Thomas Cook Airlines

Thomas Cook Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
MT TCX KESTREL
Founded 31 March 2003
AOC # 549
Operating bases
Fleet size 33
Destinations 95[1]
Company slogan Let's Go!
Parent company Thomas Cook Group
Headquarters Manchester, England
Key people Christoph Debus, MD
Website thomascookairlines.com

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) Limited, is a British airline based in Manchester, England. It serves leisure destinations worldwide from its main bases at Manchester and London Gatwick Airport. It also operates services from eight other bases around the United Kingdom.

It was formed by the rebranding of JMC Air in 2003. Following the merger of the MyTravel Group with Thomas Cook in 2008, Thomas Cook Airlines UK Ltd was merged with MyTravel Airways.

Thomas Cook Airlines is part of the airline division of the Thomas Cook Group, which consists of several sister airlines, all of which have a joint fleet management: Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and German based Condor. The airline 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.[2]

History

Timeline

1919

In the aftermath of the First World War, Thomas Cook & Son is the first travel agent to advertise public trips by aeroplane (Easter 1919). The firm becomes a passenger agent for the principal air companies and is soon selling tickets (costing 30 guineas – equivalent to over £1000 today) for return flights from London to Paris or Brussels.

1927

Thomas Cook & Son organise the world’s first personally-conducted tour by aeroplane. A group of six people (four passengers, a Thomas Cook representative and a pilot) fly from New York to Chicago for the Tunney-Dempsey world heavyweight boxing contest. The price of the package – comprising return flights with inflight meal, first-class accommodation in Chicago and a ringside seat for the fight – is $575.00 (equivalent to over £6000 today).

1939

Holidays by air on specially-chartered aircraft to the French Riviera are included in Thomas Cook’s summer brochure for the first time.

1996

Thomas Cook acquires its first airline, Airworld, when it purchases UK tour operator Sunworld.

1998

The Flying Colours Leisure Group is acquired by Airworld parent Sunworld (itself a subsidiary of Thomas Cook) in June 1998. The two airlines (Flying Colours and Airworld) merge at the end of the 1998 summer season under the Flying Colours name.

1999

JMC Airlines is launched on 1 September 1999 through the merger of Flying Colours and Caledonian Airways (the latter airline having been acquired by Thomas Cook when it took control of Carlson Leisure Group’s UK interests earlier in the year).

2013

Thomas Cook has set out plans to merge its German, British and Belgian airline businesses, with a new airline management board overseeing the single outfit.[3]


Creation of Thomas Cook Airlines

A Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A320-200 in its former livery

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.[4]

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.

In 2013, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and Condor merged into a single operating segment of the Thomas Cook Group.[5] Thomas Cook Airlines carried around six million passengers during 2014, a slight reduction compared with 2013.[6]

Destinations

Thomas Cook Airlines operates flights to destinations in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, North America and Asia. The airline also operates worldwide charter flights from the United Kingdom for a number of tour operators; however, Thomas Cook Tour Operations is the main user of the airline. The airline also provides direct customer bookings on a seat only basis, through their own website.

As of May 2015, Thomas Cook Airlines began flights to New York and Miami from Manchester. In 2016, it will begin flights to Boston and Los Angeles and in 2017, will begin flights to San Francisco.

Fleet

Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A321-200 in the current livery.
Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200 in the current livery. This particular example is damp-leased from AirTanker Services.

As of April 2016, the Thomas Cook Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7]

Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
W Y Total
Airbus A321-200 21 — — 220 220 25 ordered by the Thomas Cook Group [8]
Airbus A330-200 6 — 49
—		 273
321		 322
321
Boeing 757-200 1 — — 235 235 In storage.

Replaced by A321s.

Boeing 757-300 2 — — 280 280 Will be transferred to Condor by 2017.
Boeing 767-300ER 3 — — 326 326 Leased to Condor for winter 2015/16
Total 33 —

Livery

The airline's first livery was a "eurowhite" design, with blue engines and a light blue underside, and the former Thomas Cook globe logo on the tail. On 1 October 2013, the Thomas Cook Group introduced a new brand symbol, known as the "Sunny Heart". All existing aircraft owned by Thomas Cook had their old globe removed and the new Sunny Heart pasted on the tail. The rest of the aircraft remains the same. All new aircraft however, have a white and grey livery with orange engines, and the Sunny Heart pasted on the tail.

On-board service

Cabin of a Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200 prior to refurbishment

Short-haul flights

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 or on the 'My Booking' page of the airline's website. Since May 2012, the in-flight meals available on Thomas Cook flights are designed exclusively by celebrity chef James Martin. Passengers who have not pre-ordered a meal can buy a selection of meals from the cabin crew. In-flight entertainment is available on most services. The new delivery of A321 aircraft will feature drop down 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 cafe cloud menu and Emporium brochure, which details all the drinks & snacks and tax/duty-free products Thomas Cook Airlines stock on board.

