Thomas Cook Airlines

Thomas Cook Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
MT TCX KESTREL
Founded 31 March 2003
AOC # 549
Operating bases
Fleet size 35
Destinations 72
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 Airport and Gatwick Airport. It also operates services from eight other bases around the United Kingdom.

Thomas Cook Airlines is part of the airline division of the Thomas Cook Group, which consists of three more sister airlines, all of which have a joint fleet management: Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, German based Condor and Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics. 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.[1] 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.

History

A Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A320 in its former livery

In 1999, JMC Airlines which was launched on 1 September and started operations on 27 March 2000, through the merger of Flying Colours Airlines and Caledonian Airways. On 31 March 2003 Thomas Cook rebranded the airline along with its other airlines as Thomas Cook Airlines.[2]

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, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and Condor merged into a single operating segment of the Thomas Cook Group.[3][4] Thomas Cook Airlines carried around 6.4 million passengers during 2015, a six percent increase compared with 2014.[5]

In October 2017, it was announced that the airline would open bases at Leeds Bradford Airport and London Luton Airport to fill the gap left by Monarch Airlines which had ceased operations, these plans were then cancelled.[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.

Fleet

Current fleet

Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A321-200 featuring the pride heart.
Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200 taking off from Manchester Airport, UK.

As of May 2018, the Thomas Cook Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7][8]

Thomas Cook Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
P Y Total
Airbus A321-200 25 — — 220 220 Two additional aircraft to be transferred from Condor.[9]
Airbus A330-200 6 — 49 261 310
265 314
273 322
Boeing 757-300 2 — — 280 280 To be transferred to Condor.[9]
Total 33 —

Historical fleet

Thomas Cook Airlines Historical Fleet
Aircraft Introduced Retired Notes/Refs
Airbus A320-200 2003 2014
2017 2018 Transferred from Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium.
Transferred to Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics.[10][11][12][13]
Boeing 757-200 2003 2016 Replaced by Airbus A321
Boeing 767-300ER 2007 2018

On-board service

Short & Medium-haul flights

Economy

Short and medium-haul flights are predominantly operated by the fleet of Airbus A321s and Boeing B757-300s. All aircraft feature slimline seats covered in a two tone grey leather with a yellow band. The sunny heart logo is featured on the headrests. Drinks and snacks can be purchased on board. In-flight meals, champagne and a selection of gifts can be pre-ordered at the time of booking a flight or on the airline's website. Since May 2012, the in-flight meals available on Thomas Cook flights are designed exclusively by celebrity chef James Martin. In-flight entertainment is available on most services. A321 aircraft feature drop down screens fitted underneath the overhead lockers - showing various TV programmes and latest release films depending on the length of the flight. There's also up to 10 radio channels to choose from. Boeing 757-300 aircraft do not have entertainment systems fitted.[14]

Economy Plus

This is an upgraded service package available on short and medium haul flights. The additional benefits include pre-bookable seating in the first 4 rows (depending on aircraft type), an additional hand and hold luggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding, security fast-track and priority baggage on arrival. Also included is an in-flight meal, complimentary drinks during the flight and earphones where entertainment is fitted.

Long-haul flights

Economy

Long-haul flights are operated by Airbus A330 aircraft. Economy seats on long haul flights are set in a 2-4-2 configuration. When flying long haul, in-flight meals are included in Economy. A 3-course hot meal with tea or coffee is provided with a further light meal or snack offered before landing. Drinks and snacks can also be purchased on board from the Cafe cloud menu. Personal on-demand seat-back entertainment is available on the Thomas Cook A330-200 aircraft.[15] Economy passengers receive 4 movies and 6 TV shows free - alongside 24 radio channels and hundreds of audio CDs. This can be upgraded to the full library, which is unlimited entertainment, for a small fee on board. On flights operated by Air Tanker A330 aircraft, entertainment is supplied via an onboard mobile streaming network direct to your personal media device.[16]

Premium Economy

Premium Economy is only available on selected long haul A330 flights. This cabin offers a 2-3-2 seating layout. Additional services include wider seats, increased legroom, a larger personal TV screen with a USB charging point, a foot rest, priority check-in, priority boarding, fast track security and additional cabin and hold-luggage allowance. Also offered is complimentary drinks, upgraded hot meal, newspapers, pillow, blanket and amenity kits. [17] Champagne and additional snacks can also be purchased on board from the Cafe Cloud menu.

