New 'Sunny Heart' Brand Published online on 1 October 2013.
  13. ^ "British Travel Awards". British Travel Awards. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11. [dead link]
  14. ^ a b c FlightOnTime.info