Long-haul flights

Economy

When flying long haul with Thomas Cook, in-flights meals are included in all cabin classes, chiefly a main meal with crackers and dessert and a further meal before landing. Drinks and snacks can be purchased on board from the Café Cloud menu. The in-flight meals available on board Thomas Cook flights are designed exclusively by celebrity chef James Martin. 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 on-demand seat-back entertainment is available on the A330-200 aircraft.[9]

Premium Economy

A new Premium Economy product and service is offered for departures from Manchester and Belfast which includes priority check-in, priority boarding, fast track security, complimentary drinks, meals and snacks, newspapers, extra luggage, pillows, duvets and amenity kits. This cabin has dedicated cabin crew and passengers are seated in the front section of the aircraft in a newly designed cabin.[10]

In-flight entertainment

Short-haul flights

On short-haul flights, entertainment is fitted in A321 aircraft, most B757-200 and B767 aircraft. Screens are fixed on the ceiling of the aircraft showing numerous films and TV shows depending on the length of the flight. B757-300 aircraft do not have an in-flight entertainment system fitted. Seats in most planes have a headphone socket and controls for 10 radio channels.[11]

Long-haul flights

On long-haul flights, personal seatback entertainment is available on A330 aircraft in both cabins. Economy passengers receive 4 movies and 6 TV shows free. This can be upgraded to the full library, which is unlimited entertainment, for a small fee. This is purchasable from the cabin crew. Premium economy passengers receive complimentary access to the full library. Also, all passengers can listen to 24 radio channels and listen to thousands of songs.

Cabin interior

Short-haul flights

Thomas Cook are in the process of replacing their older B757-200 aircraft with new Airbus A321s. The cabin is yellow and grey to reflect the new corporate livery. The new and refurbished aircraft feature new slim design leather seats in a two tone grey design, with a blue smile and headrest with the new Sunny Heart logo. These seats have a seat pocket in the upper part of the seat in front, which allows for increased legroom. Each seat has its own set of brochures such as Emporium, an entertainment guide and a safety card for that aircraft. The seat in front also has a foldable tray table and cup holder.

Long-haul flights

For Summer 2015, the A330 aircraft are being refurbished. This will include new seats, a new cabin and new services such as free meals and larger luggage allowances.

Premium Economy is only available on long haul A330 flights. This offers a 35" seat pitch with a 6" recline and a 20" width in a wider 2-3-2 cabin layout. Each seat has an in-arm tray table which can be folded in half to become a cup holder or for other small items. Also underneath each seat in front is a foot rest. Seats also have a personal screen either in the arm rest or seat in front.[10]

Economy seats on long haul flights are set in a 2-4-2 configuration and premium economy is set in a 2-3-2 configuration. Upgrading to premium features added extras such as increased width and comfier seats. Economy and premium economy both have two tone grey seats with a yellow smile. Also, both classes have leather headrests and fabric seats for increased comfort. 2 of 6 A330 aircraft are set in an all economy configuration consisting of seats the same as the A321 but with adjustable headrests and set in 2-4-2. The all economy aircraft operate out of London Gatwick and Glasgow. The 2 cabin A330 aircraft operate primarily out of Manchester.[9]

Statistics

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% Decrease9.4%
2007* 8,528,655 43,013 87.9% Increase1.0%
2008 8,315,327 42,410 90.0% Decrease2.5%
2009 8,202,534 38,849 92.0% Decrease1.4%
2010 8,120,815 37,571 93.1% Decrease1.0%
2011 7,969,693 36,103 93.3% Decrease1.9%
2012 6,783,661 32,109 94.1% Decrease14.9%
2013 6,084,315 28,438 93.1% Decrease10.3%
2014 6,043,480 28,858 91.4% Decrease0.7%
* Data for 2005 to 2007 includes MyTravel Airways
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority [6]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Thomas Cook flight route map
  2. ↑ Operating Licence
  3. ↑ World Independent Feb. 5th 2013
  4. ↑ Name change to Thomas Cook Airlines
  5. ↑ http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2005024&c=setreg&region=2
  6. 1 2 "UK Airline Statistics | Data | Economic Regulation". UK CAA. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  7. ↑ "GINFO Search Results Summary". CAA. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Thomas Cook Newsroom".
  9. 1 2
  10. 1 2
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "British Travel Awards". British Travel Awards. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  13. 1 2 3 FlightOnTime.info
  14. ↑ UK Travelmole Web Awards 2015
  15. ↑ World Travel Awards
  16. ↑ World Travel Awards

External links

Media related to Thomas Cook Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

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