Premium economy passengers receive complimentary access to the full entertainment library - offering 30 movies, over 50 TV shows plus 24 radio channels and hundreds of audio CDs.

Statistics

YearTotal passengersTotal flightsLoad factorPassenger change YoY
2005* 9,320,81747,28789.9%
2006* 8,441,27642,18289.0%Decrease9.4%
2007* 8,528,65543,01387.9%Increase1.0%
2008 8,315,32742,41090.0%Decrease2.5%
2009 8,202,53438,84992.0%Decrease1.4%
2010 8,120,81537,57193.1%Decrease1.0%
2011 7,969,69336,10393.3%Decrease1.9%
2012 6,783,66132,10994.1%Decrease14.9%
2013 6,084,31528,43893.1%Decrease10.3%
2014 6,043,48028,85891.4%Decrease0.7%
2015 6,395,62330,60191.8%Increase5.8%
2016 6,623,56432,20889.8%Increase3.6%
* Data for 2005 to 2007 includes MyTravel Airways
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority [5]

Awards

  • Silver Award - Most Environmentally Responsible Airline 2008[18]
  • Runner-Up UK Charter Airline for Punctuality - Summer 2006[19]
  • FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Summer 2002 & Summer 2003[19]
  • FlightOnTime.info Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Winter 2002/03, Winter 2003/04, Winter 2008/09 & Winter 2009/10[19]
  • Best Airline Website – UK Travelmole Web Awards 2015[20]
  • Europe's Leading Charter Airline 2015 - World Travel Awards[21]
  • World's Leading Charter Airline 2015 - World Travel Awards[22]
  • Europe's Leading Charter Airline 2016 - World Travel Awards[23]
  • World's Leading Charter Airline 2016 - World Travel Awards[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Operating Licence Holders". Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Companies House WebCHeck". wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  3. ↑ "Thomas Cook merges European airline businesses". The Independent. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. ↑ "Thomas Cook plans airline merger". www.travelmole.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  5. 1 2 "UK Airline Data". Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "Thomas Cook to fly from Leeds Bradford Airport as travel firms ease blow of Monarch collapse". www.gazettelive.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  7. ↑ "GINFO Search Results Summary, Thomas Cook". Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). 31 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Our Fleet". Thomas Cook Airlines. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  9. 1 2 https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/60597-condor-to-expand-frankfurt-b757-capacity-from-4q17 (subscription required)
  10. ↑ http://atwonline.com/airlines/thomas-cook-group-launch-balearics-airline
  11. ↑ https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Thomas-Cook-Airlines-Balearics
  12. ↑ http://www.jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_listings/thomas_cook_airlines_uk.htm
  13. ↑ https://majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2017/10/18/49621/thomas-cook-new-airline-for-palma-start-early-next-year.html
  14. ↑ "Entertainment - Thomas Cook Airlines". www.thomascookairlines.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  15. ↑ "Thomas Cook Airlines - Economy Class". www.thomascookairlines.com. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  16. ↑ https://www.thomascookairlines.com/en/book-plan/extras/entertainment/mobile-entertainment.jsp. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ "Thomas Cook Airlines - Premium Class". www.thomascookairlines.com. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  18. ↑ "British Travel Awards". British Travel Awards. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  19. 1 2 3 "FLIGHTONTIME.info - Airline Delays & Punctuality at UK Airports". www.flightontime.info. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  20. ↑ "TravelMole - Awards". www.travelmole.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  21. ↑ "Europe's Leading Charter Airline 2015". World Travel Awards. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  22. ↑ "World's Leading Charter Airline 2015". World Travel Awards. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  23. ↑ "Europe's Leading Charter Airline 2016". World Travel Awards. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  24. ↑ "World's Leading Charter Airline 2016". World Travel Awards. Retrieved 2017-01-02.

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